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Tag: Verizon

  • Verizon Home Internet Now Covers 20 Million Households

    Verizon Home Internet Now Covers 20 Million Households

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

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

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

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

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

  • Verizon and AWS Expand Mobile Edge Computing Availability

    Verizon and AWS Expand Mobile Edge Computing Availability

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • US Carriers Deny Blocking iCloud Private Relay — Mostly

    US Carriers Deny Blocking iCloud Private Relay — Mostly

    Following reports that T-Mobile was blocking Apple’s iCloud Private Relay, all three major US carriers have denied actively blocking it — for the most part.

    iCloud Private Relay is a feature introduced as a beta in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey. The feature is similar to a VPN, and hides a person’s internet traffic. Some users reported that T-Mobile was starting to block the feature, something that 9to5Mac confirmed.

    According to The Verge, all three carriers are trying to reassure users they are not intentionally or actively blocking Private Relay. Verizon and AT&T, in particular, said they are not blocking the feature in any way.

    Things are a bit more complicated with T-Mobile. The vast majority of customers will not experience any issues, but accounts that are using T-Mobile’s Family Controls won’t be able to use Private Relay.

    “Customers who chose plans and features with content filtering (e.g. parent controls) do not have access to the iCloud Private Relay to allow these services to work as designed. All other customers have no restrictions,” T-Mobile’s spokesperson The Verge.

    That explanation is inline with Apple’s own description of Private Relay:

    Networks that require the ability to audit traffic or perform network-based filtering will block access to Private Relay.

    T-Mobile also told The Verge that it discovered an issue with Private Relay that could cause it to not work, and informed Apple so they could fix it.

    “Overnight our team identified that in the 15.2 iOS release, some device settings default to the feature being toggled off. We have shared this with Apple. This is not specific to T-Mobile.” 

    A Potential Future Showdown

    Hopefully all three carriers maintain their current stance. As The Verge points out, European carriers — including T-Mobile — have been campaigning against Private Relay, even asking the EU Commission to block the feature. The carriers claim it is “cutting off other networks and servers from accessing vital network data and metadata, including those operators in charge of the connectivity.”

    There’s two issues with the carriers’ actions:

    First, should the carriers succeed in convincing the EU Commission to block the feature, it’s a reasonable assumption that VPNs will likely be next on the chopping block, given that Private Relay offers many of the same benefits.

    Successfully blocking Private Relay — let alone if the carriers target VPNs next — will significantly undermine many users’ privacy and security online.

    Second, if the EU Commission gives in and blocks Private Relay, it will essentially confirm the right of companies to mine at least some datafrom paying customers, regardless of whether the customer agrees to it.

    As we have written about before, it’s one thing for the provider of a free service to mine data from their customers. Since they’re providing a service for free, profiting from the customer’s data is often the accepted trade-off.

    On the other hand, when a customer is paying for a service, there should be an expectation that’s where the transaction ends — the company provides a service in exchange for a fair amount of money, end of story.

    If the carriers are successful in their goals, it will set a dangerous precedent that will erode privacy for everyone.

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

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

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

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

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

    The FAA released a statement regarding the zones:

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

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

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

    Facility – Name

    AUS – AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL

    BED – LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD

    BFI – BOEING FLD/KING COUNTY INTL

    BHM – BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH INTL

    BNA – NASHVILLE INTL

    BUR – BOB HOPE

    CAK – AKRON-CANTON

    CLT – CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL

    DAL – DALLAS LOVE FLD

    DFW – DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL

    DTW – DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY

    EFD – ELLINGTON

    EWR – NEWARK LIBERTY INTL

    FAT – FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL

    FLL – FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTL

    FNT – FLINT MICHIGAN

    HOU – WILLIAM P HOBBY

    HVN – NEW HAVEN

    IAH – GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON

    IND – INDIANAPOLIS INTL

    ISP – LONG ISLAND MAC ARTHUR

    JFK – JOHN F KENNEDY INTL

    LAS – HARRY REID INTL

    LAX – LOS ANGELES INTL

    LGA – LAGUARDIA

    LGB – LONG BEACH (DAUGHERTY FLD)

    MCI – KANSAS CITY INTL

    MCO – ORLANDO INTL

    MDT – HARRISBURG INTL

    MDW – CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL

    MFE – MCALLEN INTL

    MIA – MIAMI INTL

    MSP – MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL/WOLD-CHAMBERLAIN

    ONT – ONTARIO INTL

    ORD – CHICAGO O’HARE INTL

    PAE – SNOHOMISH COUNTY (PAINE FLD)

