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Tag: 5G

  • Verizon and Dreamscape Partner on 5G Virtual Reality

    Verizon and Dreamscape Partner on 5G Virtual Reality

    Verizon and Dreamscape have announced a partnership to deliver 5G-based virtual reality (VR) innovations.

    Dreamscape is one of the leading VR companies, and helped pioneer multi-person, real-time VR. VR is one of the industries that stands to benefit the most from 5G, as the wireless technology can deliver the speeds and low-latency necessary to create immersive, fluid experiences.

    Verizon and Dreamscape’s partnership will initially focus on using 5G and mobile edge computing (MEC) to create immersive-learning and training experiences.

    “Verizon’s partnership with Dreamscape shows how innovative tech built on our 5G network can revolutionize industries,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “Using 5G and Edge computing, we are creating immensely powerful and complex VR experiences using lower-cost, tetherless VR hardware, and advancing VR education and training simulations beyond what was previously thought possible. This opens the door to new experiences and makes VR training more accessible for students, trainees, and professionals.”

    “Dreamscape is founded on the premise that we can think beyond physical limitations to create new ways for our world to learn, play, and work. With Verizon as our partner, we’re able to push the limits of VR. Together, we’ll set the standard for VR innovation and application in every field,” said Walter Parkes, CEO of Dreamscape.

  • White Supremacists and Fringe Groups Attacking US Cell Towers

    White Supremacists and Fringe Groups Attacking US Cell Towers

    Police are reporting that white supremacists and other fringe groups are increasingly targeting cell phone towers.

    A report by the New York City Police Department, obtained by The Intercept, found that white supremacists and conspiracy theorists “increasingly target critical infrastructure to incite fear, disrupt essential services, and cause economic damage with the United States and abroad.”

    In addition to the high-profile case of Anthony Quinn Warner, who bombed the AT&T building in Nashville, The Intercept also cited a case where individuals broke into a cell tower in Tennessee, cutting fiber-optic cables and destroying other equipment.

    According to the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau, infrastructure sites are increasingly high-profile targets for these groups.

    “In recent months, white supremacist extremists, neo-Nazis, far-right Telegram groups, and online conspiracy theorists have all emphasized attacking valuable critical infrastructure targets.”

    The attacks come at a time when carriers are racing to deploy 5G and when companies and individuals are relying on internet connectivity more than ever.

  • Nokia Signs Five-Year Deal With AT&T For C-Band 5G Equipment

    Nokia Signs Five-Year Deal With AT&T For C-Band 5G Equipment

    Nokia has scored a big win, signing a five-year deal with AT&T to provide 5G equipment for the carrier’s C-Band spectrum rollout.

    AT&T recently spent $23,406,860,839 at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction for C-Band spectrum. C-Band is mid-band spectrum, ideal for 5G. The company has turned to Nokia for the equipment necessary to deploy its spectrum, signing a five-year deal.

    “AT&T is committed to bringing the power of 5G to businesses and communities across the nation, and our C-Band deployments with Nokia will help add 5G capacity where it’s needed,” said Igal Elbaz, Senior Vice President of Wireless and Access Technology AT&T. “Nokia has been our trusted collaborator for more than 20 years as we’ve rolled out each generation of wireless technology, and its C-Band portfolio brings the right capabilities to help enable AT&T to deliver an exciting and powerful 5G experience that our subscribers have come to expect from us.”

    “Nokia is ready to support the launch of 5G services into this valuable new spectrum on our customers’ timelines by leveraging our powerful portfolio of C-Band solutions and by being the first to demonstrate a live C-Band network in the U.S. in 2020,” said Ed Cholerton, President of Nokia North America. “Our flexible and comprehensive portfolio will enable AT&T to enhance its 5G services in areas across the nation.”

    Last year Nokia was considering a merger or asset sale, and more recently indicated it was facing “meaningful headwinds” in 2021. Earlier this week, the company announced it is cutting 10,000 jobs. The AT&T contract is a welcome win for Nokia, at a time when its needed most.

  • FCC Votes to Free Military Spectrum for 5G

    FCC Votes to Free Military Spectrum for 5G

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to free up additional mid-band spectrum, once reserved for the military, for 5G.

