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Category: 5GRevolution

5GRevolution

  • Verizon to Cover 175 Million People With 5G Ultra Wideband by 2022 Year-End

    Verizon to Cover 175 Million People With 5G Ultra Wideband by 2022 Year-End

    Verizon has announced it plans to provide 175 million people with 5G Ultra Wideband by the end of 2022, much sooner than originally expected.

    5G Ultra Wideband is the umbrella term Verizon uses to refer to its mmWave and C-band flavors of 5G, comprised of high-band and mid-band spectrum respectively. The company has invested billions of dollars purchasing C-band spectrum, widely considered the sweet spot for speed and range, to compliment its fastest mmWave spectrum, which has much shorter range.

    The investments have paid off, with the company saying it will reach 175 million people by the end of 2022 instead of in 2023, as it originally projected.

    “Through our deliberate strategy of investment and divestment we have already significantly increased the size of our addressable market which, over the next 5 years, should grow an additional $120B. We chose a strategy where we not only participate in a much larger market but also a market where we are in the leading position in our paths to growth,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon Chairman and CEO. “Verizon’s transformative technology and Network-as-a-Service platform is what enables the 5G Economy and makes us the partner of choice for key customers and applications providers. Our high-capacity, low-latency network delivers a superior, unmatched experience that will enable all of our stakeholders to live, work and play in new and amazing ways for years to come.”

  • FCC Wants Carriers to Start Working on 6G

    FCC Wants Carriers to Start Working on 6G

    Carriers may just be rolling out 5G in the US, and much of the world, but FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wants them to start working on 6G.

    The 5G rollout in the US has been particularly rocky. Carriers were not unified in their strategy and selection of bandwidth, with only T-Mobile seeming to have a comprehensive strategy from the outset. In time, AT&T and Verizon both adopted a similar approach to T-Mobile, but both carriers ran into issues with the FAA and airline industry when trying to deploy a key portion of their spectrum. The issues even grabbed the attention of Congress, with lawmakers criticizing the agencies and industry for the botched rollout.

    It seems Rosenworcel is eager to avoid such problems in the future, and is asking carriers to start planning for the next generation of wireless technology now, according to Digital Trends.

    “It’s not too early to harmonize these efforts around the world, because that’s how we will ensure that this next generation can reach everyone everywhere,” Rosenworcel said during her MWC keynote in Barcelona.

    “Let’s not forget the lessons we’ve learned with millimeter wave spectrum and 5G,” Rosenworcel continued. “These waves are fragile. And while there’s a lot of this spectrum to deploy, it doesn’t travel very far, and right now deploying it is awfully costly.”

  • Apple’s Next iPhone May Be $199 and Have 5G

    Apple’s Next iPhone May Be $199 and Have 5G

    Apple is reportedly preparing to release an updated iPhone SE with 5G, and it may cost as little as $199.

    The last iPhone SE was a sleeper hit for Apple, a phone that included the features most people care about, while still being reasonably priced. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has an excellent track record for reliably predicting Apple’s moves, the next iPhone SE will be released in March.

    The new model is expected to have 5G, and will likely maintain a similar size and design as the current model. The big news, however, is that Apple may release the phone for as little as $199, opening the door for the company to make major headway in markets like India.

    “A device priced at $200 could make inroads in regions like Africa, South America and parts of Asia that are currently Android strongholds,” writes Gurman. “That would let Apple Inc. sign up more customers for services, potentially making a low-end iPhone quite lucrative for Apple in the long run. But so far, the company has steered well clear of that approach.”

    If Gurman’s prediction is correct, Apple may find itself with a sudden, and massive, influx of new customers.

  • BlackRock Selects Verizon For On Site 5G Private Network

    BlackRock Selects Verizon For On Site 5G Private Network

    BlackRock has selected Verizon to provide it with an on site 5G private network, a big win for the wireless carrier.

    BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager and, as such, depends on fast reliable internet. The company has reached an agreement with the largest US wireless to provide private 5G for its global headquarters in New York.

    While 5G is often talked about in the realm of smartphones and tables, the next-generation wireless tech has countless applications for businesses and networks. With speeds reaching into the gigabits per second, private 5G networks can offer speed and security that traditional internet providers are hard-pressed to match.