    PBI – PALM BEACH INTL

    PHL – PHILADELPHIA INTL

    PHX – PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL

    PIE – ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL

    PIT – PITTSBURGH INTL

    RDU – RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL

    ROC – FREDERICK DOUGLASS/GREATER ROCHESTER INTL

    SEA – SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL

    SFO – SAN FRANCISCO INTL

    SJC – NORMAN Y MINETA SAN JOSE INTL

    SNA – JOHN WAYNE/ORANGE COUNTY

    STL – ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL

    SYR – SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL

    TEB – TETERBORO

  • FAA Will Not Seek Further 5G Rollout Delays From Verizon and AT&T

    FAA Will Not Seek Further 5G Rollout Delays From Verizon and AT&T

    The Federal Aviation Administration has said it will not seek any more delays from Verizon and AT&T in regard to their 5G rollout.

    Verizon and AT&T have twice delayed their rollout of C-band spectrum, from December 5 to January 5, and now from January 5 to January 19. As we have covered extensively, the delays were sparked by concerns that C-band spectrum could interfere with aircraft altimeters.

    Verizon made it clear it was planning on proceeding with deployment after this last delay, even issuing a press release promising customers they would have access to the faster 5G later this month.

    “This massive launch will put incredible speeds, reliability and security in the hands of our customers and amplifies our offering of reliable home and business broadband options to more places around the country, well ahead of the commitment we made last year,” said Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon. “As 5G Ultra Wideband becomes available to more and more people and businesses, it will allow our customers to do more amazing things.”

    In a letter to the carriers, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, signaled there would be no further requests for a delay.

    Thank you for your willingness to work with the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce the impact of 5G C-Band deployment on the national airspace.

    Your voluntary agreement both to delay initial deployment by two weeks, and to subsequently adopt some additional mitigations, will give us additional time and space to reduce the impacts to commercial flights. We look forward to working with you to implement the steps in the attached term sheet. We understand you will work with the Federal Communications Commission to further memorialize the additional mitigations you are putting in place.

    Thank you again for taking this meaningful step. We are confident that your voluntary steps will support the safe coexistence of 5G C-Band deployment and aviation activities, helping to retain America’s economic strength and leadership role around the world.

    This appears to end a long, drawn-out saga for Verizon and AT&T, as well as the airline industry.

  • Verizon and AT&T Agree to New 5G Delay, President Biden Weighs In

    Verizon and AT&T Agree to New 5G Delay, President Biden Weighs In

    Verizon and AT&T have backed down from their previous stance, agreeing to a new two-week delay for their C-band 5G rollout.

    As we have previously written about extensively, Verizon and AT&T have been at odds with the airline industry over their C-band 5G. The airline industry and the FAA are concerned about possible interference with aircraft altimeters, but the two carriers are eager to use spectrum they spent $68 billion to acquire.

    In the last chapter of this saga, both companies refused to delay any further past their January 5 deployment date, which was already a month delay from their initial plans. In response, the aviation industry appealed to the White House.

    According to CNET, both wireless carriers have now agreed to a new two-week delay, potentially avoiding a long and costly legal battle.

    “We’ve agreed to a two-week delay which promises the certainty of bringing this nation our game-changing 5G network in January delivered over America’s best and most reliable network,” Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said in a statement emailed to CNET.

    President Joe Biden voiced his support for the agreement, while also reiterating his administrations commitment to advancing 5G in the US.

    My Administration is committed to rapid 5G deployment, while minimizing disruptions to air operations and continuing to maintain the world’s safest airspace. Last night’s agreement is a significant step in the right direction, and we’re grateful to all parties for their cooperation and good faith. This agreement ensures that there will be no disruptions to air operations over the next two weeks and puts us on track to substantially reduce disruptions to air operations when AT&T and Verizon launch 5G on January 19th.

  • Aviation Industry Appeals to White House Over 5G Concerns

    Aviation Industry Appeals to White House Over 5G Concerns

    The Aerospace Industries Association has appealed to the White House to intervene over concerns about the safety risks of 5G deployment.

