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Tag: 5G

  • Qualcomm Helping Bring 5G to Low-Cost Phones

    Qualcomm Helping Bring 5G to Low-Cost Phones

    Qualcomm has announced it is bringing 5G to its Snapdragon 4-series line of chips.

    While many 5G phones have been announced, the vast majority of them are high-end models, such as the iPhone. As with any new technology, it is easier to roll it out at the top-end of the market first, using the purchases to help offset the cost of the new tech. As the technology matures, however, it inevitably becomes cheaper.

    Qualcomm’s latest announcement is a big step in that direction, as it is bringing 5G to its Snapdragon 4-series chips, used primarily in low-cost devices. Motorola, Oppos and Xiaomi have all committed to using the chip in upcoming phones.

    “Qualcomm continues to pave the way for 5G commercialization at scale, and the expansion of 5G into our Snapdragon 4-series is expected to address regions that currently have approximately 3.5 billion smartphone users combined,” said Cristiano Amon, president, Qualcomm Incorporated. “The Snapdragon 4-series 5G Mobile Platform is designed to exceed expectations for the mass-market segment by bringing an assortment of predominately high- and mid-tier features to a broader audience. It will deliver on the promise of making 5G accessible to all smartphone users.”

  • T-Mobile Adds Mid-Band 5G In Over 80 Cities; Verizon Calls ‘Foul’

    T-Mobile Adds Mid-Band 5G In Over 80 Cities; Verizon Calls ‘Foul’

    T-Mobile has rolled out high-speed, mid-band 5G in over 80 cities as it continues to utilize the spectrum it acquired with Sprint.

    Mid-band 5G is widely considered to be the sweet spot for 5G spectrum. It provides faster performance than T-Mobile’s low-band nationwide 5G network, reaching speeds up to 1 Gbps. At the same time, it offers better range and penetration than high-band 5G, which requires repeaters and base stations every couple of hundred meters.

    One of the driving factors in T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint was the wealth of mid-band, 2.5 GHz spectrum Sprint had. Since the acquisition was completed, T-Mobile has been integrating the spectrum as fast as possible, with today’s news being the biggest gain yet.

    “T-Mobile has the competition in the rear-view mirror on 5G, and they’re only getting farther behind. While the other guys are playing catch-up, we’ve had nationwide 5G since last year, and we’re now adding faster speeds across the country with mid-band 5G,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “This is our 5G strategy in action. Mid-band is the 5G spectrum, and T-Mobile has more of it than anyone. We have nearly twice as much low and mid-band spectrum as AT&T and nearly triple that of Verizon. And that means T-Mobile is the only one capable of making the world’s best 5G network a reality.”

    At this pace, T-Mobile’s competitors will be playing catch-up for some time. This is likely why Verizon has recently appealed to the FCC to prevent T-Mobile from gaining access to additional 600 MHz spectrum. Never mind the fact that Verizon chose not to bid on any 600 MHz spectrum when it was up for auction, believing they didn’t need the additional spectrum.

    Suddenly Verizon is changing its tune:

    “As shown above, it is T-Mobile that has the most substantial total low- and mid-band spectrum holdings of any provider at the national level,” Verizon stated in its appeal.

    Verizon goes on to quote T-Mobile’s Neville Ray on the status of the company’s advantage:

    “T-Mobile’s President of Technology, Neville Ray, recently boasted that, even before these arrangements take effect, T-Mobile’s low- and mid-band spectrum holdings give it such a ‘material advantage’ in the marketplace that its ‘competition doesn’t have a path to match [it] for some time.’ Indeed, Mr. Ray claimed that T-Mobile has a ‘2x’ or ‘3x multiple’ in the ‘mid- and low-bands’ over AT&T and Verizon.”

    It appears Verizon may now be regretting its decision to not purchase more spectrum when it had the opportunity.

  • Huawei Shifting Focus to the Cloud

    Huawei Shifting Focus to the Cloud

    As US-led sanctions take a toll, Huawei is increasingly shifting its focus to the cloud to help secure its future.

    Huawei is one of the main network equipment providers worldwide, competing with Nokia and Ericsson. In addition, it is one of the top smartphone makers. Despite its success, it has been under increasing pressure from the US over security concerns.