    “5G Ultra Wideband is the platform for 21st century business and should be a prerequisite for any workplace that aims to be state of the art and future ready,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “BlackRock’s decision to outfit their new headquarters with On Site 5G from Verizon Business puts them at the forefront of data-centric innovation, in full view of clients, guests and partners, who can enjoy the on-premises private network and all its benefits as well.”

    “Our vision from the very beginning was to create a world-class, tech-centric experience for our people and our clients,” said Rob Goldstein, COO of BlackRock. “Partnering with Verizon Business to deploy On Site 5G at our new headquarters will help us turn that vision into reality. As we usher in a new world of work, the vibrant and dynamic environment that we are looking to create will give our people the best opportunities to succeed and better serve our clients.”

  • AT&T Installing 5G Small Cell Towers on Street Lights

    AT&T Installing 5G Small Cell Towers on Street Lights

    AT&T is addressing one of the biggest challenges to 5G deployment, installing small cell towers on street lights.

    5G promises to revolutionize a range of industries, delivering speeds once thought impossible. Unfortunately, the fastest varieties of 5G are limited by extremely short range and poor building penetration. AT&T’s solution is to install small cell radios on top of street lamps, significantly improving coverage.

    AT&T is using Ericsson’s Street Radio small cell, a convenient option that can be plugged directly into existing streetlights and has a relatively small profile — an important factor in not making streets look like something from a Frankenstein’d cyberpunk future. The installation can also be done in a mere 15 minutes.

    “Streetlights are also the perfect deployment point for meeting network infrastructure densification needs because they are typically 8 to 10 meters high, spaced 50 meters apart, have an existing power supply and are within close proximity to fiber,” writes AT&T’s Gordon Mansfield, VP Mobility Access & Architecture. “By using existing infrastructure, this solution reduces costs, streamlines site approval and permitting, and speeds installation. These radios also have smart sensors that allow us to detect failed or downed streetlights in the event of a storm, blackout, or other disruptive event. This helps us in quickly assessing damage and dispatching crews for repairs or alerting the power provider of an issue.”

    AT&T’s option is an elegant solution to the problem and may just be what’s needed to make the fastest flavor of 5G more widely available.

  • T-Mobile Offering Free US/Ukraine Calls For Those Impacted By The Conflict

    T-Mobile Offering Free US/Ukraine Calls For Those Impacted By The Conflict

    T-Mobile is offering free calls between the US and Ukraine, in an effort to help those impacted by the conflict.

    Russia invaded Ukraine this week, setting off what could become one of the biggest conflicts in Europe in decades. Companies are urging employees to shelter in place, and families are trying to stay in touch with loved ones.

    T-Mobile is trying to help friends and families stay in touch, waiving international fees for calls and texts made to and from the US and Ukraine.

    From February 24 to March 3, 2022, T-Mobile is waiving international long-distance and international roaming charges for calls and SMS made to/from U.S. and Ukraine for T-Mobile and Sprint postpaid and prepaid consumer and business customers. This includes calls made within Ukraine to local numbers to cover roaming customers in Ukraine.

  • Dish Network Is Bleeding Customers, But Counting on 5G to Save It

    Dish Network Is Bleeding Customers, But Counting on 5G to Save It

    Dish Network reported its fourth-quarter results, and the numbers weren’t pretty as the company races to deploy its 5G network.

    Best-known for its satellite TV service, Dish is poised to become the fourth nationwide carrier in the US, replacing Sprint. Although US regulators cleared T-Mobile to purchase Sprint, there was concern about the wireless market consolidating to three major players, instead of four. As a result, as terms for the merger, regulators demanded T-Mobile and Sprint turn over some assets to Dish in an effort to establish it as a successful fourth carrier.

    The company has been making major headway in its efforts to roll out its 5G network, and told investors it plans to cover 20% of the US by June, according to CNET. Regulators had previously set June as the deadline for Dish to reach that milestone.

    Getting that large a portion of its 5G network up and running can’t happen fast enough for the company. In its latest quarter, Dish reported $522 million in revenue, down from $733 million a year ago. Similarly, EPS came in at $0.87 a share, down from $1.24. The company also lost a net total of 245,000 wireless subscribers and 237,000 pay-TV subscribers.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, Chairman Charlie Ergen took responsibility for the delays in the company’s 5G rollout, saying they “just didn’t anticipate that we’d have to do as much on the technical side.”

    For Dish’s sake, hopefully the company doesn’t run into any further delays as it pivots to 5G.