    Airlines, the FAA, the FCC, Verizon, and AT&T have been in a tug-of-war over the future of mid-band 5G deployment. Verizon and AT&T are desperate to begin rolling out the $68 billion of spectrum they acquired at a recent FCC auction, but the airline industry and the FCC are worried about possible interference with airline altimeters. 

    After Verizon and AT&T rebuffed requests to delay their deployment further — past the January 5 date they had set — the industry is now appealing to the White House, according to Bloomberg.

    “We respectfully call on President Biden to intervene and delay the full implementation of C-band 5G until proper risk assessments have taken place and crewmembers are fully briefed as to the extent of the disruptions,” the group said in a statement.

    There has been no response yet from the White House.

    One thing is clear: T-Mobile is increasingly coming out an even bigger winner in the 5G wars than it already was. The company acquired a wealth of mid-band spectrum when it bought Sprint. T-Mobile’s nearly insurmountable lead in 5G was one of the main reasons its two biggest competitors spent so much money at auction. Unlike the spectrum they acquired, however, T-Mobile’s spectrum is far enough away from altimeter frequencies that it poses no risk.

  • No More Delays: Verizon and AT&T Reject US Request to Delay 5G

    No More Delays: Verizon and AT&T Reject US Request to Delay 5G

    Verizon and AT&T’s CEOs have rejected a request from the FAA and US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to delay mid-band 5G.

    Verizon and AT&T have been at odds with the airline industry over the C-band spectrum the companies plan to use for 5G. The two companies spent over $68 billion on the spectrum at a recent FCC auction, since C-band is squarely in the mid-band range, making it ideal for 5G. 

    Unfortunately, the spectrum is very close to the frequencies used by airline altimeters, sparking concerns by the airline industry and the FAA. Secretary Buttigieg had asked the two carriers to delay rollout for no more than two weeks past their January 5 deployment date, already a month later than the two companies originally planned.

    It seems neither company is willing to comply, with Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg and AT&T CEO John Stankey penning a joint letter saying they will not delay deployment any longer. According to CNBC, the two companies are willing to delay deployment around airports for another six months, but they will not delay general deployment.

    The two companies plan to follow an “exclusion zone” plan, similar to what companies in France are doing. Adjustments would be made to account for the stronger 5G signals used in the US versus France, but the goal would be to limit potential interference in the proximity of airports and helipads.

    “The laws of physics are the same in the United States and France,” the CEOs wrote. “If U.S. airlines are permitted to operate flights every day in France, then the same operating conditions should allow them to do so in the United States.”

  • Boeing, Airbus Join Chorus of Airlines Calling for Halt to 5G Rollout

    Boeing, Airbus Join Chorus of Airlines Calling for Halt to 5G Rollout

    Executives from both Boeing and Airbus have joined the chorus of airline executives calling for a halt to the rollout of C-band 5G.

    As WebProNews has covered extensively, C-band is in the mid-band range of available spectrum for 5G, and is considered the sweet spot for speed, coverage, and penetration. Verizon and AT&T coughed up more than $68 billion for C-band spectrum, only to have the airline industry raise concerns the spectrum is too close to that used by aircraft altimeters.

    The FAA weighed in with new guidance limiting the use of those altimeters in low visibility conditions over fear of interference. Those efforts only raised more concerns, with United Airlines CEO saying continued rollout of the spectrum “would be a catastrophic failure of government.”

    According to Reuters, Boeing and Airbus executives are weighing in, sending a joint letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

    “5G interference could adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate,” the letter said, adding the rollout could have “an enormous negative impact on the aviation industry.”

  • United Airlines CEO: 5G Rollout ‘Would Be Catastrophic’

    United Airlines CEO: 5G Rollout ‘Would Be Catastrophic’

    United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is warning that Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout would be catastrophic for the airline industry.

    Verizon and AT&T spent over $68 billion on C-band spectrum for their 5G networks. C-band spectrum is squarely in the mid-band range, making it ideal for 5G. Unfortunately, the spectrum is very close to the same frequencies airline altimeters use. Although T-Mobile spent $9 billion, it was largely to fill out its existing spectrum, spectrum that poses no danger to the airline industry. Verizon and AT&T, in contrast, delayed their rollout of the new spectrum before agreeing to throttle back the power in an effort to avoid issues.

    Unfortunately, Kirby doesn’t think that will be enough. According to The Independent, Kirby warned Congress in a US Senate Commerce Committee meeting, that the C-band rollout “would be a catastrophic failure of government.”