    While all Chinese companies must comply with the Chinese government, Huawei is largely seen as having unusually strong ties to the Chinese intelligence and military community. As a result, US officials have been adamant in their accusations that Huawei represents a threat to the national security of any country allowing the company’s equipment on their networks. This has led the US, Australia, New Zealand and the UK to institute bans of the beleaguered company.

    The US has also modified its Entity List and Foreign Direct Product Rule to exclude Huawei from accessing products based on US technology, even if those products are manufactured by non-US companies. This effectively cut Huawei off from TSMC, one of its biggest chip suppliers, causing Huawei to admit it will likely have to stop making its own chips as a result.

    According to the Financial Times, Huawei is now shifting its focus to its cloud business in an effort to stabilize and ensure its future survival. Recognizing the growing importance of its cloud unit, Huawei elevated it to equal footing with its telecoms and smartphones units back in January. The company still has much ground to cover before it catches up with rivals Tencent and Alibaba, but FT reports the Chinese government is planning to give Huawei more public cloud contracts to help it stabilize.

  • Qualcomm Doubles Range of mmWave 5G to 2.36 Miles

    Qualcomm Doubles Range of mmWave 5G to 2.36 Miles

    Qualcomm and Ericsson have successfully doubled the range of mmWave 5G, completing a phone call over data 2.36 miles away.

    mmWave is the fastest variety of 5G available, with speeds measured in gigabits. Its Achilles heel, however, has been its poor range and building penetration. In most applications, it requires base stations and repeaters to be placed every couple of hundred yards in order to provide stable coverage.

    Qualcomm’s latest test, however, has extended that range, specifically in the context of fixed wireless access (FWA). Because of its speed and low latency, 5G shows promise as a broadband replacement in areas where it would be cost prohibitive to run fiber. FWA equipment can have far more powerful antennas and radios than the average smartphone, helping to extend mmWave’s range.

    “With the introduction of the Qualcomm QTM527 mmWave antenna module as part of the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System, we are empowering operators and OEMs to offer high-performance, extended-range multi-gigabit 5G broadband to their customers – which is both flexible and cost-effective, as they can leverage existing 5G network infrastructure,” said Gautam Sheoran, senior director, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “With this major milestone being the first step in utilizing mmWave for an extended-range 5G data transfer, our collaboration with Casa Systems and Ericsson is paving the way to implement fixed broadband services for broad coverage in urban, suburban and rural environments.”

    This is a big step forward for Qualcomm and the 5G industry in general, and should help further its adoption.

  • France Decides Not to Ban Huawei, But Will Favor European Companies

    France Decides Not to Ban Huawei, But Will Favor European Companies

    France has announced it will not ban Huawei from its networks, unlike the US and its closest allies.

    The US has engaged in an all-out war against Huawei, claiming the company represents a critical threat to national security. US officials have pressured allies to follow suit, with the UK, Australia and New Zealand issuing bans of their own. Only Canada remains undecided, among the ‘Five Eyes’ countries.

    France has been undecided until now, although it appears it will not ban the Chinese firm. According to The Seattle Times, French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that Huawei will be able to participate in France’s 5G networks, but that European companies would be the preferred choice, due to security concerns.

    “It’s normal that … we want a European solution [because of] the security of our communication,” Macron said.

    This will be a blow to US-led efforts to isolate Huawei, but should help preserve French-Chinese trade relations.

  • US Among Countries With Slowest 5G

    US Among Countries With Slowest 5G

    OpenSignal has analyzed the wold’s 12 leading 5G markets, and the US is nearly dead-last, in terms of 5G speed.

    The United Kingdom took the spot as the country with the slowest 5G, averaging a mere 32.6 Mbps download. The US was second-worst, clocking in at 33.4 Mbps average download. Meanwhile, the top three countries were Saudi Arabia, Canada and South Korea, with 144.5, 90.4 and 75.6 Mbps download respectively.

    In spite of taking the second-worst spot for speed, it wasn’t all bad news for the US. In terms of coverage, the US came in fifth place, behind Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Hong Kong and South Korea. The fact the US scored so high on coverage is even more impressive given the land mass of the US compared with the top four countries.

    In fact, the reason for the impressive coverage the US enjoys is tied to its slower speed.