    Mid-band spectrum is the holy grail for 5G, offering the best combination of speed and building penetration. The FCC’s recent $81 billion auction was for spectrum in the 3.7 Ghz to 4.2 Ghz range.

    The FCC has now voted to free up the 3.45 Ghz to 3.55 Ghz spectrum, spectrum the military has used for radar applications.

    “Back to the here and now. Most of the country has yet to experience the benefits of a true 5G network,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. “The out-there innovations it can deliver are still a ways off because so many of them are not about connectivity delivered via phones. Plus, for so many consumers, the present is confusing, with carriers providing different versions of 5G, which can sometimes feel a lot like the 4G they already have. In part, this is due to the fact that carriers don’t always have the airwaves they need to provide consistent and widespread coverage at this time.

    “Today we take action to change that. We take action that will move us closer to 5G service that is fast, secure, resilient, and—most importantly—available everywhere in the country. We accomplish that by adopting rules and auction procedures that will make available 100 megahertz of prime mid-band spectrum in the 3.45-3.55 GHz band available for 5G this year. This offers real opportunity because during the past few years the United States was slow, relative to other countries, to recognize the importance of mid-band spectrum for 5G. This meant we were late to bring these airwaves to market. So mid-band spectrum has been the critical component that is missing and our action here helps fix that.”

    Freeing up the additional spectrum will be a major boon for carriers as they continue to roll out 5G networks.

  • Huawei Looking at Patent Licensing to Stay In 5G Game

    Huawei Looking at Patent Licensing to Stay In 5G Game

    Huawei is turning to its portfolio of 5G patents in an effort to offset the losses its traditional 5G business has suffered.

    The Chinese firm has been under pressure around the world, as governments have banned the company from participating in their nation’s 5G networks. At the heart of the issue is Huawei’s perceived ties to the Chinese government, which many nations see as a threat to their national security.

    Huawei is now turning to other sources of revenue. The company is rumored to be looking into electric vehicle production, and recently sold its Honor smartphone line.

    The company is now looking to profit from its portfolio of 5G patents by licensing them to other companies. Along with Ericsson and Nokia, Huawei helped develop the 5G standard. As a result, the company has a broad portfolio of patents, especially in technologies that help interoperability between networks.

    Jason Ding, Head of Huawei’s Intellectual Property Rights Department, said, “Innovation has been at the core of Huawei’s business since the company was founded. Our 2020 white paper lists the number of patent applications Huawei filed, or our R&D and innovation activities, in the late 90s and early 2000s.” He also stated, “Huawei’s worldwide patent applications were on par with other industry leaders in the early 2000s, and Huawei’s success today is a result of its long-term investment in innovation and R&D.”

    According to Ding, Huawei estimates its patent business will generate between $1.2 and $1.3 billion between 2019 and 2021. The company is striving to charge a reasonable royalty rate per handset, capped at $2.50 per unit.

    “Huawei has been the largest technical contributor to 5G standards, and follows fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) principles when it comes to patent licensing,” added Ding, “we hope that the royalty rate we announced today will increase 5G adoption by giving 5G implementers a more transparent cost structure that will inform their investment decisions moving forward.”

  • Nokia Cutting 10,000 Jobs to Better Focus on 5G

    Nokia Cutting 10,000 Jobs to Better Focus on 5G

    Nokia has announced it is cutting 10,000 jobs worldwide, with plans to use the savings to help fund its 5G growth.

    Nokia is one of the main companies responsible for manufacturing telecommunication equipment. The company is at the center of the transition to 5G, along with Ericsson and Huawei.

    Ericsson and Nokia have both benefited from the worldwide challenges Huawei has faced, picking up 5G deployment contracts that would otherwise have gone to the Chinese firm. Unfortunately for Nokia, it has not had quite the success as Ericsson, even leading to considerations of a possible merger or asset sale last year. While there has not been any recent talk of such drastic measures, the company did warn at its last quarterly results that it faced “meaningful headwinds” in 2021.

    The company is now announcing plans to cut its worldwide workforce from 90,000 employees to an estimated 80,000 to 85,000 employees over the next 18-24 months.