    Not everyone agrees Kirby’s fears are warranted, with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CITA) saying concerns about interference amount to fear-mongering.

    “The aviation industry’s fear-mongering relies on completely discredited information and deliberate distortions of fact,” says CTIA.

    At the same time, Kirby was quick to point out the consequences of the FAA’s new directive aimed at addressing the 5G issue, in which the agency prohibits the use of altimeters in low-visibility conditions.

    “Unless something changes – we will not be able to use radio altimeters at 40-something of the largest airports in the country,” Mr Kirby said. “It is a certainty. This is not a debate.”

    The debate between 5G and the airline safety looks to be far from over, but one thing is clear: Until the issue is resolved, airline passengers will likely experience more delays as the industry accommodates the FAA’s new directive.

  • Verizon and Google Cloud Team Up to Deliver 5G Mobile Edge Computing

    Verizon and Google Cloud Team Up to Deliver 5G Mobile Edge Computing

    Verizon and Google Cloud are teaming up to deliver 5G mobile edge computing to customers.

    Edge computing is one of the areas 5G is poised to have a major impact on. Thanks to the speed of 5G, devices will be able to process data more efficiently, in real-time. This will help power a new generation of autonomous vehicles, robotics, factory automation, and more.

    Verizon and Google Cloud are working together to combine Google’s compute and storage services with Verizon’s On Site 5G and 5G Edge services.

    “By working with partners like Google Cloud and Ericsson, we’re building the 5G edge compute ecosystem that will enable enterprises in many industries to benefit from having a completely dedicated private network and edge compute infrastructure on premise,” said Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Verizon. “5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge will give our customers the ability to connect and manage a broad range of devices at scale and speed while also providing highly secure, near real-time connectivity. This will allow companies to unlock greater value from data and enable innovative applications involving computer vision, augmented and virtual reality, and machine learning.” 

    “Through our planet-scale infrastructure and expertise in data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, Google Cloud is enabling the rapid development and deployment of new services and applications,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. “By bringing intelligence from data centers to the network edge, Verizon 5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge will allow customers to build new cross-industry edge solutions, unlock new revenue models, and transform the next generation of customer experiences – from AI-driven in-store operations to live inventory management on the factory floor, the possibilities span multiple industries.”

  • Ookla, Maker of Speedtest, Acquires RootMetrics

    Ookla, Maker of Speedtest, Acquires RootMetrics

    Ookla, the make of the popular Speedtest app and service, has acquired RootMetrics.

    RootMetrics and Ookla are on two different ends of the network performance monitoring spectrum. While Ookla uses crowdsourced data, thanks to its popular app, RootMetrics relies on more traditional, controlled driving and walking tests of wireless provider coverage.

    Ookla has acquired RootMetrics, combining the two companies and bringing their respective network analysis paradigms under one roof.

    “Ookla plus RootMetrics fully enables the network assessment trifecta of crowd measurement, controlled testing and consumer perception—with a sustainable business model that should thrive through the privacy revolution,” says Ookla CEO and co-founder Doug Suttles.

    “Becoming part of Ookla completes the vision that Doug and I shared when we first met years ago,” says RootMetrics CEO Kevin Hasley. “With our combined experience and expertise we can better help our customers overcome challenges, optimize their networks and create opportunities. I am very excited to see our joint future unfold.”

    The combination of the two companies will hopefully help provide more transparency in network analysis. It’s no secret that T-Mobile touts Ookla’s network measurements, while Verizon prefers RootMetrics. The combined companies should help provide a more standardized method of testing wireless carrier performance.

  • 5G May Still Interfere With Aircraft in Low Visibility Conditions

    5G May Still Interfere With Aircraft in Low Visibility Conditions

    Despite a deal being reached between Verizon, AT&T and the FAA, the carriers’ 5G may still cause problems with aircraft in low-visibility conditions.

    Verizon and AT&T spent billions purchasing mid-band spectrum for their 5G rollouts, only to have the FAA raise concerns about the spectrum interfering with aircraft altimeters. The issue stems from the spectrum being in the 3.7 to 3.98 GHz range, considered a sweet spot for 5G, but relatively close to the spectrum altimeters use in the 4.2 to 4.4 GHz range.

    Verizon and AT&T came to an agreement with the FAA to limit the power of their 5G signals, but the FAA is warning pilots that may not be enough. In a statement on 5G, in which the FAA declares its belief that 5G and aviation can safely coexist, the agency does provide a warning about possible interference.