    “The modest 5G Download Speeds in the U.S. are due to a combination of the limited amount of new mid-band 5G spectrum that is available and the popularity of low-band spectrum – T-Mobile’s 600MHz and AT&T’s 850MHz – which offer excellent availability and reach but lower average speeds than the 3.5GHz mid-band spectrum used as the main 5G band in every country outside of the U.S,” writes OpenSignal’s Ian Fogg.

    As we have pointed out many times on WPN, low-band spectrum travels much farther and has better building penetration, compared to mid or high-band spectrum. The trade-off is speed that is only marginally better than 4G.

    “The U.S. is much higher ranked on 5G Availability than on average download speed because the low-band spectrum is ideally suited to enable great 5G reach and allow users to spend more time connected than in countries with higher frequency 5G spectrum,” continues Fogg. “In the US the low-band 5G services of T-Mobile and AT&T have helped drive a high 5G Availability result. T-Mobile U.S.’s very recent launch of standalone access 5G — where a phone no longer needs to connect to 4G in order for 5G to work — should help 5G services in future.”

  • NAD Supports Some T-Mobile 5G Claims, Disputes Others

    NAD Supports Some T-Mobile 5G Claims, Disputes Others

    The National Advertising Division (NAD), a division of BBB National Programs, has sided with T-Mobile on some of its advertising claims, while disputing others.

    The NAD is a branch of the BBB that helps ensure accuracy in advertising by providing dispute resolution and self-regulation. The challenge to T-Mobile’s advertising claims about its 5G service was lodged by Verizon.

    The NAD found that T-Mobile’s claims that its 5G is faster than its 4G, or competitors’ 4G was accurate. Similarly, the NAD found that T-Mobile’s claims that its 5G service offered better coverage than other providers’ 5G was also accurate.

    In spite of those wins, the NAD did recommend that T-Mobile alter or discontinue other claims. For example, it recommended T-Mobile stop implying its 5G was superior to 4G in other ways, such as reliability. Similarly, the NAD “recommended that T-Mobile discontinue the challenged claim that its 5G service is generally available in locations that have traditionally been challenging for cellular service (or disclose, clearly and conspicuously, the typical performance of T-Mobile’s 5G).”

    The NAD also recommended T-Mobile stop using demonstrations that implied other carriers’ 5G coverage footprint was as small as a city bench. The NAD also recommended T-Mobile stop comparing coverage to Verizon’s in the “Rock Stadium in Miami shortly before the Super Bowl and the related implied claim that T-Mobile’s current 5G network consistently provides no signal loss, decrease in signal strength, or reversion to 4G LTE service”

    This is just the latest spat between the carriers, as each tries to check the others’ advertising. The NAD recently ruled against Verizon, and the BBB’s National Advertising Review Board (NARB) upheld an unfavorable NAD ruling against AT&T. T-Mobile has said it will appeal the recommendation. We will provide an update once the NARB rules.

  • Akamai CEO Says 5G Will Change the Paradigm of the Web

    Akamai CEO Says 5G Will Change the Paradigm of the Web

    Mad Money’s Jim Cramer sat down with Akamai CEO Tom Leighton to discuss the impact 5G will have on the web.

    Akamai Technologies is one of the premier content delivery networks, providing critical services to companies around the world. As a result, the company has unique insight into new internet technologies, especially those that promise the transformative effect of 5G.

    Cramer asked Leighton about streaming platforms, and whether they were all Akamai customers.

    ”We work with Netflix, but don’t deliver the long-form videos today. We’re much more diversified today, so there’s no single really large customer on our platform. We work with pretty much all the world’s major brands, including the sporting events.”

    The interview then turned toward 5G specifically, with Cramer asking if 5G would essentially do away with the need for TVs.

    ”You’ll have a device always. Maybe it’s not your traditional TV. I think the devices are obviously changing. And I think 5G is a really exciting technology for the future, not just for watching video, but for the potential of all the IoT applications. The whole paradigm of the web could be changing. You know, we already operate an IoT platform. We have dozens of customers that are early adopters. The protocols there are all different than the web, and they’re a lot more efficient. The paradigms are different. I think that’s an exciting part of the future…”

    Leighton then expressed that the switch to remote work, remote learning, online banking, home entertainment and other post-pandemic changes were providing tailwinds for the company. As a result, their profits are up 30% year-over-year.

