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Tag: wireless

  • 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.

  • Android Authority: Nearly 50% of Users Turn Off 5G

    Android Authority: Nearly 50% of Users Turn Off 5G

    5G may be the next major evolution of wireless technology, but roughly half of users are still turning it off.

    Android Authority is a popular website dedicated to the Android platform. The site posed a poll to its readers, asking them if they turned off 5G on their phones. The results were surprising.

    Out of 1,300+ responses, 50.11% of users don’t turn off 5G. However, a whopping 39.38% of users turn it off and leave it off all the time, while 10.51% of users turn it off when they have a weak 5G signal or low battery.

    5G promises to revolutionize many aspects of modern life and have far-reaching impacts on a wide range of industries. Unfortunately, Android Authority’s poll shows the technology still has a long way to go before it achieves that.

  • 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.

  • Verizon Makes 5G Push With ‘Biggest Upgrade Campaign Ever’

    Verizon Makes 5G Push With ‘Biggest Upgrade Campaign Ever’

    Verizon is working hard to migrate its customer base to 5G, with its biggest “5G upgrade campaign ever.”

    Like carriers around the world, Verizon is rushing to deploy its 5G network, and working to convince customers to switch over. In addition to the benefits to consumers, in the form of higher speeds and lower latency, 5G has significant benefits to carriers.

    The improved architecture of 5G networks allows carriers to better deal with usage spikes, and the spectrum is better future-proofed to account for growth. The faster speeds also put carriers in the position to better compete with traditional internet service providers, as well as be the go-to solution for edge computing solutions.

    Of course, in order to benefit from 5G, carriers need to convince users to make the switch. Verizon is pulling out all the stops to do just that.

    Starting today, every customer —new and existing, consumers and businesses — can trade in an old phone and get a 5G phone on Verizon. That includes trading in a cracked or broken phone. Verizon will even help cover the cost of switching for new customers.

    The upgrade event promises to be a major event for the carrier, and a good deal for customers.

  • T-Mobile Joins FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

    T-Mobile Joins FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

    T-Mobile has announced it is joining the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, to provide low-cost service.

    The FCC announced its Emergency Broadband Benefit program will start on May 12. The program is designed to provide a discount of up to $50 ($75 on tribal lands) to help low-income families have access to broadband internet. High-speed internet access is more important than ever, as countless individuals work from home and engage in remote learning.

    T-Mobile has joined the FCC’s program, making its services available under its main brand, as well as subsidiaries.

    When enrollment opens on May 12, qualified T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Assurance Wireless and Sprint brand consumer and government customers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands may be eligible for an up to $50 discount (up to $75 on tribal lands) per household on service each month on qualified plans for the duration of the program.

  • Verizon Reports Strong Start to the Year, Despite 178K Phone Net Losses

    Verizon Reports Strong Start to the Year, Despite 178K Phone Net Losses

    Verizon reported its first-quarter results, citing a strong start to the year despite reporting 178,000 phone net losses.

    Verizon’s latest quarterly reports are a mixed bag, simultaneously beating expectations and losing 178,000 subscribers.

    The company reported $5.4 billion net income for the quarter, an increase of 25.4%. Similarly, the earnings per share came in at $1.27, up from the $1.00 they were a year ago.

    Total wireless revenue came in at $16.7 billion, a 2.4% increase year over year. In spite of that, Verizon experienced 170,000 retail postpaid net losses, including 178,000 phone net losses, compared to 68,000 net phone loses a year ago.

    “Verizon is off to an excellent start in 2021 as we met the challenge of intense competition in the first quarter by achieving revenue growth across our three business segments,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “This year began with a transformative milestone for our company with our success in the recent C-Band spectrum auction. We continue to strengthen our networks, execute on our Network-as-a-Service strategy and focus on the five vectors that underpin our growth framework and position us to deliver success in 2021 and beyond.”

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • France May Regulate Early Smartphone Renewals

    France May Regulate Early Smartphone Renewals

    France is looking to enact legislation that would restrict wireless carriers from using commercial offers to entice users into early upgrades.

    French carriers, like many carriers around the world, use promotions to get customers to upgrade early in exchange for signing a new contract. French authorities are concerned about the environmental impact of new phones, according to Reuters, and are prepared to take action.