    The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all transport and commuter category airplanes equipped with a radio (also known as radar) altimeter. This AD was prompted by a determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band).

    The interference will especially be a concern in low visibility situations.

    This AD requires revising the limitations section of the existing AFM to incorporate limitations prohibiting certain operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-Band wireless broadband signals as identified by NOTAM. These limitations could prevent dispatch of flights to certain locations with low visibility, and could also result in flight diversions.

    The only carrier unaffected by the FAA’s concerns is T-Mobile. The magenta carrier’s mid-band 5G spectrum falls in the 2.5 GHz range, a range that is no threat to altimeters.

  • Verizon Violates User Privacy in the Name of ‘Personalization’

    Verizon Violates User Privacy in the Name of ‘Personalization’

    Verizon’s latest feature is little more than a massive, privacy-killing data grab, sold under the banner of ‘personalization.’

    Verizon is the latest company that no longer seems content with charging a premium for a service, and instead wants to grab as much data from its users as possible in order to profit from that as well. In a recent email to customers, first noticed by Input, the company announced its “Verizon Custom Experience” program.

    The company says the program is designed to “personalize our communications with you, give you more relevant product and service recommendations, and develop plans, services and offers that are more appealing to you.”

    There’s only one problem: In order to “personalize” customer experiences, Verizon wants access to customers’ browsing history, app usage, location, and everyone a customer texts or calls. While it could be argued that, as a wireless provider, Verizon already has access to text and calling contacts, as well as location, there’s absolutely no reason the company should be accessing customers’ web browsing history or app usage.

    To make matters even worse, Verizon automatically enrolls customers in its new program, meaning they have to manually opt out in order to protect their privacy. To do so, customers open the My Verizon app and disable “Custom Experience” and “Custom Experience Plus” under “Privacy Settings.”

    Verizon should be ashamed for such a thinly veiled attempt to monetize its customers in such a manner. The company has a long-standing reputation of being among the most expensive US wireless carriers, specifically because it supposedly offers a premium experience for its customers.

    One would think that respecting and protecting its customers’ privacy would part of that premium service, instead of greedily trying to mine and profit from their data.

  • Verizon, AT&T Limiting 5G to Accommodate Air Traffic Safety Concerns

    Verizon, AT&T Limiting 5G to Accommodate Air Traffic Safety Concerns

    Verizon and AT&T have volunteered to limit their 5G networks in an effort to address concerns over air traffic safety.

    Verizon and AT&T spent a small fortune — to the tune of nearly $69 billion — to purchase C-Band spectrum for their 5G networks. C-Band, falling in the mid-range of available spectrum, is considered the sweet spot for 5G, offering a solid blend of speed, range and penetration.

    Unfortunately, the spectrum Verizon and AT&T purchased is in the 3.7 to 3.98 GHz range, relatively close to the 4.2-4.4 GHz range that airline altimeters run on. As a result, there have been concerns that Verizon and AT&T’s 5G could negatively impact airline safety, leading both companies to delay their C-Band rollout.

    Verizon and AT&T are now voluntarily offering to limit their rollout of the C-Band 5G spectrum in an effort to mitigate potential issues.

    “We have voluntarily agreed to certain precautionary protection measures for 5G networks in the C-band while additional evidence from radio altimeter manufacturers is evaluated,” AT&T said in a statement, according to The Hill. “Though there is no credible evidence that a legitimate interference problem exists, we agreed to take these additional steps to alleviate any safety concerns from the FAA.”

    Despite their willingness to cripple their 5G, as Telecoms.com points out, it’s obvious by the wording of their statement that Verizon and AT&T are not happy with the current state of affairs. Their statement is a not-so-subtle way of pointing out that, after spending tens of billions, they shouldn’t have to take the steps they’re taking.

    “Wireless carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, paid over $80 billion for C-band spectrum—and have committed to pay another $15 billion to satellite users for early access to those licenses—and made those investments in reliance on a set of technical ground rules that were expressly found by the FCC to protect other spectrum users.”

    Verizon and AT&T’s issues are yet another win for T-Mobile, which has already established itself as the 5G leader in the US market. T-Mobile’s mid-band spectrum falls in the 2.5 GHz range, which is still in the sweet spot for 5G but far enough away from the spectrum airline altimeters use to not be a concern. As a result, T-Mobile has been unaffected by the issues Verizon and AT&T are facing.