    Akamai CEO Says 5G Will Change the Paradigm of the Web
  • IBM and AT&T Deepen Their 5G/Edge Computing Partnership

    IBM and AT&T Deepen Their 5G/Edge Computing Partnership

    IBM and AT&T are deepening their 5G and edge computing partnership, with the goal of accelerating the business world’s digital transformation.

    The two companies are working at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center, where they are “deploying AT&T’s 5G and multi-access edge computing (MEC)—a private cellular, low latency solution that can process data on a business site’s premise, instead of routing traffic over public networks.”

    The two companies have a years-long history of working together, a partnership that helped them both respond to the coronavirus pandemic by helping customers with their work from home needs. Now the two companies are building on that track record, working on new ways to enable remote work, especially in those industries where it has not yet been possible.

    “Combining 5G with edge computing, for example, could open the door to breakthroughs in robotics and the ability to perform intricate machine work from remote locations,” write Mo Katibeh, AT&T Chief Product and Platform Officer and Steve Canepa, IBM General Manager of the Global Communications Sector. “One of the tasks we are exploring at Yorktown Heights envisions enabling a researcher to remotely adjust locations of IoT network devices in a laboratory. Another envisions allowing a systems administrator to remotely rewire machines in a data center to provide a more agile environment.”

    At the same time, the two companies are working to help employees be able to safely return to work.

    “We are addressing workplace safety in a system driven by IBM AI and made feasible at scale by AT&T LTE and 5G mobile network technologies,” continue Katibeh and Canepa. “That includes AT&T MEC. This solution from AT&T enables the development and deployment of new capabilities that rely on ultra-low latency, higher security and privacy, improved bandwidth conservation and greater control of data.

    “The low latency of 5G allows for remote operations in industrial settings, helping to keep workers from harmful situations. And if any dangerous situations do arise, edge computing is designed to let businesses capture and analyze data quickly without extra storage or processing on a central cloud.

    “That same processing ability can help employees look after their health with devices to monitor their temperature, oxygen levels and blood pressure with instantaneous feedback. Hospitals can even take advantage of similar advances to make their current infrastructures more reliable, while implementing advances like wireless surgery, robotics, virtual reality simulations.”

    IBM and AT&T’s partnership is poised to leverage emerging technologies to help companies now and in the future.

  • Verizon 5G Brings the Indy 500 to Fans’ Homes

    Verizon 5G Brings the Indy 500 to Fans’ Homes

    The coronavirus pandemic may be keeping people at home, but Verizon is bringing the Indy 500 right to them.

    Verizon, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and NBC Sports have teamed up to provide a front-row experience to fans. A high-definition, 360-degree camera will be placed in the infield and take advantage of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband service, as well as augmented reality (AR).

    In addition to being streamed via Verizon’s BlueJeans platform, AR will allow fans to watch the race on their smartphones, choosing the perspective that best suits them. They will even be able to tour the garages and see the drivers.

    “Thanks to Verizon, fans around the globe will be given unprecedented digital access to the biggest personalities and the most exciting behind-the-scenes action of this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said Jonathan Gibson, Executive Vice President, Penske Corporation. “From 5G powered Race Day footage to a public drivers meeting on an innovative platform like BlueJeans, we’re excited to team up with Verizon for an epic Race Weekend.”

    This is just the latest example of what can be accomplished when combining 5G with other innovative technologies, such as AR.

  • Verizon Bundles Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, Talks Nationwide 5G

    Verizon Bundles Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, Talks Nationwide 5G

    Verizon has significantly upgraded its Disney+ bundle, including both Hulu and ESPN+ for select plans.

    Verizon made headlines when it bundled a year of Disney’s new Disney+ streaming service for upper tier plans. The company is now expanding that to include the ad-supported Hulu plan, as well as ESPN+.

    “Our new Mix & Match plans make the choice clearer than ever: customers get the best network and the best value with Verizon,” said Frank Boulben, SVP Marketing and Products of Verizon Consumer Group. “We led the industry by giving customers Disney+ on us. Now we’re adding The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, for more entertainment choices that appeal to a variety of interests. We can’t wait to see what customers choose to suit their needs.”