  • FAA: Boeing 737 Fleet Still Susceptible to 5G Interference

    FAA: Boeing 737 Fleet Still Susceptible to 5G Interference

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned the existing fleet of Boeing 737s are still susceptible to 5G interference.

    Verizon and AT&T spent billions buying C-band spectrum for their 5G networks at a recent FCC auction, only to have the FAA and airline industry raise concerns about 5G interference. Because C-band spectrum is so close to the spectrum aircraft altimeters use, there were concerns 5G could interfere with those altimeters, leading to significant dangers during flights, and especially when taking off and landing.

    Despite eventually coming to terms that allowed Verizon and AT&T to continue with their deployment, the FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD), indicating that Boeing 737s are still particularly susceptible to interference.

    This AD was prompted by a determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band), and a recent determination that, during approach, landings, and go-arounds, as a result of this interference, certain airplane systems may not properly function, resulting in increased flightcrew workload while on approach with the flight director, autothrottle, or autopilot engaged, which could result in reduced ability of the flightcrew to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane.

    It’s currently unclear what, if any, mitigation efforts may be taken.

  • T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Expands Coverage in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio

    T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Expands Coverage in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio

    T-Mobile is continuing to expand its 5G Home Internet across the US, adding coverage in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

    T-Mobile has been offering 5G Home Internet, and we reviewed the service in late 2021. Overall, we found the service to be an excellent option, consistently delivering speeds above 120 Mbps. The service is a game-changer for customers who live in the rurals where traditional high-speed internet is not available. Even in urban areas, T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet often provides excellent speeds at a price that is highly competitive. Unlike many providers, which charge add-on fees and equipment rentals, T-Mobile charges a flat $50, with taxes and fees included.

    The company has announced it is expanding its service even more, adding coverage for 62 cities and towns across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

    “Thousands more households now have access to fast, unlimited high-speed internet, thanks to T-Mobile,” said Kentucky State Representative Mary Beth Imes, of Murray. “T-Mobile Home Internet has expanded access in Kentucky, bringing our state a real competitive option for broadband where many households are still left without any option or any good option. T-Mobile’s investment in our communities is helping thousands of customers stay connected at a time when it matters most.”

    Here’s the full list of new coverage areas:

    Indiana

    • Angola
    • Auburn
    • Bloomington
    • Bluffton
    • Columbus
    • Crawfordsville
    • Elkhart-Goshen
    • Fort Wayne
    • Frankfort
    • Greensburg
    • Huntington
    • Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson
    • Kendallville
    • Kokomo
    • Lafayette-West Lafayette
    • Logansport
    • Marion
    • Michigan City-La Porte
    • Muncie
    • New Castle
    • Richmond
    • South Bend-Mishawaka

    Kentucky

    • Bardstown
    • Bowling Green
    • Campbellsville
    • Danville
    • Elizabethtown-Fort Knox
    • Frankfort
    • Glasgow
    • Lexington-Fayette
    • Louisville/Jefferson County
    • Madisonville
    • Mayfield
    • Middlesborough
    • Murray
    • Owensboro
    • Richmond-Berea
    • Somerset

    Ohio

    • Akron
    • Athens
    • Cambridge
    • Canton-Massillon
    • Chillicothe
    • Cincinnati
    • Cleveland-Elyria
    • Columbus
    • Coshocton
    • Dayton-Kettering
    • Fremont
    • Jackson
    • Lima
    • Mansfield
    • Marietta
    • Salem
    • Sidney
    • Springfield
    • Steubenville
    • Toledo
    • Washington Court House
    • Wooster
    • Youngstown-Warren-Boardman
    • Zanesville
  • The 5G Blackberry Dream Is Over As OnwardMobility Loses Blackberry Rights

    The 5G Blackberry Dream Is Over As OnwardMobility Loses Blackberry Rights

    Just a month after OnwardMobility reassured prospective customers it was still working on a revived Blackberry, new reports indicate the project is vaporware.

    OnwardMobility acquired the rights to make Blackberry phones in August 2020, after TCL lost the license. Since then, the company has teased a 5G-equipped Blackberry phone, complete with a physical keyboard, the likes of which made the brand famous.

    Unfortunately, months passed with no visible progress being made, prompting the company to reassure prospective buyers that it was still making progress.

    To all of you who have patiently waited so long for updates from OnwardMobility, we are humbly aware that we owe you some form of communication as we enter 2022. And to misquote Mark Twain, as so many do, “Contrary to popular belief, we are not dead.”