  • T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity 5G Now Covers 200 Million People

    T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity 5G Now Covers 200 Million People

    T-Mobile has reached its goal of covering 200 million people with its Ultra Capacity 5G by the end of 2021.

    Ultra Capacity 5G is the term T-Mobile uses for its 5G running on the mid-band 2.5 GHz spectrum. Unlike the faster mmWave, which is in the 6 GHz range, T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity can reach farther and penetrate obstacles better. Despite being slower than mmWave, T-Mobile has achieved speeds in excess of 1 Gbps with its mid-band spectrum.

    The company had set a goal of reaching 200 million people by the end of 2021, a goal it has already achieved.

    “We’re delivering game changing Ultra Capacity 5G to people across the country at an unprecedented pace, putting us in a network leadership position with a two-year head start on the competition. And that gap is only getting wider as we speed up,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “Only T-Mobile is delivering a 5G network capable of truly transforming the smartphone experience – 5G’s first killer app – and that’s just the beginning. With Ultra Capacity 5G nationwide, we’re unleashing innovators across the country to build new 5G applications that will change the world.”

    In the meantime, Verizon and AT&T have both paused their mid-band spectrum rollout over concerns of interference with aviation altimeters. Verizon and AT&T’s mid-band spectrum is in the 3.7 to 3.98 GHz range, relatively close to the 4.2 to 4.4 GHz range of altimeters. In contrast, T-Mobile’s 2.5 GHz spectrum is far enough away to not pose any concern.

  • Air Traffic Concerns Delay Verizon and AT&T 5G, T-Mobile Unaffected

    Air Traffic Concerns Delay Verizon and AT&T 5G, T-Mobile Unaffected

    Concerns over possible interference between mid-band 5G and aviation altimeters has caused Verizon and AT&T to delay their 5G deployment.

    Verizon and AT&T recently spent billions to acquire mid-band spectrum, specifically the C-Band, in the 3.7 to 3.98 GHz range. The spectrum is considered the sweet spot for 5G, offering a combination of speed, range and building penetration. Unfortunately, radar altimeters run in the 4.2-4.4 GHz range, making them dangerously close to the C-Band spectrum.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has voiced concern over whether a nearby cell tower could negatively impact altimeters, potentially causing major safety issues for the airline industry.

    As a result of the concerns, both Verizon and AT&T have pushed back deployment of their C-Band spectrum by a month, to allow time to address the concerns.

    The big winner in the entire situation is T-Mobile. While the second-largest carrier bought some C-Band spectrum at the latest auction, the bulk of its 5G spectrum is in the 2.5 GHz range, far enough for there to be no concerns about interfering with altimeters.

    Some experts are already predicting the month-long delay on the part of Verizon and AT&T will only serve to help T-Mobile grow its 5G lead even more.

  • Verizon Updates BlueJeans to Support Remote Learning

    Verizon Updates BlueJeans to Support Remote Learning

    Verizon has announced an update to BlueJeans, one that brings support for remote learning.

    BlueJeans is the Zoom competitor that Verizon bought in April 2020, at the outset of the pandemic. The company has since been integrating the platform in its various services, striking deals for other companies to support it and expanding its support for other industries, such as Telehealth.

    In the latest update, Verizon is adding Remote Learning to BlueJeans’ capabilities.

    “Teachers are telling us they’re lost, and they’re struggling to keep students engaged in today’s live virtual setting,” said Amy Jefferson, Head of Americas Revenue and Growth, BlueJeans by Verizon. “Having to spend time playing administrator and technical support expert is minimizing their ability to think through compelling, interactive ways to deliver the curriculum virtually. By bringing together our comprehensive education, collaboration and training features into one consolidated experience, we’re making it easy for teachers to operationalize their learning environment so they can go back to focusing on what matters most—educating students.”

    The new Teacher Dashboard is designed to provide an instructor with the various classroom management tools they need. Remote Learning features include student rosters, customizable layouts, flexible views, floating chats and teaching apps.

    Teachers and organizations can learn more at https://www.bluejeans.com/use-cases/education.

  • Verizon and Amazon Partner to Deliver Satellite Internet to Rural Areas

    Verizon and Amazon Partner to Deliver Satellite Internet to Rural Areas

    Verizon and Amazon have announced a partnership to use the latter’s Project Kuiper satellites to deliver internet access to underserved communities.