    “The addition of The Disney Bundle to our agreement with Verizon reinforces our commitment to providing their subscribers with access to high-quality entertainment from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+,” said Sean Breen, EVP, Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Company. “We are always looking for the most advantageous ways for consumers to experience our content and we are pleased to work with Verizon so that they can provide their customers with these appealing new offers.”

    Verizon also took the opportunity to speak, albeit briefly, about their upcoming nationwide 5G network. According to the company, all of its new Mix & Match plans will support nationwide 5G, which it says is coming this year—although there were no dates given.

    Verizon is currently the only one of the three major carriers to not have a nationwide 5G network. T-Mobile is currently in the lead, in terms of coverage, with AT&T in second place. In contrast, Verizon opted early on to focus almost exclusively on the high-band mmWave variety of 5G. This flavor is exceptionally fast, but offers limited range and poor building penetration. As a result, it is only suitable for cities and densely populated areas where base stations can be installed every couple of hundred meters.

    At the root of the problem is Verizon’s lack of available low and mid-band spectrum. T-Mobile used its 600 MHz spectrum for its nationwide network, while AT&T used its 850 MHz spectrum. Verizon’s 700 MHz spectrum is tied up with its 4G LTE network. As a result, the company has been looking at Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to share it’s low-band spectrum between LTE and 5G networks, using DSS to switch back and forth depending on what type of device is currently accessing the tower. Unfortunately, while a good idea on paper, DSS has faced its fair share of criticism and issues.

    With Verizon so far behind in the 5G race, one can’t help but wonder if its increased bundling is an effort to add value for its customers, and keep them from defecting, while it plays catchup.

  • By 2030 The iPhone Will Be A Billion Times More Powerful

    By 2030 The iPhone Will Be A Billion Times More Powerful

    “The iPhone is not going away in the decade of the 2020s,” says former Apple CEO John Sculley. “In fact, if you look at the microprocessor technology that Apple has invested in, some people have estimated that by 2030 the iPhone will be a billion times more powerful than the original iPhone that Steve Jobs introduced.”

    John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple, discusses the ‘long runway’ that he believes Apple has, predicting that Apple will be worth more than $2.5 trillion by 2025:

    By 2030 The iPhone Will Be A Billion Times More Powerful

    Service is really the biggest part of the story for Apple through this decade. I’ve seen estimates as high for services reaching $50 billion of profits by 2025. I look at it in terms of what are the things that Apple can control? One of them is the terrific technology that they now have with their vertical integration into the iPhone.

    The iPhone is not going away in the decade of the 2020s. In fact, if you look at the microprocessor technology that Apple has invested in, some people have estimated that by 2030 the iPhone will be a billion times more powerful than the original iPhone that Steve Jobs introduced.

    By 2025 Apple Will Have a $2.5 Trillion Market Cap

    Think about what that means for services and the types of things you will be able to do. Think about when 5G is fully deployed around the world. Apple has a great runway ahead of them. It’s the most competent company in the world in terms of its ability to run operations and execute. Many people have said, why isn’t it more innovative? It actually is very innovative in the things that are important in building its ecosystem.

    For example, the app library that Apple announced this year. It only makes it easier for people to add more apps and to be able to upgrade apps. That’s the engine of profitability for Apple – in the services, particularly the app store. I’m very bullish on Apple. I think they will hit a $2 trillion market cap before the end of this year. By 2025 we will be talking about will Apple hit $2.5 trillion. This is clearly a company that is in for a long run.

    By 2030 The iPhone Will Be A Billion Times More Powerful, Says Former Apple CEO John Sculley
  • Verizon Launches 5G Ultra Wideband in San Jose

    Verizon Launches 5G Ultra Wideband in San Jose

    Verizon has added another city to its 5G map, rolling out 5G Ultra Wideband in parts of San Jose.

    Verizon has been working to expand its 5G coverage, although its coverage still lags far behind AT&T and T-Mobile. This is largely as a result of the frequency Verizon is using.

    Unlike its competitors, who have rolled out low-band nationwide 5G networks, Verizon is currently focusing on the high-band flavor of 5G. While it offers the fastest speeds, it has exceptionally short range and building penetration. As a result, even in the cities Verizon offers 5G Ultra Wideband, it usually only offers it in parts of those cities.