    “Decisions that may have a potential impact on our employees are never taken lightly. Ensuring we have the right setup and capabilities is a necessary step to deliver sustainable long-term performance. My priority is to ensure that everyone impacted is supported through this process,” said Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO.

    The cost savings will be used to help fund the company’s R&D, specifically in 5G, cloud and digital infrastructure, as well as future business opportunities.

  • T-Mobile CEO: Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short

    T-Mobile CEO: Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short

    “Our competitors just spent a combined $80 billion trying to catch up and match us and they fell short,” says T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. “We didn’t just leave this auction with the most mid-band spectrum, we left the auction with the best mid-band spectrum. Our two and a half gigahertz spectrum is more than 50 percent better in most use cases and we have more of it than anybody else. It’s going to make us famous for network in the 5G era.”

    Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, says that despite AT&T and Verizon spending $80 billion in the c-band auction trying to catch up and match them, they fell short:

    Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short

    What the c-band auction shows is the extraordinary value of what T-Mobile has. Our competitors just spent a combined $80 billion trying to catch up and match us and they fell short. They spent $80 billion dollars and are still falling short. We didn’t just leave this auction with the most mid-band spectrum, we left the auction with the best mid-band spectrum. Our two and a half gigahertz spectrum is more than 50 percent better in most use cases. Yet we have more of it than anybody else. It’s really terrific because we’ve taken it and run ahead by about two years with the best asset base in the industry. It’s going to make us famous for network in the 5G era.

    As we sit here today we’re more than a million square miles ahead of AT&T and Verizon on deployment. We have more 5G geographic coverage out there than AT&T and Verizon combined. We’re also adding coverage at a record pace, at a pace no one company in this industry has ever done. We started ramping up this engine two years ago and now it’s running at pace. While our competitors just seized some assets, they didn’t catch up, but they just seized some assets that they’re going to get after, but they’re way behind.

    We Will Unlock Massive Cashflow From This Business

    Yesterday we announced a business plan where we demonstrated massive cash flow potential from this business with very reasonable assumptions. These are assumptions that don’t require us to catch any unicorns. We just have to go do what we’ve already demonstrated we know how to do and we’ll unlock massive cash flow potential in this business. We have everything we need to deliver that business plan right now.

    Last week we announced our Work From Home solution. We just started our rollout of home broadband for business home office workers. That’s across more than 50 million of the US population and it will rapidly expand to nationwide. It’s such an exciting thing. Now, work from home workers no longer have to share the WiFiwith their kids. That’s so important.

    They also don’t have to worry about security if they are enterprises, they can get their home office workers a secure connection. Later this month, as we unveiled yesterday, we’ll be announcing our consumer launch plans across a wide swath of this country with rate plans, go to market plans. etc. We’re really excited about what’s ahead in home broadband. From a timing standpoint, we’re way ahead of the other new entrants.

    Starlink Is Not A Broadband Competitor

    SpaceX Starlink Constellation (and other satellite broadband provider) could be a compliment or a future collaborator. Ultimately, for the core mainstream broadband connection, it’s going to come down to capacity. Those emerging technologies won’t be able to match on capacity but they’ll be really great augments for places that macro networks don’t reach. Capacity will be the game. Nobody has the ability to deliver more capacity to more places than T-Mobile.

    That’s just so great. This is a company that used to be a scrappy upstart and now we’re the number two provider but with demonstrably the best asset base in this industry.

    T-Mobile CEO: Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short
  • T-Mobile Touts Its 5G Following FCC Auction

    T-Mobile Touts Its 5G Following FCC Auction

    T-Mobile is touting the strength of its 5G network following a record-breaking FCC auction of coveted mid-range spectrum.

    Experts expected the FCC auction to fetch as much as $47 billion. Instead, it topped a whopping $81 billion. The spectrum auctioned was mid-range C-band, desperately needed by both Verizon and AT&T to help roll out their 5G networks. Both companies spent appropriately, with Verizon coming in at more than $45 billion and AT&T spending more than $23 billion.

    In contrast, T-Mobile only spent a little more than $9 billion, largely thanks to its strong spectrum portfolio. Thanks to its merger with Sprint, T-Mobile aready had a wealth of mid-band spectrum — considered the ideal spectrum for 5G — which it has been rapidly deploying. Providing a good blend of range and building penetration, T-Mobile has already achieved speeds in excess of 1 Gbps using its mid-band spectrum. Thanks to its position, T-Mobile only bought spectrum in top urban and suburban markets to help round out its existing holdings.

