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Tag: 5G

  • T-Mobile Takes Top Spot in PCMag’s Annual Speed Test

    T-Mobile Takes Top Spot in PCMag’s Annual Speed Test

    In PCMag’s annual test of the US wireless networks, T-Mobile has decisively taken the top spot for 5G service.

    PCMag’s annual review involves sending its drivers across the country, covering more than 10,000 miles, and more than 30 cities and 6 different rural regions. This provides an opportunity to get real-world data, not only on the speeds each carrier offers, but also the degree of improvement over past years.

    PCMag started off their Fastest Mobile Networks 2021 report with high praise for T-Mobile.

    It’s T-Mobile’s year at last. The carrier’s new mid-band 5G network is the only nationwide 5G that’s markedly faster than 4G, earning T-Mobile its first-ever PCMag award for America’s fastest mobile network.

    The report found that T-Mobile took the 5G crown in 24 of the cities and rural regions PCMag’s drivers tested. AT&T came in second with 8, and Verizon brought up the rear with two.

    T-Mobile’s top download speed was 1,134.4 Mbps, with an average of 162.3, while upload topped out at 140.5, with an average of 28.1. AT&T’s max and average download speeds were 1,090.9 and 98.2, while its upload speeds were 89.5 and 21.1. Verizon’s download speeds were 2,216.7 and 93.7, while its uploads were 102.8 and 21.5.

    One thing is clear from this report: T-Mobile has skyrocketed past its competition in just a year’s time, comparing the 2020 and 2021 data. The key to T-Mobile’s rise is the mid-band spectrum it acquired as part of the Sprint acquisition.

    As we have written about many times on WPN, mid-band spectrum is the sweet spot for 5G. High-band mmWave offers the absolute fastest speeds, but its paired with abysmal, almost useless range and building penetration. That’s why Verizon is able to clock the highest speeds in the test but, because Verizon bet so heavily on mmWave, its availability is equally abysmal. In fact, because mmWave requires so many repeaters and base stations to give any appreciable coverage PCMag found that Verizon’s mmWave availability in metro areas was only 3.27%, compared to 2.82% in 2020 — barely any measurable growth.

    On the other end of the spectrum, low-band 5G — using spectrum in the same range as 4G LTE — provides outstanding coverage but little to no real speed benefit over 4G. That’s why in 2020 T-Mobile’s speeds were decidedly behind its two rivals, since T-Mobile’s early 5G investment was in a nationwide low-band network.


    In contrast, mid-band spectrum offers the perfect blend of coverage and speed. With the Sprint merger complete, and T-Mobile rapidly rolling out Sprint’s wealth of mid-spectrum, the company has suddenly found itself firmly in the 5G lead.

    Verizon and AT&T clearly have their work cut out, and PCMag’s report shows why both companies had to spend a fortune at the FCC’s spectrum auction to acquire the spectrum they need to catch up.

  • GM and AT&T Partnering to Bring 5G to Vehicles

    GM and AT&T Partnering to Bring 5G to Vehicles

    GM and AT&T are partnering to bring 5G to GM’s vehicle lineup right off the assembly line.

    5G promises to revolutionize multiple industries, with its high speeds and low latency. Few stand to benefit as much as the automotive industry, with 5G seen as a crucial component of autonomous driving efforts.

    GM and AT&T are working together to make that a reality by bringing 5G to GM’s lineup by the end of the decade. The two companies will collaborate on building out a high performance 5G core, with a focus on improved coverage of roadways, better over-the-air software updates, improved navigation and mapping, as well as faster music and video downloads.

    The technology will begin rolling out in select 2024 models.

    “Together with AT&T, we’ve brought unprecedented experiences to the daily commute, family road trips and everything in between,” said Santiago Chamorro, GM vice president of Global Connected Services. “As an in-vehicle connectivity leader, this rollout demonstrates our commitment to growth through software-enabled services and reimagining every customer touchpoint by enabling faster connectivity speeds to power in-vehicle voice-enabled services, navigation, and apps that our customers have grown to love.”