    It would appear, however, the above statement is not true. According to CrackBerry, multiple sources have confirmed the project is dead. Android Police was also able to confirm the rumors.

    Interestingly, at the end of January, Blackberry sold off roughly $600 million in patents related to its legacy phone business. It’s unclear what role this may have played in the demise of the OnwardMobility project, but it seems likely the two events are related. It’s possible Blackberry pulled OnwardMobility’s license so they could offload the patents, or they may have decided to sell the patents once it became apparent OnwardMobility couldn’t deliver.

    This wouldn’t the first time the company has ended a contract with a third-party maker of Blackberry-branded phones. Perhaps the company just decided the whole endeavor was more trouble than it was worth, and took multiple steps to permanently end its involvement in the phone industry.

  • Mazda Drivers Stuck on Public Radio, 5G Blamed

    Mazda Drivers Stuck on Public Radio, 5G Blamed

    Mazda drivers in Western Washington are getting a major dose of public radio, unable to change the station from public radio KUOW 94.9.

    According to GeekWire, some Mazdas made between 2014 and 2017 are experiencing issues with their vehicles radios and infotainment systems. In some cases the vehicles are stuck on KUOW, while in other cases the system has quit working altogether. The one common denominator is that everyone who’s had the problem was listening to KUOW when it started.

    Some dealerships believe the issue has to do with 5G, but KUOW disputes that assertion.

    “5G is just a cell standard,” Operations Director Dane Johnson told GeekWire. “When they talk about cars and a 5G vs. 3G issue it’s cars that have an actual cell receiver in them and are on a service like AT&T that may have problems if that provider sunsets 3G. It has nothing to do with broadcast terrestrial service.”

    Mazda is evidently aware of the issue, has figured out the cause, and is working on a fix.

  • Ripping Out Huawei and ZTE 5G Hardware Cost Rises to $5.6 Billion

    Ripping Out Huawei and ZTE 5G Hardware Cost Rises to $5.6 Billion

    The US has banned Huawei and ZTE equipment from its 5G networks, but the cost of implementing the ban has now risen to $5.6 billion.

    According to Network World, Congress had initially set aside $1.9 billion to fund the removal of the Chinese firms’ 5G equipment. At the heart of the issue are national security concerns over the two firms’ connection to Beijing. All Chinese companies are required to cooperate with the government, including its espionage efforts. While this may be a concern in any number of industries, it’s especially a concern in an industry that controls communication and data.

    FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has informed Congress the removal of Huawei and ZTE will take at least $5.6 billion, a significant increase over the initial fund.

    “Last year Congress created a first-of-its kind program for the FCC to reimburse service providers for their efforts to increase the security of our nations communications networks,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “We’ve received over 181 applications from carriers who have developed plans to remove and replace equipment in their networks that pose a national security threat. While we have more work to do to review these applications, I look forward to working with Congress to ensure that there is enough funding available for this program to advance Congress’s security goals and ensure that the U.S. will continue to lead the way on 5G security.”

  • Congress Is Not Impressed With FCC/FAA 5G Controversy

    Congress Is Not Impressed With FCC/FAA 5G Controversy

    Congress is weighing in on the botched rollout of 5G C-band spectrum — a rollout that put the FCC and FAA at odds — and they’re not impressed.

    Verizon and AT&T spent more than $68 billion to license mid-band 5G spectrum, called C-band. C-band is considered the ideal compromise between speed and coverage, and is essential to wireless carriers’ attempts to deploy the next-generation network.

    Unfortunately, the spectrum in question is dangerously close the spectrum used by aircraft altimeters, leading airlines and the FAA to object to its use. Eventually a compromise was reached, with Verizon and AT&T agreeing to exclusion zones around airports. The agreement was not reached without a number of delays, threats, negotiations, and appeals to the White House.

    Congress is now reviewing the situation and has had some tough words for the two agencies, according to NASDAQ.

    Representative Garret Graves, of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee, said the two agencies played “chicken with one another – or whatever ridiculousness happened – and now we ended up threatening aviation safety. We had flights canceled. … It’s embarrassing.”

    Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio said “the current interagency process for auctioning off spectrum is completely broken.”

    “Having a dropped call is way less serious than having a dropped airplane out of the sky,” DeFazio said.