    The French government estimates device manufacturing accounts for up to 75% of the digital sector’s environmental impact. As a result, upgrading new devices early can pose a significant impact.

    “We’re ready to adopt new measures,” a government official said. “The aim is clearly to increase the life of terminals.”

    The government will have Arcep, the French telecoms authority, conduct a review of the contracts wireless carriers use and see what measures can be taken. The official emphasized the review is not being done frivolously, or without a definite end-game in mind.

    “We’re not commissioning this review to waste time, it’s clearly to have the means to make a decision.”

  • Apple Already Working On 6G Tech

    Apple Already Working On 6G Tech

    5G may just be ramping up, but Apple already has its sights set on the future and 6G.

    6G is still years away, with no specification or concrete guidelines. Nonetheless, Apple seems intent on getting started sooner rather than later. The company has long been reliant on Qualcomm for its modems, no doubt a sore point given their history of litigation.

    Apple has already taken steps to end its dependence on Qualcomm, buying Intel’s failed modem business. Early reportssuggested the company may be planning to begin using its own modems as early as 2022.

    According to job postings on Apple’s site, using its own 5G modems is just the beginning. In a posting entitled “Wireless Research Systems Engineer – 5G/6G”, Apple outlines its vision for the job:

    We are looking for expert and highly self-motivated communication systems engineers who have a deep understanding of wireless technology used in state of the art indoor and outdoor wireless networks. In this role you will be at the center of a cutting-edge research group responsible for creating next generation disruptive radio access technologies over the next decade. You will work on defining system level concepts, proposing and researching innovative ideas & algorithms, performing complex system simulations, defining rapid prototyping platforms to help prove your ideas and specifying RAN protocols and for next generation (5G/6G) cellular systems.

    Similarly, another posting, “RAN1/RAN4 Standards Engineer”, has the following line:

    You will be part of a team defining and doing research of next generation standards like 6G.

    Apple clearly wants to be at the forefront of 6G development and is wasting no time getting started.

  • Dish Network Moves Ahead With 5G, Signing Seven New Tower Deals

    Dish Network Moves Ahead With 5G, Signing Seven New Tower Deals

    Dish Network has signed seven new wireless tower deals, as it moves ahead to become the fourth largest carrier in the US.

    Dish Network has primarily been known for satellite TV service. Under current leadership, however, the company has been working to become a wireless carrier. When T-Mobile bought out Sprint, one of the government’s conditions of the merger was selling off some of their prepaid assets, which Dish bought as well as licensing spectrum to the company. Regulators were worried about the implications of the market going to three carriers, and wanted Dish to become a viable fourth option.

    Dish has been been moving full-steam-ahead as it works to build a wireless network from scratch. In its latest efforts, it has signed tower deals with Harmoni Towers, Mobilitie, Parallel Infrastructure, Phoenix Tower International (PTI), Tillman Infrastructure, Tower Ventures and Vogue Towers. This will provide Dish with access to over 4,000 towers and wireless sites, coast-to-coast, in addition to its spectrum agreements with T-Mobile.

    “Securing strong tower partners is a key component of any network expansion, and is tremendously important for DISH’s rapid roll-out of a new, nationwide 5G network,” said Dave Mayo, DISH Executive Vice President of Network Development. “Each of these new tower partners will play an important role in bringing our network to life, connecting next-generation wireless service to American consumers and enterprises.”

    “We are excited to partner with DISH and look forward to being a part of their nationwide 5G network deployment,” stated Lawrence Gleason, President, Harmoni Towers. “We believe our growing portfolio of newly constructed towers provides a unique opportunity to quickly and efficiently deliver the wireless infrastructure solutions DISH requires.”

  • Blackberry 5G Phone With Physical Keyboard Coming in 2021

    Blackberry 5G Phone With Physical Keyboard Coming in 2021

    It’s the brand that won’t die, as OnwardMobility has announced it is bringing a 5G Blackberry with traditional keyboard to market in 2021.

    Once the king of the smartphone arena, Blackberry was the device of choice for professionals and consumers alike. The company was known for enterprise-grade mobile software, combined with the best QUERTY keyboard in the business.

    Unfortunately for the company, the introduction of the iPhone caught it off-guard and it lost its dominance. Since then, the core company has switched its focus to software, with a strong emphasis on security. Meanwhile, Blackberry has licensed the right to create Blackberry hardware to outside companies, OnwardMobility being the current one.