    “By connecting millions of GM vehicles to our nationwide 5G network, we will improve the customer experience for existing services while laying the groundwork for the next wave of innovation including autonomous driving,” said Gregory Wieboldt, senior vice president, Global Business, Industry Solutions, AT&T. “We now connect more vehicles than any other carrier and GM has played a critical role in our success. We’re honored to work alongside GM to usher the next chapter of connected driving.”

  • 5G Smartphone Will Account for 50% of Revenue by 2025

    5G Smartphone Will Account for 50% of Revenue by 2025

    5G may still be in its infancy, but 5G phones will account for 50% of smartphone revenue by 2025.

    A new report by Juniper Research is good news for smartphone makers and the 5G industry in general. According to the company, by 2025, 5G smartphone sales revenue will be a whopping $337 billion, up from the current $108 billion. That figure represents more than 50% of the total smartphone revenue, and a 210% growth rate.

    Interestingly, while there are several different flavors of 5G — far-reaching low-band; ultra-fast, short-range mmWave; and the Goldilocks mid-band — Juniper is predicting that the most successful models will be those that include support for the fastest mmWave. These smartphones will be able to take full advantage of the promise 5G provides, especially when paired with cloud computing services.

    At the same time, over the long-term, upcoming ‘right-to-repair’ legislation in both North America and Europe poses a threat to the upgrade cycle smartphone vendors rely on. Once customers are able to repair their phone more easily, rather than simply replace them, vendors will need to innovate even more to encourage upgrades.

    “The effect of these laws will not be felt initially, as consumers adopt 5G smartphones to leverage the high speeds and reduced latency of 5G networks,” explained Research Author Adam Wears. “Hardware vendors must use this opportunity to build out new device capabilities to encourage consumers to continue regularly upgrading and avoid churn to competitors.”

    The full report is well worth a read, and provides valuable insight into the 5G smartphone market

  • Apple Releases Dev Tool to Prioritize 5G Over WiFi on iOS/iPadOS 15

    Apple Releases Dev Tool to Prioritize 5G Over WiFi on iOS/iPadOS 15

    Apple has released a tool for developers to use to prioritize 5G over WiFi, a useful feature when connected to insecure networks.

    According to MacRumors, the tool builds on an existing feature that prioritizes 5G when it offers a better connection than the available WiFi.

    5G devices running iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 can automatically prioritize connecting via 5G instead of WiFi when the performance of WiFi networks you visit occasionally is slow, or when you are connected to captive or insecure WiFi networks. Install the 5G Preferred Over Wi-Fi profile (“profile”) on devices running iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 Beta 4 or greater to greatly increase the likelihood of seeing 5G preferred over Wi-Fi connections and to ensure your networking path logic is optimized for situations where 5G will be preferred. For more information, see https://developer.apple.com/5g/.

    Apple’s new tool illustrates the potential uses cases and benefits of 5G as it becomes more commonplace.

  • NTT Launches Private 5G Network-as-a-Service

    NTT Launches Private 5G Network-as-a-Service

    Japanese telecom company NTT has launched the first global private 5G Network-as-a-Service.

    5G is the next evolution of wireless technology and promises to revolutionize multiple industries. The technology offers speeds measures in gigabits, in some cases far exceeding what some businesses have access to with traditional internet options.

    While 5G is being hyped in the cellphone market, many see it meeting its true potential in the business and enterprise arena. One such application is private 5G networks, combining the speed of 5G with the security of a private network.

    NTT has now launched the first global Private 5G Network-as-a-Service, providing end-to-end management and a greater ROI. The service can be delivered via the cloud, on-premise or at the edge.

    “As data and mobility become more critical to business operations, 5G will enable enterprises to reinvent business operations. With faster speeds and more data, 5G will facilitate advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and IoT,” said Eric Clark, NTT Data Services North America Chief Digital and Strategy Officer. “How a company collects, stores, and uses that data in real-time will be critical to success, and NTT is well positioned to guide our clients on this journey.”

    The service is already winning high praise from NTT partners.