  • T-Mobile ‘Remains Firmly in First Place’ in the US 5G Wars

    T-Mobile ‘Remains Firmly in First Place’ in the US 5G Wars

    T-Mobile is continuing to dominate the US 5G market, beating both Verizon and AT&T, in OpenSignal’s latest report.

    T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are racing to switch their networks over to 5G, rolling out new spectrum as fast as they can. T-Mobile gained a huge advantage with its purchase of Sprint, taking over Sprint’s wealth of mid-band spectrum, which is ideal for 5G deployment. Verizon and AT&T, on the other hand, spent some $68 billion at a single FCC auction to bolster their mid-band spectrum, only to run into issues with the airline industry that have impeded their ability to fully use their spectrum.

    Between the early lead T-Mobile was able to take, and its spectrum not being subject to the same concerns as Verizon and AT&T, in terms of the airline industry, T-Mobile has cemented itself as the 5G company to beat in the US.

    According to OpenSignal’s January 2022 5G Experience Report, T-Mobile now wins in four of six categories: 5G Availability, 5G Reach, Upload Speed, and Download Speed. Verizon won the other two categories, 5G Games Experience and 5G Voice App Experience, while AT&T did not win any categories.

    “The experts have spoken: T-Mobile 5G is number one in speed and coverage, and we’re continuing to pull away from the pack,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “We have the largest 5G network covering 310 million people – 210 million of whom are covered by Ultra Capacity 5G. That’s more than double Verizon’s Ultra Wideband and light years ahead of AT&T’s 5G+. Our competitors are trying desperately to convince consumers and businesses otherwise, but there’s no denying T-Mobile is THE leader in 5G and in a position to deliver the best network performance and capabilities to customers throughout the 5G era.”

  • FAA: 78% of US Commercial Aircraft Safe Amid 5G Concerns

    FAA: 78% of US Commercial Aircraft Safe Amid 5G Concerns

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared roughly 78% of the US commercial aircraft fleet for low-visibility approaches near C-band 5G.

    The airline industry has been at odds with Verizon and AT&T over the rollout of C-band 5G. C-band is in the mid-band range of frequencies that are very close to those used by aircraft altimeters. The airline industry and FAA have been concerned that C-band could interfere with altimeters, putting aircraft at risk in low-visibility conditions.

    After delays and negotiations, Verizon and AT&T began rolling out their new spectrum on January 19, and the FAA has now cleared a large portion of the US aircraft fleet for low-visibility approaches.

    “The FAA issued new approvals Thursday that allow an estimated 78 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet to perform low-visibility landings at airports where wireless companies deployed 5G C-band,” the FAA’s statement reads. “This now includes some regional jets. 

    “Airplane models with one of the 13 cleared altimeters include all Boeing 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787, MD-10/-11; all Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380 models; and some Embraer 170 and 190 regional jets.

    “The FAA is working diligently to determine which altimeters are reliable and accurate where 5G is deployed in the United States. We anticipate some altimeters will be too susceptible to 5G interference. To preserve safety, aircraft with those altimeters will be prohibited from performing low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed because the altimeter could provide inaccurate information.”

    The FAA says altimeters that are not deemed safe will need to be retrofitted or replaced.

  • Verizon Home Internet Now Covers 20 Million Households

    Verizon Home Internet Now Covers 20 Million Households

    Verizon is continuing to expand its 5G Home Internet, with 20 million households now covered by Home Internet.

    Cellular-based home internet is poised to be a game-changer for the “digital divide,” the difference in internet speeds available to urban vs rural Americans. Unlike traditional options, that may need expensive fiber or wiring upgrades, or may be impeded by geographical obstacles, cellular home internet can blanket an area with coverage.

    Verizon has been rolling out its 5G Home Internet, as well as its 5G Business Internet service.

    Now that America’s most reliable network1 is going Ultra, it’s time to get the most out of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network,2 which will be available to 100 million more people this month in over 1,700 cities around the nation. More than 20 million households now have access to game-changing home wireless broadband, and more than 2 million businesses are covered with 5G Business Internet service.

    While Verizon’s 20 million household threshold is a significant milestone, it still lags behind T-Mobile’s 30 million.

  • Verizon and AWS Expand Mobile Edge Computing Availability

    Verizon and AWS Expand Mobile Edge Computing Availability

    Verizon and AWS are expanding the availability of their mobile edge computing solution, bringing it to 30% more metro areas.