    Nonetheless, San Jose is the latest city to be added to the list.

    “5G Ultra Wideband service will be concentrated in parts of Downtown San Jose, Little Saigon, Little Italy, West San Jose, North San Jose in the technology corridor, and South San Jose near landmarks such as Japanese Friendship Garden, Guadalupe River Park, Arena Green East, and outside of the CEFCU Stadium & Excite Ballpark,” says the company’s announcement.

  • T-Mobile Passes AT&T to Become Nation’s Second-Largest Carrier

    T-Mobile Passes AT&T to Become Nation’s Second-Largest Carrier

    Following its merger with Sprint and a strong second quarter, T-Mobile has passed AT&T to become the nation’s second-largest wireless carrier.

    T-Mobile closed its merger with Sprint on April 1 and has been chalking up one milestone after another. It’s worked hard to integrate Sprint’s spectrum into its own network, rolled out mid-band 5G in major cities and unveiled the world’s first nationwide standalone 5G network.

    With its second quarter report, T-Mobile has added some 1,245,000 total net additions, including 1,112,000 postpaid net additions. This represents the 22nd consecutive quarter where T-Mobile has led the industry in net custom additions.

    Even more impressive, T-Mobile has managed to overtake AT&T as the second-largest wireless carrier in the US.

    “Surpassing AT&T to become #2 was a huge milestone to kick off Q2, but that was only the beginning! In our first quarter as a combined company, T-Mobile led the industry in total branded customer adds – even in a challenging environment – and there is no doubt that we are THE leading growth company in wireless,” said Mike Sievert, T-Mobile CEO. “Now we’re setting our sights on #1 – in customer choice and customers’ hearts – and we’ll get there by doing ONLY what the Un-carrier can do: offering customers the most advanced 5G network AND the best value while continuing to make big moves that fix customer pain points and disrupt this industry. I’m excited about what’s to come in this new T-Mobile era – we’re just getting started!”

    This is a major milestone for a company that, just a few years ago, was the fourth largest carrier in the US.

  • T-Mobile Hits Major Milestone: First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network

    T-Mobile Hits Major Milestone: First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network

    After teasing a major network announcement Monday, T-Mobile has announced a world first: a standalone nationwide 5G network.

    The first 5G implementations have been built on non-standalone technology. That means the backbone of the network is based on 4G LTE tech. The benefit is that compatible devices can connect to LTE or 5G simultaneously. This provides faster performance than traditional 4G networks, especially when it comes to data speeds. A true standalone 5G network, where all components are based on 5G tech, offers opportunities that can’t be achieved with a non-standalone network.

    The potential of standalone 5G makes T-Mobile’s milestone all that much more significant.

    “In the near-term, SA allows T-Mobile to unleash its entire 600 MHz footprint for 5G. With non-standalone network architecture (NSA), 600 MHz 5G is combined with mid-band LTE to access the core network, but without SA the 5G signal only goes as far as mid-band LTE,” says the company blog. “With today’s launch, 600 MHz 5G can go beyond the mid-band signal, covering hundreds of square miles from a single tower and going deeper into buildings than before. Thanks to T-Mobile’s ongoing 5G build, and by flipping the switch on SA, the Un-carrier has immediately increased its 5G footprint by 30 percent — now covering 1.3 million square miles in more than 7,500 cities and towns across the country.”

    According to T-Mobile, it’s 5G network is now two times larger than AT&T’s and 10,000 times bigger than Verizon’s.

  • Verizon the First US Wireless Company to Offer International 5G

    Verizon the First US Wireless Company to Offer International 5G

    Verizon has become the first US wireless carrier to strike an international 5G roaming deal.

    All three US carriers are racing to deploy 5G networks, and are eager to tout their milestones and advantages. T-Mobile has the widest 5G coverage, while Verizon’s 5G network has the fastest speeds. Verizon can now add another feather to its cap, being the first US wireless company to offer 5G international roaming—albeit in a single country.