    “As a key partner in our digital transformation journey, NTT has an impressive track record of building and supporting new technologies that help CXOs solve critical business challenges,” said Javier Polit, Chief Information & Global Digital Services Officer of Mondelēz International. “NTT’s unique approach to Private 5G offerings provides the kind of agility and insight that we will need to further accelerate our business.”

    “The private 5G technology has the potential to fundamentally change the way enterprises drive digital transformation,” said Ghassan Abdo, Research Vice President from IDC. “NTT has a strong track record of focusing on breadth of service, and NTT P5G capabilities extend far beyond basic connectivity to offer a comprehensive suite of services geared toward important business outcomes.”

  • Tim Cook: 5G Is in ‘Very Early Innings of’ Rollout

    Tim Cook: 5G Is in ‘Very Early Innings of’ Rollout

    Following a record-breaking quarter, Apple CEO Tim Cook says 5G rollout still has a long way to go and will continue to drive iPhone sales.

    The iPhone 12 was the first model to support 5G. Wireless carriers around the world are racing to deploy the next generation of wireless technology, although different countries and carriers are proceeding at drastically different paces.

    A key element of Apple’s success this last quarter was a 50% growth in iPhone sales, long-considered Apple’s biggest cash cow. Cook doesn’t see that changing for some time, as 5G’s relative infancy still leaves plenty of room for growth.

    “We’re in the very early innings of 5G,” Cook said during Apple’s earnings call, according to AppleInsider. “There are only a couple of countries that are in the double digits.” 

    “We feel really good about the future of the iPhone,” Cook added, in regard to its future growth.

  • Dish’s 5G Network Will Be Available in Beta End of September

    Dish’s 5G Network Will Be Available in Beta End of September

    Dish Network has announced its upcoming 5G network will be available in beta at the end of September.

    Dish has been working to build out its 5G network, intent on becoming the fourth major carrier in the US. The company received a major boost as a result of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, when regulators forced the two wireless carriers to divest themselves of some assets to help Dish break into the market. Regulators were concerned about the impact on consumers from the market consolidating to three carriers instead of four.

    After much anticipation, The Verge is reporting that Dish’s 5G service is now preparing to enter beta, with it available by the end of September. The company has previously committed to covering 70% of the US population by June 2023, so it certainly seems Dish plans to hit the ground running.

  • Verizon Brings 5G Fixed-Wireless for Business to Five News Cities, 47 Total

    Verizon Brings 5G Fixed-Wireless for Business to Five News Cities, 47 Total

    Verizon has expanded its fixed-wireless for business to five additional cities, bringing its total to 47.

    Verizon has poised its fastest variety of 5G, 5G Ultra Wideband, as a viable option for businesses, instead of relying on traditional broadband options. 5G Ultra Wideband has speed measured in gigabits, in many cases far faster than some businesses have access to.

    The company has now rolled outs its service in parts of Gresham, OR; Albuquerque, NM; Austin, TX; Little Rock, AR; and Nashville, TN.

    “The expansion of 5G Business Internet is ahead of schedule, and we will continue to add availability in new cities throughout the year, but this is just the start. The upcoming deployment of our new spectrum assets will be a major catalyst for 5G fixed-wireless growth,” said Sampath Sowmyanarayan, Chief Revenue Officer of Verizon Business.

  • Ericsson Awarded Smaller Share of 5G Network Market

    Ericsson Awarded Smaller Share of 5G Network Market

    Ericsson has been warning the ongoing sanctions against Huawei could impact its own business in China, and that appears to be happening.

    Huawei has been under pressure around the world, with multiple countries banning the telecom equipment maker from participating in their 5G networks over security concerns. Ericsson has warned it could suffer retaliation.

    The company has confirmed it has only been awarded a 2% market share for the 700 MHz round of 5G network development. In contrast, the company received 11% of the 2.6 GHz rollout.

    Ericsson’s issues illustrate the challenges countries and companies are increasingly facing as technology becomes more nationalized.