    According to an interview with Naoki Watanabe, a writer with Nikkei, CEO and Founder Peter Franklin said OnwardMobility is planning to bring 5G-enabled Blackberry phones, complete with the quintessential QUERTY keyboard, to the US and Europe in 2021. While there is not a definite timeline, OnwardMobility hopes to release in Asia as soon as possible.

    “It is a global flagship device, and Asia is very important to us,” Franklin said . “We are in the process of speaking to customers and mobile carriers on a global scale to develop our distribution plan.”

    Franklin and company are hoping to capitalize on the current remote work trends as a result of the pandemic. Because more people are working from home, there is a renewed focus on mobile devices that can help them be more productive, with Franklin touting the new Blackberry as just such a device.

    “Our smartphones equipped with a physical keyboard can help boost productivity”, Franklin added.

    It remains to be seen if OnwardMobility will be able to make a dent in the market, but there’s sure to be at least some demand for a powerful, modern Blackberry, not to mention that legendary keyboard.

  • 5G Will Cover 53% of World’s Population by 2025

    5G Will Cover 53% of World’s Population by 2025

    A new report is predicting some 53% of the world’s population will have 5G coverage by 2025, an increase of 254%.

    The new analysis, by Bankr via TechRepublic, is based on the number of Ericsson’s Radio Base Stations, in combination with the coverage each of those base stations provides. While roughly 1.17 billion people were covered by 5G in 2020, that number is expected to double by 2022 and nearly quadruple by 2025, with 4.41 billion people covered.

    Bankr’s analysis falls largely in line with Ericsson’s own November 2020 Mobility Report. According to Ericsson, 1 billion people had coverage at the end of 2020. Ericsson also predicts there will be 3.5 billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2026.

    While, at first glance, that may seem to contradict Bankr’s analysis, the actual number of 5G subscribers is likely to be less than the number of potential subscribers, as represented by those Bankr says will have 5G coverage. One factor likely driving this disparity is the fact that some carriers, such as Verizon, plan to charge more for 5G coverage.

    Overall, Bankr’s analysis is more good news for the 5G industry, and illustrates how quickly the next generation of wireless technology is being adopted.

  • 5G Deployment Could Be Bad For The Environment

    5G Deployment Could Be Bad For The Environment

    A report by France’s High Council on Climate has warned that 5G deployment could lead to a major spike in CO2 emissions.

    Carriers around the world are racing to deploy the next generation of wireless networks. 5G is seen as a revolutionary upgrade, not only for consumers, but also for the enterprise. The speeds 5G provides will help lead to advances in edge computing, AI, autonomous vehicles and private networks.

    Unfortunately, the advances 5G brings may come at a cost to the environment. According to the High Council on Climate’s report, 5G deployment could lead to as much as 3 to 7 billion extra tons of CO2 in the atmosphere, according to France 24.

    “We request a moratorium and our request is even more relevant today, now that the high council has said that we need to assess the technology’s environmental impact before deploying it,” said Éric Piolle a lawmaker with Europe Écologie-Les Verts, the French Green party.

    It remains to be seen if France will put a hold on 5G deployment, although it seems unlikely at this point.

  • Apple Working to Replace Qualcomm Internal Modems

    Apple Working to Replace Qualcomm Internal Modems

    Apple is working on the next step toward manufacturing independence, beginning work on a replacement for Qualcomm’s modems.

    Apple has had a troubled history with Qualcomm for years. Apple accused Qualcomm of charging unfair prices for its modems, and turned to Intel as an alternate source. Many critics believed Qualcomm had violated antitrust laws, prompting the Federal Trade Commission to file an antitrust case against the company.

    While Qualcomm lost the initial case, it ultimately prevailed on appeal. In the meantime, Intel was forced to exit the modem business, citing Qualcomm’s business practices as the reason. In the meantime, Apple settled its legal battle with Qualcomm and ended up buying Intel’s failed modem business.

    Last October, we covered a story that suggested Apple was using the purchased Intel modem business to develop its own line of components, with plans to begin using them as early as 2022.

    According to Bloomberg, Apple has now begun working on its own modem.