    In its latest post, however, T-Mobile also highlighted the advantage its mid-band spectrum has over the C-band spectrum the FCC was auctioning. With wireless spectrum, the lower the frequency, the longer the range it provides and the better it penetrates obstacles, such as buildings.

    T-Mobile’s current mid-band spectrum is primarily in the 2.5 Ghz range. In contrast, the C-band spectrum just auctioned is in the 3.7 Ghz to 4.2 Ghz range. In other words, the spectrum Verizon and AT&T spent more than $68 billion on is more than a full gigahertz higher than T-Mobile’s primary mid-band, meaning it will offer less range and worse penetration. This will, in turn, result in higher deployment costs for those companies, as T-Mobile points out:

    In the mid-band range, C-Band offers a great mix of coverage and speed, but there are some key differences from 2.5 GHz, the mid-band spectrum T-Mobile is primarily using to roll out Ultra Capacity 5G. Most notably, it doesn’t travel as far. T-Mobile engineers estimate it will require 50% more cell sites for meaningful and continuous coverage, and in some areas, for example in-building, the required densification can be 4x higher than 2.5 GHz. That’s why T-Mobile strategically invested in C-Band to supplement its much broader 2.5 GHz footprint in select urban and suburban areas where it already has a dense network. This will allow for the spectrum to quickly be deployed and provide a more meaningful performance boost for customers.

    C-Band vs 2.5GHz Comparison
    C-Band vs 2.5GHz Comparison

    The company promises it will continue with its 5G deployment, covering 200 million with its high-speed Ultra Capacity 5G this year.

    “T-Mobile customers are the clear winners in this auction. Our already industry-leading 5G network enabled us to be highly selective and strategic, concentrating our wins in top markets nationwide,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “As I predicted last fall, the other guys spent an unbelievable amount — because they had to. And even then, the truth is that C-Band is best for urban areas because it doesn’t propagate as well as T-Mobile’s substantial existing mid-band frequencies. For us, C-Band makes a great story even better, and we are incredibly pleased with our clear success in this auction. Our competitors had no choice but to go all in with a break-the-bank attempt to remain relevant in the 5G era.”

  • Biden Administration Tightens the Screws on Huawei

    Biden Administration Tightens the Screws on Huawei

    Any hopes Huawei had of the Biden administration easing up on restrictions were dashed, as the new administration is doubling down.

    The Trump administration took a hard stance against the Chinese telecommunications firm, claiming it was a threat to national security. The US ultimately banned Huawei, and engaged in a determined effort to convince allies to do the same, many of whom followed suit. Intelligence agencies around the world joined in, calling Huawei a security threat.

    Throughout it all, Huawei has continued to maintain its innocence and claim to be the victim of unfair persecution. Some critics have also wondered if the company truly posed the threat the administration and intelligence agencies claimed, or if the restrictions were merely part of the Trump administration’s trade war against China. As a result, Huawei hoped a change in administration would bring a more favorable climate.

    It appears those hopes were unfounded, as the Biden administration has imposed further restrictions, according to Reuters, modifying existing licenses that permitted some companies to do business with the Chinese firm. The administration is adding additional limitations to what components companies can sell to Huawei, specifically components that can be used for 5G.

    In particular, the new restrictions are aimed at bringing older licenses, that were more lenient, in line with the more stringent restrictions the Trump administration later imposed, essentially ending the “grandfathered” status of the older licenses.

    Huawei has already been reeling from the sanctions and restrictions, forcing it to consider alternative businesses. It now appears things are poised to get even worse.

  • Apple Selects Munich For New 5G and Wireless Facility

    Apple Selects Munich For New 5G and Wireless Facility

    Apple has announced it is investing 1 billion euros to make Munich its European Silicon Design Center for 5G and future wireless technology research.

    Apple has been working to create its own 5G modems and end its dependence on Qualcomm for some time. The company purchased Intel’s 5G modem business after the latter failed to make headway against Qualcomm.

    Munich is already Apple’s largest European engineering hub, with nearly 1,500 engineers.