  • T-Mobile Shutting Down Sprint’s LTE Network Mid-2022

    T-Mobile Shutting Down Sprint’s LTE Network Mid-2022

    T-Mobile has confirmed it will shut down Sprint’s LTE network, as the magenta carrier continues to absorb Sprint’s customers.

    T-Mobile bought Sprint in 2020, catapulting the carrier into the number two position in the US market. The biggest benefit of the merger was Sprint’s treasure-trove of spectrum. T-Mobile wasted no time in shutting down Sprint’s legacy 5G network and deploying Sprint’s spectrum to improve its own network.

    According to Light Reading, T-Mobile has now confirmed it will shut down Sprint’s 4G LTE network, effective June 30, 2022.

    The news is not really a dire revelation, however, as T-Mobile revealed in its quarterly results that its network is already carrying 80% of Sprint customer traffic. In addition, over a third of Sprint customers have already transitioned to T-Mobile.

    Freeing up Sprint’s LTE spectrum will be another big step in T-Mobile’s ongoing efforts to take on Verizon.

  • Weather Forecasts May Suffer From 5G

    Weather Forecasts May Suffer From 5G

    Carriers may be racing to deploy 5G, but it seems accurate weather forecasts may be an unintended casualty.

    5G promises to revolutionize a slew of industries, offering speeds that rival or surpasses traditional broadband. Thanks to being wireless, the technology promises to have a profound impact on edge computing, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and more.

    Unfortunately, one of the trade-offs may be more accurate weather forecasts, according to Scientific American. The issue revolves around spectrum in the 24 Ghz band, spectrum weather satellites rely on to monitor the natural microwave signals that atmospheric water vapor produces.

    “It is one of those things that are a gift of nature,” said William Mahoney III, associate director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. “A third of the current forecasting skill comes from this data,” adding the data can “make the difference between a blue sky day and a tornado day.”

    Unfortunately, 5G signals in that spectrum range can drown out the water vapor signals.

    “If you have a large network of cellphone towers transmitting many orders of magnitude more power near the ground, some of that reflects upward and parts of the atmosphere will become very noisy,” Mahoney said.

    The results could be disastrous, severely inhibiting meteorologists ability to accurately forecast the weather, including warning people of severe weather events.

    Similarly, the 16 MHz spectrum is used to connect satellites to automated gauges that measure a variety of factors, including wind speeds and water levels in rivers and streams. Here again, there is concern that noise from wireless technology could interfere with those signals.

    No one is really sure what happens next. The US, and the entire world, is already heavily invested in deploying 5G. It’s unlikely any kind of moratorium will be put in place, leaving scientists and researchers with the tall task of finding a solution.

  • T-Mobile Delivers Record Q2, Raises Guidance

    T-Mobile Delivers Record Q2, Raises Guidance

    T-Mobile continued its assent in the US wireless industry, turning in a record-breaking Q2 and raising guidance across the board.

    The magenta carrier added 1.3 million customers, and led the industry with 627,000 postpaid phone net additions, 2.5x more than last year. The company had $20 billion in revenue, a 13% growth year over year.

    Net income came in at $978 million, 8x more than last year, representing earnings per share of $0.78. In contrast, analysts were expecting $19.34 billion, with $0.53 per share earnings.

    T-Mobile also continued its 5G dominance, covering 305 million people and 1.7 million square miles with its Extended Range 5G. The company was quick to point out that this represents more coverage than Verizon and AT&T combined.

    At the same time, T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity 5G, with average speeds of 350 Mbps, covers 165 million people. The company says it is on track to cover 200 million by year’s end.

    “Stellar postpaid customer gains and industry-leading service revenue growth translated into industry-best growth in profitability and cash flow, and drove another beat and raise quarter – all fueled by unprecedented synergies that only T-Mobile can deliver,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “As we capitalize on our 5G leadership, it’s increasingly clear that our unmatched network, outstanding value and customer-centric experiences are setting the Un-carrier apart from everyone else.”

  • Verizon Reports Record Q2 Results on 5G Growth

    Verizon Reports Record Q2 Results on 5G Growth

    Verizon has reported its Q2 earnings, breaking records on strong 5G growth.