    “This year, we kicked off the development of our first internal cellular modem which will enable another key strategic transition,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, in a town hall meeting with Apple employees. “Long-term strategic investments like these are a critical part of enabling our products and making sure we have a rich pipeline of innovative technologies for our future.”

    The move follows Apple’s decision to ditch Intel in favor of its own custom silicon, based on ARM chips. Apple, more than almost any company in the tech industry, is well-known for integrating its hardware and software. Building its own modems is another critical piece of that strategy, and will likely give Apple the ability to innovate even more.

  • Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G ‘Is Entering the Next Phase’

    Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G ‘Is Entering the Next Phase’

    Ericsson has released the November 2020 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report and it contains good news for 5G.

    The Ericsson Mobility Report provides a snapshot of the mobile industry and can provide valuable insights into current technology and trends. Not surprisingly, recent reports have been dominated by the rollout of 5G. The November 2020 report(PDF) is no different, signaling that 5G rollout is marching on, impacting a number of industries.

    According to Ericsson, some 1 billion people — or 15% of the world’s population — will live within 5G coverage by the end of 2020. Equally impressive, some 3.5 billion 5G subscriptions are forecast by the end of 2026. Despite its slow start, in relation to Asian countries, North America is projected to account for 80% of 5G subscriptions in 2026.

    The report also demonstrates the impact 5G will have on related industries. For example, while there are currently 7.9 billion mobile subscriptions, Ericsson expects this to increase to 8.8 billion by the end of 2026. Significantly, some 91% of those will be for mobile broadband — not surprising given the speeds promised by 5G.

    It’s no secret companies are looking to 5G as the next evolution of broadband, providing fast speed, security and the possibility of high-speed connections in areas where traditional wired connections are prohibitive. According to Ericsson, “fixed wireless access (FWA) connections are forecast to grow more than threefold and reach over 180 million by the end of 2026, accounting for around 25 percent of total mobile network data traffic globally.”

    Ericsson emphasizes that 5G is no longer a novelty, and is beginning to live up to the transformational potential it has promised.

    “The fundamental need for good connectivity is a cornerstone for this change, clearly visible in this edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report as the demand for capacity and coverage of cellular networks continues to grow. 5G is no longer just a novelty. Instead it is entering the next phase, when many new devices and end-user applications make the most out of the technological benefits it provides, while communications service providers worldwide continue the build-out of 5G.”

  • Dish Network Utilizing Qualcomm For Its 5G Rollout

    Dish Network Utilizing Qualcomm For Its 5G Rollout

    Dish Network has announced it is using Qualcomm to help roll out its 5G network.

    Dish is moving ahead at warp speed to roll out a 5G network to compete with the three big carriers. The company received a big boost thanks to the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. In order to receive approval for their merger, the two companies had to sell some of their spectrum, as well as Sprint’s Boost Mobile, to Dish.

    Dish has been lining up deals with the major network equipment providers as it works on building the first O-RAN compliant 5G network. O-RAN (open-radio access network) is a specification that enables carriers to use components from multiple vendors, thanks to a common set of defined interfaces.

    In its latest move, Dish has tapped Qualcomm’s 5G RAN platform.

    “By further expanding its portfolio of 5G infrastructure solutions to include O-RAN specifications that are compliant with DISH’s open architecture and implementation, Qualcomm Technologies will enable greater flexibility in the deployment of our 5G vRAN equipment. With this move, Qualcomm Technologies will also enrich a diverse ecosystem of RAN applications by delivering data insights natively through the future chipset family. These insights are the foundation of our data-centric and fully-automated network architecture. We are pleased to see Qualcomm Technologies embracing O-RAN and virtualization, creating even more possibilities for the future of 5G across the industry,” said Marc Rouanne, DISH executive vice president and chief network officer.

    “We are excited about working with DISH to accelerate their strategy to bring flexible, scalable, and interoperable 5G deployments to a more competitive North American market. With our vast 5G portfolio, from smartphone to infrastructure, we are committed to supporting DISH’s network vendors and device partners to bring new capabilities to life, with standalone 5G and Vo5G across all DISH spectrum bands,” said Durga Malladi, senior vice president and general manager, 4G/5G, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

    Thanks to its adoption of O-RAN, Dish stands poised to build out a 5G network in record time. The move will help Dish diversify its business at a time when customers are dropping cable and satellite in favor of streaming options.