The convergence of wired and wireless networks is becoming increasingly important to the economics of operators, from supporting multiplay services, to offering a more flexible approach to the cost:capacity ratio in the access and transport layers. This opens up opportunities for cablecos and telcos to secure new revenues from mobile operators, and is also driving mergers of fixed and wireless providers, and of their suppliers. Nokia’s acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent was driven by convergence. Nokia had made a strategic decision to concentrate only on mobile broadband infrastructure, but with integration of fixed and wireless links becoming critical to many customers, ALU brought a valuable portfolio in fixed IP equipment. In 5G, that convergence will have to be truly seamless, putting a…