    Verizon reported revenue of $33.8 billion, a 10.9% increase from the year-ago quarter, and up 5.3% from Q2 2019. The company added 275,000 phone net additions, and reported one of its lowest churn rates in recent years, at a mere 0.65% for retail postpaid phones.

    The company attributed much of its success to the increased adoption of 5G phones and services, no doubt aided by the company’s recent aggressive 5G upgrade campaign.

    “We are executing on our multipurpose network strategy and producing positive results in each of our five growth vectors, recording strong second quarter results. With more connections on our network than anyone else, our already excellent network performance improved in the quarter and was recognized by RootMetrics as the best overall network performance for the 16th time in a row. We are also expanding our 5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Home markets,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “We are excited about our momentum leading into the second half of the year. We are on track to close both the Tracfone and Verizon Media transactions, and will continue to bring value and choice to our customers.”

    The company also raised its guidance for 2021.

    “Second quarter results were exceptional, both financially and operationally,” said Verizon Chief Financial Officer Matt Ellis. “Our strong first half performance and the momentum in our business gives us the confidence to raise our total wireless service revenue growth guidance to between 3.5 percent and 4 percent, an update from prior guidance for 2021 total wireless service revenue growth of at least 3 percent. We are also raising our adjusted EPS guidance to the range of $5.25 to $5.35, an update from prior guidance for 2021 adjusted EPS of $5.00 to $5.15.”

  • Dish Moving From T-Mobile to AT&T for Network Coverage

    Dish Moving From T-Mobile to AT&T for Network Coverage

    Dish Network has reach an agreement for AT&T to provide network coverage to its customers for the next ten years, at the cost of $5 billion.

    Dish Network played a pivotal role in the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. Regulators were concerned about going from four to three major wireless carriers, and wanted Dish to move into the role of fourth. To assist it, regulators worked out a deal whereby T-Mobile would provide network coverage and resources to Dish’s customers.

    It appears Dish is looking to make its own deals, with it pursuing a $5 billion 10-year deal with AT&T, according to an SEC filing. According to The Wall Street Journal, it’s estimated T-Mobile was receiving $1.5 to $2 billion a year, so the price tag for AT&T’s service could be substantially cheaper.

    In addition, Dish has accused T-Mobile of unfairly planning on shutting down its 3G network the beginning of 2022, potentially leaving many of Dish’s customers without service. While AT&T also plans on shutting down its 3G network in early 2022, it’s possible the acrimony with T-Mobile over its 3G plans may have reached the point that Dish simply didn’t want to continue working with the Magenta carrier. Add in a potentially large financial savings, and Dish may have viewed the AT&T deal as too good to pass up.

    Regulators will undoubtably be interested in reviewing the deal, especially since they worked so hard to establish the one Dish wants out of.

  • T-Mobile Once Again Has Fastest, Most Available 5G

    T-Mobile Once Again Has Fastest, Most Available 5G

    Ookla has released its latest report and T-Mobile has once again come out on top in the 5G race.

    Ookla is the maker of the popular Speedtest.net. As a result, the company is in a unique position to offer insights into the state of the US wireless industry, based on real-world data.

    T-Mobile had the fastest wireless speeds, with a median speed of 54.13 Mbps, while AT&T took second place with 47.96 Mbps, and Verizon third with 40.02. When looking solely at 5G speeds, however, T-Mobile pulled even further ahead. The company’s median 5G speed was 99.84 Mbps. Verizon came in second with 78.33 Mbps and AT&T came in third with 75.61.

    T-Mobile also had the best 5G availability at 69%. AT&T was a distant second at 38.4% and Verizon brought up the rear with 35.3%

    “T-Mobile customers are the clear winners coming out of these network reports, with unmatched 5G coverage and 5G speeds that keep getting faster,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “Our differentiated 5G strategy of first building a foundation of coverage and then adding a deep layer of speed with Ultra Capacity 5G focuses on what matters most for customers – coverage and speed. This is how you build a 5G network the right way and this is why T-Mobile is the leader in 5G.”