    The company has inked a deal to offer 5G roaming service in South Korea. Verizon conducted tests using a dual frequency device that can access the company’s mmWave service in the US and Korea’s 3.5 GHz mid-band spectrum when roaming. Speeds in Korea averaged 252 Mbps down and 119 Mbps up. Despite the rather humble beginnings, Verizon promises more countries will soon be included in its international roaming agreements.

    “We are in the early phases of global roaming partnerships with other countries and will continue to look for strategic partnerships with international providers who, like Verizon, are leading the 5G evolution. This roaming service with South Korea will serve as a model as we engage with 5G providers in other countries to provide our customers who travel globally with more options,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer.

  • T-Mobile and Sprint Officially Unified Under T-Mobile Brand

    T-Mobile and Sprint Officially Unified Under T-Mobile Brand

    Four months after completing a merger years in the making, T-Mobile has officially shut down the Sprint brand.

    T-Mobile and Sprint pursued a merger for several years before finally coming to an agreement and receiving FCC and DOJ approval. Despite federal backing, a coalition of states filed a lawsuit to block the merger. After a judge ruled in T-Mobile’s favor, the merger moved forward with T-Mobile quickly integrating Sprint’s spectrum into its own network.

    Now the company has officially retired the Sprint brand, unifying the two under the T-Mobile brand.

    ”Our team has been working night and day to combine our storefronts – and this is SO much more than just rebranding thousands of Sprint locations with a fresh coat of magenta paint,” writes CEO Mike Sievert. “This is about giving customers even MORE access to our expanded retail footprint, (one of the largest in the United States) and making it even easier and more convenient for them to safely drop in, chat with a Mobile Expert, make upgrades, get the latest deals, and reap the benefits from all that new T-Mobile has to offer! It was no small feat and is a testament to incredible teamwork all around the country. Today truly marks the beginning of a new era for T-Mobile, and for our customers.”

    Sievert also took the opportunity to tout the company’s 5G plans, especially in comparison to the competition.

    ”It all starts with our people and of course our integration work – with major milestones like this one marking our way – and then it really comes to life with our 5G network that will surpass anything that anyone (yes, including Verizon) will deliver to the market for years! (Spoiler alert: we have another important network milestone coming up really soon… because Neville and his team are truly firing on all cylinders to bring 5G to even more people in more places, so stay tuned!). Trust me, we are going to bring new and better connectivity options to everything from major metros and urban cities to small towns and rural America!”

    It remains to be seen what the network milestone is that Sievert is referring to. Given the amount of spectrum T-Mobile acquired with the merger, it’s a safe bet it’s probably something big.

  • US Warns Brazil Over Looming Huawei Decision

    US Warns Brazil Over Looming Huawei Decision

    US officials are not letting up on their campaign to isolate Huawei, as they are now threatening Brazil with “consequences” if the country chooses Huawei.

    The US has been engaging in a campaign to isolate and contain Huawei, a firm believed to represent a security threat. While all Chinese firms are required to cooperate with the government, Huawei is seen as having unusually strong ties to Beijing and Chinese intelligence. As a result, US officials believe the company could serve as a means for Beijing to spy on governments and companies around the world.

    The US’ efforts recently forced the UK to reconsider its decision to include Huawei in its 5G plans. Australia and New Zealand have both already instituted bans, after deeming Huawei a threat. That leaves Canada as the sole member of the ‘Five Eyes’ countries that has not yet made a final decision on whether to include or ban Huawei.

    Now the US is ramping up pressure on other countries, including Brazil.

    “I wouldn’t say there would be retaliation, but there would be consequences” said Ambassador Todd Chapman, according to The International Business Times when speaking of a possible decision to include Huawei.

  • U.S. Cellular Turns to Nokia For mmWave 5G Equipment

    U.S. Cellular Turns to Nokia For mmWave 5G Equipment

    U.S. Cellular is working with Nokia to acquire the equipment needed for its 5G rollout.

    U.S. Cellular is the fourth largest wireless carrier in the US. Unlike T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T, however, U.S. Cellular is a regional carrier. It currently operates in 23 states. Despite its regional status, the company is working to deploy mmWave 5G in its markets.

    mmWave is the fastest variety of 5G available, with speeds measured in gigabits. As such, it promises to be a revolutionary upgrade, upending what is normally possible with a cellular connection.