    Many companies and organizations are working to address the US “digital divide,” the difference in available internet access for rural vs urban areas. Verizon has been rolling out its Home Internet solution, which uses the company’s wireless service to provide internet access.

    In its latest move, Verizon is turning to Amazon’s Project Kuiper to help extend its existing network and serve as the backend for its efforts. Project Kuiper will deliver broadband internet via a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The company received FCC clearance in July 2020 to launch as many as 3,236 satellites. The approval was conditioned on the company launching at least half that number by July 2026. To date, however, not a single satellite has been launched.

    Despite that, it appears Verizon has confidence in Project Kuiper.

    “Project Kuiper offers flexibility and unique capabilities for a LEO satellite system, and we’re excited about the prospect of adding a complementary connectivity layer to our existing partnership with Amazon,” Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg said. “We know the future will be built on our leading 5G network, designed for mobility, fixed wireless access and real-time cloud compute. More importantly, we believe that the power of this technology must be accessible for all. Today’s announcement will help us explore ways to bridge that divide and accelerate the benefits and innovation of wireless connectivity, helping benefit our customers on both a global and local scale.”

    “There are billions of people without reliable broadband access, and no single company will close the digital divide on its own,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said. “Verizon is a leader in wireless technology and infrastructure, and we’re proud to be working together to explore bringing fast, reliable broadband to the customers and communities who need it most. We look forward to partnering with companies and organizations around the world who share this commitment.”

    Verizon is already struggling to play catchup to T-Mobile’s 5G network. It remains to be seen if hitching its rural endeavors to a company that has yet to deliver will pay off.

  • Verizon Expands 5G Home Internet

    Verizon Expands 5G Home Internet

    Verizon has expanded its 5G Home Internet solution, providing the service in 60 cities across the US.

    5G Home Internet is a popular option for areas that do not have traditional internet options, such as rural and remote locations. Yours truly relies on T-Mobile 5G Home Internet at a location that would otherwise be restricted to dial-up.

    Verizon is now offering its 5G Home Internet solution in 60 cities, touting the speed its network provides.

    “Our mmWave build is a critical differentiator, and we remain focused on our rapid expansion of 5G Ultra Wideband using mmWave spectrum even as our teams prepare to offer 5G Ultra Wideband service to millions of customers using our C-band spectrum license,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer for Verizon. “We will continue to expand our mmWave footprint to deliver game changing experiences for the densest parts of our network.”

    Verizon says Home Internet speeds can reach up to 1 Gbps, with typical speeds around 300 Mbps. Customers with qualifying plans pay $50 a month for Home Internet, while those without a plan pay $70 a month. Verizon will also cover up to $500 in early termination fees for customers leaving another internet provider.

  • FCC Auctioning New Mid-Band 5G Spectrum Auction

    FCC Auctioning New Mid-Band 5G Spectrum Auction

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is auctioning off a new round of mid-band spectrum for 5G.

    Mid-band spectrum is the most coveted type of spectrum for 5G. Low-band — below 1 GHz — offers coverage on par with 4G LTE, but provides only marginally better speeds. High-band mmWave — over 6 GHz — offers speeds measured in gigabits, but has extremely limited range. Repeaters and base stations must be placed every couple of hundred meters to maintain coverage.

    Mid-band, in contrast, offers speeds in excess of 1 Gbps, and provides far better coverage than mmWave. T-Mobile gained a wealth of mid-band spectrum when it purchased Sprint. Verizon and AT&T spent over $68 million at the last mid-band spectrum auction, while T-Mobile only spent $9 billion to round out its existing spectrum.

    The FCC is now auctioning off a new round, specifically 100 MHz of the 3.45 GHz band. Starting Tuesday, October 5, the auction has a reserve price of $14,775,354,330 that must be met. There’s almost no chance the reserve price won’t be met, as Fierce Wireless says the final price is estimated to be $31 billion, with a reasonable chance of reaching $40 billion. Verizon and AT&T are both seen as the most likely big spenders, as both companies still have a ways to go before they catch up to T-Mobile’s spectrum holdings.

    “We are moving with record speed and collaboration to free up more mid-band spectrum for 5G,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “These airwaves are a critical part of unlocking the 5G promise everywhere in the country. I want to thank the FCC staff who have worked so hard to start this auction this year. And I want to thank our partners at NTIA and the Department of Defense for working with us to free up this spectrum for 5G.”