    Verizon and AWS announced a partnership in late 2019, aimed at bringing AWS’ cloud platform together with Verizon’s 5G network. The two companies planned to leverage their respective platforms to make mobile edge computing available to their customers, an area where 5G is expected to revolutionize the industry.

    The two companies first delivered on their partnership in April 2020, combining AWS Wavelength with Verizon’s 5G Edge in Boston and the Bay Area. In the time since, the companies have continued rolling out their solution around the country.

    Today, Verizon and AWS announced they have now rolled out Verizon 5G Edge with AWS Wavelength to Charlotte, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. 

    “Through our continued collaboration with AWS, we’re helping developers and businesses in every industry create truly transformational applications for use cases such as immersive VR gaming, video distribution, and connected and autonomous vehicles,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “By expanding our 5G Edge locations across the U.S., we’re enabling developers to quickly and easily build apps and services that take advantage of the low latency, massive bandwidth and strong reliability of 5G and edge computing.”

    “Customers that want to build ultra-low latency applications need access to compute, storage, and advanced cloud services at the edge of the 5G network. They tell us that broad coverage is very important to ensure consistent application experiences, wherever their end-users may be, said George Elissaios, general manager of AWS Wavelength and Director of Product Management, AWS. “With the continued and rapid expansion of AWS Wavelength Zones across the US and around the world, we are delivering on that, while also broadening access to advanced 5G and edge capabilities to every AWS customer, small or large. We’re excited to see the innovation that customers like Easy Ariel and Fermata Energy bring with novel applications that transform consumers’ experiences by leveraging AWS Wavelength on Verizon 5G Edge.”

  • AT&T, Dish, and T-Mobile Top Spenders at FCC’s 5G Auction

    AT&T, Dish, and T-Mobile Top Spenders at FCC’s 5G Auction

    AT&T, Dish, and T-Mobile were the biggest spenders at the latest auction for 5G spectrum. 

    Wireless carriers are racing to deploy their 5G networks, with mid-band spectrum being the most desirable for speed, range, and penetration. AT&T and Verizon, in particular, have had to spend big to acquire mid-band, while T-Mobile inherited a wealth of it as a result of buying Sprint. 

    According toThe Verge, AT&T and Dish — which is building out its own 5G network — spent the most for the 3.45GHz band. AT&T spent $9 billion, while Dish spent $7.3 billion. T-Mobile rounded out the top three at $2.9 billion. 

    Although the spectrum is close to the C-band spectrum that has caused a major issue with the airline industry, experts believe it is less likely to cause interference with aircraft altimeters as C-band.

    Interestingly, Verizon did not participate in the auction.

  • T-Mobile Blocking iOS Private Relay

    T-Mobile Blocking iOS Private Relay

    T-Mobile may bill itself the “Un-carrier” that puts customers’ needs first, but its latest move is a little more “Big Brother” as it begins blocking iOS Private Relay.

    Apple included Private Relay (still in beta) in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey. The feature is similar to a VPN in that it “hides your IP address and browsing activity in Safari and protects your unencrypted internet traffic.”

    Given that it bills itself as putting customers first, and given it has suffered a number of high-profile hacks, one could be forgiven for thinking T-Mobile would welcome a feature that better protects its users’ privacy. Unfortunately, one would be mistaken.

    First noticed by Mac user Jon Guidry, it appears T-Mobile is taking a page from European carriers and is starting to block Private Relay in the US.

    ”@TMobileHelp What the hey? Why are you keeping us from using @Apple’s #icloud private relay?”

    — Jon Guidry (@guidryjd), January 10, 2022

    9to5Mac has confirmed that T-Mobile is indeed moving to block the feature, although it hasn’t completed its efforts, meaning Private Relay may still work for some US users.

    In March 2021, we wrote about T-Mobile opting customers into a targeted advertising program that would use their data to deliver personalized ads. The carrier also said it would sell that data to third-party companies as well.

    It seems clear, based on its attempt to block Private Relay, that T-Mobile doesn’t want anything interfering with its data mining operation. Evidently, it’s not enough to actually charge for a service, and deliver one record quarter after another. The company evidently believes it has the right to mine data from its paying customers, and will stop at nothing to block attempts to prevent it from doing just that.

    John Legere used to famously refer to Verizon and AT&T as “dumb and dumber.” Perhaps T-Mobile should start lumping itself into that category too.

  • Yes, the Blackberry 5G Phone Is Still Coming

    Yes, the Blackberry 5G Phone Is Still Coming

    Despite delays, a 5G Blackberry phone is still in development, complete with the iconic physical keyboard.