    “I couldn’t be more excited for everything our Munich engineering teams will discover — from exploring the new frontiers of 5G technology, to a new generation of technologies that bring power, speed, and connectivity to the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Munich has been a home to Apple for four decades, and we’re grateful to this community and to Germany for being a part of our journey.”

    Apple says the new facility will house the company’s cellular unit, with a focus on 5G and future wireless technology. The facility will be 30,000 square meters, located in central Munich’s Karlstrasse.

    The Munich investment will no doubt play a significant role in Apple’s future developments, especially as the company moves more and more of its component tech in-house.

  • Only Verizon’s Premium Customers Will Have High-Speed 5G

    Only Verizon’s Premium Customers Will Have High-Speed 5G

    Verizon has made it clear that only their premium customers will have access to high-speed 5G, with lower tiers stuck on their slow nationwide 5G network.

    Verizon recently bid $45.4 billion on mid-range spectrum at the FCC’s auction. Mid-band spectrum is considered the sweet spot for 5G range and performance. Until Verizon finishes rolling out the spectrum it bid on, the company is stuck offering high-speed mmWave and low-band nationwide 5G. The mmWave 5G is exceptionally fast, but has extremely limited range and availability. Verizon’s nationwide 5G network is so slow that experts recommend turning it off — the company’s 4G is much faster.

    Unfortunately for Verizon customers, only those on one of its upper-tier premium plans will be able to access its faster 5G networks, both the fastest mmWave and the new mid-band spectrum the company will soon deploy. Customers on metered plans or the company’s Start Unlimited basic plan will be limited to the company’s nationwide 5G network.

    Much of the reason Verizon’s low-band network is so slow is because it uses Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS). Because Verizon’s low-band spectrum is tied up with its 4G network, the company didn’t have enough spectrum to roll out a dedicated low-band network. As a result, Verizon had to resort to DSS to allow towers to switch back and forth between 4G and 5G, depending on what device is connected. Because the company has to share its spectrum between the two protocols, the nationwide 5G is essentially crippled, slower than its 4G.

    For Verizon customers, this means they will have to pay for a premium plan in order to have any meaningful access to 5G. In contrast, T-Mobile has been praised for its 5G plans, providing 5G on all of its Magenta plans and even eliminating any throttling on its Magenta MAX.

  • Dish Network Acquiring Republic Wireless

    Dish Network Acquiring Republic Wireless

    Dish Network has announced a deal to acquire Republic Wireless as the company moves to become the nation’s fourth wireless carrier.

    Dish has been moving into the wireless space for some time. It received a big boost from the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, as regulators were concerned about the industry consolidating around just three companies. As a result, T-Mobile was required to sell off some prepaid assets and grant Dish a least to piggyback off of its spectrum for a period of time.

    Since the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, Dish has been moving ahead at full speed, signing deals and building its network. The latest is a deal to purchase Republic Wireless, which would bring 200,000 customers to the new carrier.

    “Republic has created a loyal following and established a brand known for innovation, customer service and value. We plan to build upon that strong foundation,” said John Swieringa, group president, Retail Wireless and DISH COO. “As we continue to grow our retail wireless business, Republic broadens our existing customer base and positions us to deliver even more value to the market, expanding our portfolio of mobile solutions to meet a variety of customer needs. We look forward to welcoming Republic customers to the DISH family.”

    The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory approval. Republic’s Relay division, which provides communication solutions to frontline teams, will continue as a standalone company and be a wholesale customer for Dish’s 5G network.

  • T-Mobile WFX Challenges Verizon and AT&T for the Enterprise

    T-Mobile WFX Challenges Verizon and AT&T for the Enterprise

    T-Mobile launched T-Mobile WFX, its latest Un-carrier move aimed at helping businesses embrace the digital transformation.

    CEO Mike Sievert opened the event, highlighting the company’s unrivaled 5G network, which is currently 2.5x larger than AT&T’s and 4x larger than Verizon’s. Sievert then talked about how having the largest 5G network put T-Mobile in a position to help address business pain points, especially in the midst of a pandemic-driven shift to remote work.