    U.S. Cellular is working with Nokia on its multi-year 5G deployment, with commercial availability beginning in 2021.

    “U.S. Cellular and Nokia are taking bold steps forward together in the realm of 5G modernization and connectivity,” said Mike Irizarry, CTO, U.S. Cellular. “With 5G mmWave technology from Nokia, we can provide our customers with the leading-edge capabilities of high performance, ultra-low latency 5G. By readying our network with these key foundational network elements, we can offer an even wider range of communications services that enhance our customers’ wireless experience.”

  • Ericsson Delivers First US Manufactured 5G Basestation to Verizon

    Ericsson Delivers First US Manufactured 5G Basestation to Verizon

    Verizon is the first company to receive Ericsson’s US manufactured, 5G commercial basestation.

    5G promises to be one of the most transformative networking upgrades in history. The fastest variety of 5G, mmWave, delivers speeds measured in gigabits rather than megabits. In addition, 5G latency is usually in the single digits. As a result, 5G holds potential to be a viable replacement for traditional types of internet access, such as DSL, cable or fiber.

    Despite the benefits of mmWave 5G, it has notoriously short range and even worse building penetration. In order to provide coverage, carriers must place basestations every couple of hundred meters, making basestations a high-demand component for 5G rollouts.

    Ericsson has been working to meet demand, including ramping up a smart factory in Texas to manufacture the equipment.

    “Ericsson’s smart factory is a cornerstone of our collaboration as we work together to bring 5G to our consumer, enterprise and public safety customers,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer of Verizon. “Together these types of innovation will accelerate our 5G deployments, as we expand our 5G leadership in technology and continue to rapidly build the ecosystem with our partners.”

    “As the most advanced platform for innovation, 5G will enable a transformation across enterprises – as we’re now experiencing in our own smart factories,” said Fredrik Jejdling, Ericsson Executive Vice President and Head of Networks. “Automation and remote operations have become more important, and we’re working with our customers to make them available for the benefit of industries. From producing the first 5G base stations at our 5G USA Smart Factory earlier this year, we’ve made our first commercial delivery to Verizon. That’s just the beginning.”

    The US has been working to bring more high-tech manufacturing in-country in an effort to better insulate the tech industry from the kind of setbacks it suffered as a result of the pandemic. Ericsson’s announcement is another significant step in that direction.

  • Verizon CEO: We Are Building A Transformative 5G

    Verizon CEO: We Are Building A Transformative 5G

    “What’s important is that we are building a transformative 5G,” says Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. “It will have the ultra-wideband that nobody else has with the highest speeds in the world on 5G. Then we are going to have 5G nationwide in the second half. We are also going to have the best 4G network. Our customers are going to feel how transformative our 5G is. It is not an incremental improvement from our 4G, it is transformative.”

    Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon, discusses their planned nationwide launch of their “transformative” Verizon 5G in the second half of 2020:

    We Are Building A Transformative 5G

    I’m really excited because we have so many launches coming in the second half of 2020. We are on-plan or ahead of all the things we have committed to. What’s important is that we are building a transformative 5G. It will have the ultra-wideband that nobody else has with the highest speeds in the world on 5G. Then we are going to have 5G nationwide in the second half. We are also going to have the best 4G network. Our customers are going to get a great opportunity here. 

    We will also have a high penetration with IoS (Apple) and the Verizon customer base. Of course, it is going to be more important even when Apple comes out with a 5G phone. We have a great network all the way to the ultra-wideband to 5G nationwide on top of having the best 4G network. Our customers are going to feel how transformative our 5G is. It is not an incremental improvement from our 4G, it is transformative. 

    Everyone Wants To Beat Us But We Will Not Let Them

    We are well-positioned in terms of the competitive landscape. We have worked on our network for three years now to put us in the best position for 5G now. We also have worked on our mix and match that are customers have asked for. In this quarter, we had a record uptake on our premium unlimited. Our customers are moving up the ladder to be part of our services. 

    Ronan Dunne, who runs the Verizon Consumer Group has a really good plan on how we are going to compete. This is nothing new for us. We have been leading this market for a long time and of course, everyone wants to beat us. We will not let them beat us. We will just execute on the plans we have.

    Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg: We Are Building A Transformative 5G