  • AT&T Unveils Unlimited Plans With No Throttling

    AT&T Unveils Unlimited Plans With No Throttling

    AT&T is taking a page from T-Mobile’s book, updating its high-end unlimited plan to include no throttling.

    All the major wireless carriers in the US offer plans with unlimited data. Unfortunately, they reserve the right to throttle speeds if a user crosses a certain usage threshold. T-Mobile was the first to offer a plan with no throttling, Magenta Max, and now AT&T is following suit.

    The company has announced its high-end Unlimited Elite plan will no longer throttle speeds, regardless of how much data a person uses.

    It’s now full speed ahead for Elite customers. Everyone on this plan will now enjoy AT&T’s high-speed data regardless of how much data they’ve used. We’ll start rolling out this enhancement this week and Elite customers everywhere will soon receive a text notifying them when the benefit has been added.

    The company is also adding additional perks, including more hotspot data and 4K video streaming.

    We’re also increasing the mobile hotspot data to 40GB – that’s 10GBs more at no additional cost. And since HBO Max already comes included, we want to make sure you’re watching it in the best quality. Now, you can catch the latest shows and movies in crystal clear 4K UHD resolution where available. Don’t forget, our fast, reliable and secure AT&T 5G already comes included in this plan and it’s available nationwide.

  • Verizon Doubles LTE Home Internet Coverage

    Verizon Doubles LTE Home Internet Coverage

    Verizon has announced a major expansion of its LTE Home Internet coverage, doubling its footprint, in addition to bringing 5G Home Internet to 7 new cities.

    Like T-Mobile, Verizon is working to bring its network to bear on the home internet market, providing LTE and 5G solutions. The company says it has brought its 5G Home Internet to 7 additional cities, including:

    • Akron, OH
    • Ann Arbor, MI
    • Columbia, SC
    • Durham, NC
    • Fresno, CA
    • Spokane, WA
    • St. Petersburg, FL

    In addition, Verizon’s LTE Home Internet has now doubled its coverage area.

    “With the expansion of LTE Home Internet and 5G Home Internet to more and more customers across the country, the options for fast, reliable internet have never been better. We continue to lead the industry by expanding broadband options for our customers. And with the new Verizon Internet Gateway device, our customers will have a head start to take advantage of a new era of experiences in the comfort of their home,” said Frank Boulben, Chief Revenue Officer, Verizon Consumer Group.

    5G and LTE home internet options are increasingly important resources for families in under-served areas and communities. Especially as remote work and education has become more common during the pandemic, wireless home internet has provided viable options to help people stay connected in areas where traditional broadband is not available.

  • Verizon and Huawei Settle Patent Dispute

    Verizon and Huawei Settle Patent Dispute

    Verizon and Huawei have settled their patent dispute, ending litigation between the largest US wireless carrier and one of the largest equipment providers.

    Huawei sued Verizon in 2020, accusing the US company of being unwilling to license its intellectual property, property Huawei claimed is covered by 12 patents. At the time Huawei sued, Verizon dismissed the suit as a “PR stunt.”

    Huawei’s lawsuit filed overnight, and sent to us in the very early morning, is nothing more than a PR stunt. This lawsuit is a sneak attack on our company and the entire tech ecosystem. Huawei’s real target is not Verizon; it is any country or company that defies it. The action lacks merit, and we look forward to vigorously defending ourselves.

    The case went to trial last week, but neither company allowed the trial to progress to completion. Instead, the two companies have settled, ending their dispute.

    Verizon spokesperson Rich Young announced the news: 

    “Verizon is happy with the settlement reached with Huawei involving patent lawsuits. While terms of the settlement are not being disclosed, our team did an outstanding job bringing this protracted matter to a close. Our company continues to focus on what truly matters: providing millions of consumers and businesses with outstanding technology built on America’s most reliable networks.”

  • AT&T Taps Microsoft Azure for Its 5G Network

    AT&T Taps Microsoft Azure for Its 5G Network

    AT&T is turning to Microsoft to help it deploy its 5G network, and will rely on Microsoft Azure to manage its network traffic.