    “The pandemic pushed the fast forward button on the future of work, giving us a decade’s worth of progress in a year’s time. And it’s clear that work will never be the same,” said Mike Sievert, T-Mobile CEO. “Tomorrow’s workplace won’t be anything like the old work from office (WFO) world, and it won’t be like today’s work from home (WFH) world. It’ll be something new: the work from anywhere (WFX) world. And T-Mobile WFX and our 5G network arrive at the right time to help businesses meet this moment head on … and come out the other side stronger.”

    The result is T-Mobile WFX, comprised of three services: T-Mobile Enterprise Unlimited, T-Mobile Home Office Internet and T-Mobile Collaborate.

    T-Mobile Enterprise Unlimited

    The company points out that Verizon and AT&T has 50% of enterprise employees locked into limited data plans, requiring customers to estimate how much data they’ll use and pay for overages. With data usage expected to increase with 5G, businesses will spend some $2.5 billion over the next five years just in overages.

    T-Mobile Enterprise Unlimited is a new plan for businesses to give them unlimited 4G and 5G data at the same or better price than Verizon and AT&T charge for limited, shared pools of data.

    T-Mobile Home Office Internet

    T-Mobile Home Office Internet is aimed squarely at the remote worker, providing a fast, secure connection for employees. The included router prioritizes employee devices and filters non-business activity, so the connection remains fast and stable. Meanwhile, family members can continue browsing, gaming and watching videos without being impacted.

    The device also includes enterprise-grade security, greatly improving security over a standard home WiFi router.

    T-Mobile Collaborate

    T-Mobile Collaborate is a new product the company is introducing, designed to replace legacy phone systems with a modern, mobile-first, cloud-driven approach.

    The service is an enterprise-grade phone system that provides video and voice conferencing. It includes a built-in AI assistant that can take notes and follow up on items, and features integration with Microsoft 365 and other workplace apps.

    “From our experience, T-Mobile Collaborate is a modern, cost effective platform that scales with City of Los Angeles employees, so they can do the critical work needed to create a safe, livable, and prosperous city,” said Ted Ross, Chief Technology Officer, City of Los Angeles.

    The new service is powered by Dialpad, and T-Mobile has made an equity investment in the company via T-Mobile Ventures.

    Pricing

    T-Mobile WFX starts at $90 per line per month, while Enterprise Unlimited with T-Mobile Collaborate can be added together starting at $37 per line per month.

  • T-Mobile Announces Its Next 5G Event

    T-Mobile Announces Its Next 5G Event

    T-Mobile has announced its next major event, scheduled for March 4, where it plans on unveiling its next 5G move.

    T-Mobile owes much of its recent success to its “Un-carrier” status. The company built a business being the rebel among wireless carriers, offering features, pricing and an experience that customers wanted.

    T-Mobile was the first to bring back unlimited data, and started including taxes and fees in its advertised prices. The company has also branched into other businesses, such as banking and its TVision streaming TV service. In the case of the later, the company isn’t looking to make money off TVision. Instead, it sees the service as a way to address a pain point for customers, while drawing people to its network.

    When it comes to networks, T-Mobile is widely seen as the carrier to beat in the 5G race. Its investment in 600 MHz spectrum several years ago — when Verizon was content to sit on its own status as the network leader — enabled it to build the largest low-band, nationwide 5G network. At the same time, its acquisition of Sprint provided it with a massive amount of mid-band spectrum, considered the sweet spot for 5G.

    The company has not been shy about leveraging its 5G lead, recently unveiling a truly unlimited 5G plan, with no throttling, at an affordable price.

    It’s hard to say exactly what T-Mobile is planning for its latest event, but it’s sure to be good news for 5G customers.

  • 2021 iPad Pro Will Rival M1 Mac Performance

    2021 iPad Pro Will Rival M1 Mac Performance

    The 2021 iPad Pro, expected later this month, is rumored to have an upgraded processor that will rival the M1 in Apple’s recent Macs.

    The iPad Pro is the high-end iPad model targeted at professionals and creators. As such, it consistently delivers features and performance that best Apple’s other iPads, and leaves Android tablets in the dust.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, that lead is set to expand in a big way, with the next-generation iPad Pro rivaling the M1. Apple introduced the M1 Macs in November. The M1 is based on the same chips already used in the iPhones and iPads, but boasts significantly better performance, thanks to its 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU.