    Blackberry devices were once some of the most popular PDAs and smartphones on the market, before getting trounced by Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Despite its fall from grace, the Blackberry maintains a loyal customer base, with many preferring the physical keyboard to software-based, onscreen options.

    Blackberry no longer manufactures its own devices, but has licensed the rights to do so to outside companies. TCL lost its license to make Blackberry devices in February 2020, but OnwardMobility gained the contract in August 2020, and promised to deliver a new, 5G model in 2021.

    Despite 2021 having passed with no new Blackberry, OnwardMobility wants its customers to know they are coming.

    To all of you who have patiently waited so long for updates from OnwardMobility, we are humbly aware that we owe you some form of communication as we enter 2022. And to misquote Mark Twain, as so many do, “Contrary to popular belief, we are not dead.”

    The company also promises to provide more updates to future customers moving forward.

    While we encountered various delays that prevented us from shipping in 2021, we will be providing more regular updates starting this month that will clarify and answer many of your questions about the ultra-secure 5G enterprise smartphone (still with a keyboard!) we’re bringing to market.

  • Here’s the 50 Airports Excluded From Verizon and AT&T’s 5G

    Here’s the 50 Airports Excluded From Verizon and AT&T’s 5G

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a list of the 50 airports where Verizon and AT&T have agreed to enact 5G exclusion zones.

    After false starts and negotiations, Verizon and AT&T’s C-band 5G will finally go live on January 19. As part of their concessions addressing concerns about possible interference with aircraft altimeters, both carriers have agreed to exclusion zones around airports.

    By not deploying in the immediate vicinity of airports, it’s hoped any possible interference will be mitigated. These zones are specifically around airports where low-visibility landings occur.

    The FAA released a statement regarding the zones:

    Many airports are not currently affected by the new 5G deployment, even though they are not on this list. These include airports not in the 46 markets where the new service will be deployed and airports that do not currently have the ability to allow low-visibility landings.

    The wireless companies agreed to turn off transmitters and make other adjustments near these airports for six months to minimize potential 5G interference with sensitive aircraft instruments used in low-visibility landings.

    T-Mobile, of course, uses spectrum that poses no risks to altimeters. As a result, T-Mobile’s 5G is unaffected and the company does not need to use exclusion zones. Below is a list of the airports that will have the Verizon and AT&T exclusion zones. 

    Facility – Name

    AUS – AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL

    BED – LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD

    BFI – BOEING FLD/KING COUNTY INTL

    BHM – BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH INTL

    BNA – NASHVILLE INTL

    BUR – BOB HOPE

    CAK – AKRON-CANTON

    CLT – CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL

    DAL – DALLAS LOVE FLD

    DFW – DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL

    DTW – DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY

    EFD – ELLINGTON

    EWR – NEWARK LIBERTY INTL

    FAT – FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL

    FLL – FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTL

    FNT – FLINT MICHIGAN

    HOU – WILLIAM P HOBBY

    HVN – NEW HAVEN

    IAH – GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON

    IND – INDIANAPOLIS INTL

    ISP – LONG ISLAND MAC ARTHUR

    JFK – JOHN F KENNEDY INTL

    LAS – HARRY REID INTL

    LAX – LOS ANGELES INTL

    LGA – LAGUARDIA

    LGB – LONG BEACH (DAUGHERTY FLD)

    MCI – KANSAS CITY INTL

    MCO – ORLANDO INTL

    MDT – HARRISBURG INTL

    MDW – CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL

    MFE – MCALLEN INTL

    MIA – MIAMI INTL

    MSP – MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL/WOLD-CHAMBERLAIN

    ONT – ONTARIO INTL

    ORD – CHICAGO O’HARE INTL

    PAE – SNOHOMISH COUNTY (PAINE FLD)

    PBI – PALM BEACH INTL

    PHL – PHILADELPHIA INTL

    PHX – PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL

    PIE – ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL

    PIT – PITTSBURGH INTL

    RDU – RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL

    ROC – FREDERICK DOUGLASS/GREATER ROCHESTER INTL

    SEA – SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL

    SFO – SAN FRANCISCO INTL

    SJC – NORMAN Y MINETA SAN JOSE INTL

    SNA – JOHN WAYNE/ORANGE COUNTY

    STL – ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL

    SYR – SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL

    TEB – TETERBORO