    Like virtually every major carrier, AT&T is racing to deploy its 5G network. The company recently spent more than $23 billion at the FCC’s 5G spectrum auction.

    AT&T is now looking to Microsoft to help roll out its 5G network, with plans to use Azure to manage its network. The companies will begin with the 5G core, and work to migrate existing and future network workloads to Azure for Operators, Microsoft’s version of Azure specifically targeted at telecoms.

    As part of the deal, Microsoft will gain access to AT&T’s intellectual property, including acquiring AT&T’s Network Cloud, which the company has been using to run its 5G network since 2018. Microsoft will be able to integrate Network Cloud’s features and abilities into Azure for Operators.

    “AT&T has one of the world’s most powerful global backbone networks serving hundreds of millions of subscribers. Our Network Cloud team has proved that running a network in the cloud drives speed, security, cost improvements and innovation. Microsoft’s decision to acquire these assets is a testament to AT&T’s leadership in network virtualization, culture of innovation, and realization of a telco-grade cloud stack,” said Andre Fuetsch, executive vice president and chief technology officer, AT&T. “The next step is making this capability accessible to operators around the world and ensuring it has the resources behind it to continue to evolve and improve. And do it securely. Microsoft’s cloud expertise and global reach make them the perfect fit for this next phase.”

    “With Azure, operators can provide a more flexible and scalable service model, save infrastructure cost, and use AI to automate operations and differentiate customer offerings,” said Jason Zander, executive vice president Azure, Microsoft. “Through our collaboration with AT&T, Microsoft will expand its telecom portfolio to support operators with a carrier-grade cloud that provides seamless experiences across Microsoft’s cloud and the operator’s network.”

    The deal is a big win for Microsoft, especially as it pushes its Azure for Operators, and will give its cloud platform a major boost in the telecom market.

  • Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G Uptake Outpacing 4G

    Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G Uptake Outpacing 4G

    Ericsson has released the June 2021 Ericsson Mobility Report, and it’s good news for 5G adoption.

    Ericsson is one of the leading providers of wireless network equipment, putting it in a unique position to provide insights on the state of the wireless market. Especially as countries roll out their 5G networks, the Ericsson Mobility Report gives a glimpse of how well the rollout is going.

    Despite what appears to be a disjointed and slow start, the latest report shows that 5G uptake is actually far faster than 4G.

    The speed of 5G uptake is far higher than it was for 4G, let alone 3G, and it is one more sign of an industry that tirelessly continues to drive innovation and bring new technology to the market.

    According to Ericsson, there are already more than 160 providers that have rolled out 5G services, and more than 300 5G smartphone models that have been released or announced. By the end of the year, Ericsson expects there to be around 580 million active 5G subscriptions worldwide. In North America, alone, roughly 84% of subscriptions will be 5G by 2026.

    Demonstrating the broad potential of 5G to revolutionize industries, Ericsson says that 70% of providers are already offering 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) services. This is especially critical, as 5G is seen as a viable alternative to traditional broadband, especially in areas where wired broadband is difficult or cost-prohibitive to deploy. Interestingly, of the providers who have already rolled out 5G service, 90% of them are offering FWA.

    The entire report is well-worth a read and can be found here.

  • Dish Network Launches Site to Notify You When 5G is Available

    Dish Network Launches Site to Notify You When 5G is Available

    Dish Network is gearing up to launch its 5G network, launching a website to inform users when it’s available.

    Dish Network is preparing to be the fourth nationwide carrier, thanks in large part to the T-Mobile buyout of Sprint. While Sprint was in dire shape financially, regulators weren’t entirely onboard with letting T-Mobile buy it unless another company could replace it as a fourth nationwide option. T-Mobile and Sprint were required to offload some of their assets to help Dish get established.

    Over the last year, Dish has been aggressively working to deploy its new network, striking deals with equipment and software makers. The company has now set up a new website, giving users the ability to be notified when the new network is available.

    It remains to be seen if Dish Network will succeed in being a viable, standalone 5G carrier. Those interested in seeing what they have to offer, when it’s available, should head on over to the site and sign up.