    In addition to sporting a more powerful chip, the larger iPad Pro will also feature a mini-LED display, offering greater brightness and contrast. The new display will make the tablet slightly thicker, although it will retain the same overall design. Ideally, this should allow the new model to use the existing Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard peripherals.

    Gurman rounds out his iPad Pro predictions by saying the new model will also feature better cameras, as well as 5G. Apple is expected to include both the high-band mmWave, as well as low-band support. This would enable it to take advantage of carriers’ nationwide 5G networks, as well as their fastest 5G in cities and urban areas, much like the iPhone 12.

    The combination of 5G and world-class performance should make the iPad Pro an ideal option for professionals, creators, students and remote workers. Notably, Gurman has an excellent track record with his Apple predictions, making it almost certain the iPad Pro released in March will match the specs he’s provided.

  • Verizon Blames Poor Battery Life on 5G

    Verizon Blames Poor Battery Life on 5G

    Verizon has undercut its own 5G push, telling users to turn off 5G to conserve battery life.

    Verizon, like all US carriers, is aggressively pushing its 5G service. Unfortunately for the company, someone in its support department didn’t get the memo. In a since-deleted tweet Sunday morning, the company recommending switching to LTE to eliminate battery drain.

    Are you noticing that your battery life is draining faster than normal? One way to help conserve battery life is to turn on LTE. Just go to Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data and tap LTE.

    Users were quick to point out that enabling LTE means turning off 5G.

    https://twitter.com/VZWSupport/status/1366062968857845761?s=20

    This isn’t the first time 5G has been blamed for poor battery life. Testing has shown the iPhone 12 dies up to two hours faster when using 5G. It’s not uncommon for a new technology to negatively impact battery life, however. As time goes on, this will likely improve as refinements and improvements are made.

  • Huawei May Be Pivoting to Electric Vehicles

    Huawei May Be Pivoting to Electric Vehicles

    After suffering devastating losses as a result of US sanctions, Huawei may be preparing to pivot to electric vehicles.

    Huawei quickly found itself a target of the Trump administration, amid claims the company represented a national security threat. While all Chinese firms are required to cooperate with Beijing, Huawei was widely believed to have unusually close ties with the government and intelligence community. As a result, the Trump administration banned the company from participating in US networks, and there is no indication the Biden administration will reverse those measures.

    Other countries have followed suit, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden. Multiple governments and intelligence agencies have joined the US in branding Huawei a threat.

    The bans and sanction have taken a toll on the company, once an almost unstoppable force in the tech industry. Sanctions against the company have even resulted in it selling its Honor line of smartphones and cutting production of its flagship line, due to not being able to buy enough semiconductors.

    According to Reuters, the company is now exploring a strategic shift to electric vehicle manufacturing as a result of the challenges it’s facing. Reuters sources say the company is preparing to make electric vehicles under its own brand, and the first models could arrive as soon as this year.

    A company spokesman denied the claims, although the denial left plenty of room for interpretation.

    “Huawei is not a car manufacturer. However through ICT (information and communications technology), we aim to be a digital car-oriented and new-added components provider, enabling car OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to build better vehicles.”

  • Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Won Big at FCC 5G Auction

    Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Won Big at FCC 5G Auction

    The FCC has finally revealed the winners of its mid-band spectrum auction, and Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile came out on top.

    Mid-band spectrum is the most coveted type of spectrum for 5G. High-band, otherwise known as mmWave, offers the fastest speeds, but its range is extremely limited, as is its ability to penetrate objects. Low-band spectrum offers the best range and penetration, but its speeds are only marginally faster than the fastest 4G. Mid-band spectrum offers the best of both worlds, providing speeds upwards of 1 Gbps, while still offering decent range and penetration.

    Of the three major US carriers, Verizon and AT&T need mid-band spectrum the most. T-Mobile has a wealth of it from its merger with Sprint, spectrum it has been rolling out at a record pace. The other two carriers, on the other hand, have not been able to match T-Mobile’s 5G rollout, largely because of not having enough mid-band spectrum.

    It’s little wonder the spending at the FCC’s auction far exceeded estimates. Analysts had originally predicted spending would reach $47 billion, but the total topped $81 billion.

    Not surprisingly, Verizon (listed in FCC docs as Cellco Partnership, its legal name) was the biggest bidder, coming in at $45,454,843,197. AT&T came in second, spending $23,406,860,839. T-Mobile rounded out the top three at $9,336,125,147.

    While T-Mobile needed, and spent, the least, the company was believed to be buying spectrum to round out its portfolio, further boost its spectrum in heavily populated areas and drive the bidding higher so Verizon and AT&T didn’t get a free ride.

  • Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G Subscriptions Top 220 Million

    Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G Subscriptions Top 220 Million

    Ericsson has released its Q4 2020 Ericsson Mobility Report, finding a total of 220 million 5G subscriptions worldwide.

    The Ericsson Mobility Report (PDF) provides valuable insight into the wireless industry, including the adoption of new technologies and trends. The biggest factor currently impacting the industry is the rollout of 5G networks around the globe.

    According to the latest report, Q4 2020 saw 70 million 5G subscription additions, bringing the total to 220 million. Roughly 130 service providers are now offering 5G.

    Interestingly, 4G LTE subscriptions increased by some 90 million, bringing the LTE total to more than 4.5 billion, or 57% of all mobile subscriptions. Ericsson estimates there are 8 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide, representing 6 billion unique subscribers.

    This latest report shows the tremendous growth opportunity for wireless carriers, and the long way 5G has to go before it supplants 4G. Carriers are working overtime to roll out the new technology, although some efforts have been hampered by lack of available spectrum. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile spent big at the recent FCC auction that freed up valuable mid-band spectrum.

    Compelling 5G plans have also been a sticking point for many consumers, with T-Mobile’s recent Magenta Max plan widely viewed as the best 5G plan among the US carriers.

  • T-Mobile Rolling Out Magenta MAX Plan, Unlimited 5G

    T-Mobile Rolling Out Magenta MAX Plan, Unlimited 5G

    T-Mobile is upping the ante with its latest Magenta plan, Magenta MAX, featuring unlimited 4G and 5G with no throttling.

    T-Mobile is currently the leader in the US 5G race. The company has a wealth of 5G spectrum, thanks to its merger with Sprint, and it has been using that spectrum to take a commanding lead over its rivals. The company has unveiled a new plan designed to take full advantage of its 5G network: Magenta MAX.

    Magenta MAX takes the place of the existing Magenta Plus plan, bringing many of the same upgrades over the basic Magenta option. The MAX plan, however, also includes a number of major improvements over its predecessor.

    Magenta vs Magenta MAX
    Magenta vs Magenta MAX

    One of the biggest improvements is the removal of any throttling. While all carriers provide unlimited data, they do reserve the right to throttle speeds once a certain threshold is crossed. In T-Mobile’s case, that threshold has been 50 GB. If a line uses more than 50 GB of data in one month, and is currently on a congested tower, T-Mobile reserves the right to throttle that line’s data speeds.

    With the MAX plan, however, that throttling limit is completely removed. In addition, even the base Magenta plan sees its throttling threshold go from 50 GB to 100 GB. The new limits, or lack thereof with the MAX plan, apply to both 4G and 5G data.

    The MAX plan also includes 40 GB of hotspot data, up from the 20 GB the Magenta Plus plan, or the 5 GB of the new base Magenta option. The plan also includes unlimited Gogo in-flight texting and WiFi, 2x international data speeds in 210 countries, Scam Shield Premium, Netflix Basic on a single line and Netflix Standard on a family plan. Max also includes unlimited UHD streaming, with up to 4K UHD resolution.

    The new plan normally comes in at $57/mo for three lines with autopay active but, for a limited time, T-Mobile is offering it for $47/mo. As usual, that includes taxes and fees. The plan will be available starting February 24.

    “We just joined forces with Sprint, and we’re already America’s 5G coverage and speed leader. Magenta MAX is just a first taste of what our network capacity allows us to do!” said T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. “When you’re a heavy data user with a super-fast 5G smartphone, you don’t want to be hit with speed bumps. It’s like having a Ferrari and being forced to drive it in the school zone. Well, now it’s time to open ‘er up on the wide open magenta road! And we are just getting started. Buckle up!”