In a groundbreaking move, Nokia has joined forces with SK Telecom, NTT, and DOCOMO to pioneer the development of a 6G AI-native air interface, aiming to revolutionize network performance and energy efficiency. This collaboration marks a significant leap towards integrating artificial intelligence deeply into the fabric of next-generation wireless technologies.
As the evolution towards 6G continues, telecommunications mammoths NTT DOCOMO and NTT, have expanded their research circle to include SK Telecom and Rohde & Schwarz. The newly inducted collaborators will aid in various 6G trials in Japan, focusing on identifying potent frequency bands for the upcoming technology. Of particular interest is the development of a ‘6G AI-native air interface’, that promises to bolster network performance and energy effectiveness.
T-Mobile US, a significant player in the US telecommunications industry, has maintained its leadership position in customer growth in 2023, despite a notable decrease compared to its previous year’s performance. The company, which recently revealed its annual and quarterly financial results, continues to outpace its main competitors, AT&T and Verizon, particularly in the postpaid mobile customer segment.
A first-of-its-kind system in the UK is being trialled in Edinburgh to see if waste heat from a large computing facility can be stored in disused mine workings and used to warm homes. The large amounts of energy needed to power the University of Edinburgh’s Advanced Computing Facility (ACF) could be recycled to heat at least 5,000 households in Scotland’s capital.
Just under a year ago, the tech world buzzed with anticipation over a new partnership between chip mogul Qualcomm and satellite firm Iridium. The aim? Integrating satellite-to-phone services via Snapdragon Satellite and Iridium’s resources. However, a recent shift in direction caught the industry’s attention. Despite a successful demo, smartphone manufacturers didn’t opt to incorporate this feature, leading Qualcomm to end the agreement. Yet, in the face of disappointment, Iridium remains optimistic, envisaging an industry veering towards greater satellite connectivity. As earthquakes ripple across the telecoms landscape, all eyes await what’s next.
Intriguingly, SpaceX’s Starlink offers an innovative Direct to Cell feature allowing existing LTE phones to function even in remote locations – a potential boon for those often out of terrestrial coverage. With a rollout plan targeting texts by 2024, and full voice, data, and IoT compatibility by 2025, Starlink seems poised for a breakthrough. While the proposition seems formidable, concerns around possible limitations of Starlink’s proprietary technology remind us advantages of relying on industry best practices. Without disclosed pricing details, we can only anticipate how this venture will fare against other satellite connectivity contenders.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which birthed two prototype satellites aimed to test potential satellite broadband service, operates similarly to Space-X’s Starlink and OneWeb. The venture is set to increase internet connectivity in remote areas using an extensive satellite constellation. Still, the delay in launching has welcomed accumulating competition. Rabid advancements by competitors including satellite direct-to-device technology pioneers and those concentrating on 5G NTN IoT services could tilt the scales. Would adopting the 5G NTN-compatible network give Project Kuiper a competitive edge? Or will the ongoing innovations by industry leaders overshadow it? However, underlying operational challenges and time constraints might hamper Amazon from contemplating a substantial shift in direction.
In a major technological achievement, over half of UK homes now enjoy full fibre broadband access, marking a significant increase from the beginning of this year. This growth reflects the collective effort of both large infrastructure operators and smaller, regional organisations. Surprisingly though, coverage varies across regions, with Northern Ireland leading while Scotland slightly lags behind. Even more exciting progress has been observed in access to Gigabit-capable broadband.
CityFibre’s full fibre network in the UK now reaches 3 million premises, a rapid expansion when considering it connected 2 million just a year earlier. Recent key milestones include securing wayleave permissions and financial support totalling nearly half a billion pounds. Technological strides include the market launch of its XGS-PON service offering potential speeds up to 10Gbps. As these advancements continue to transform broadband, stay tuned for updates.
As T-Mobile launches its 5G SA network slicing beta, it offers a unique window of opportunity to developers, aiming to improve video calling applications. With the rising demand for such apps in the remote work era, developers leveraging the tailored network slices could unlock applications showcasing faster speeds, decreased latency, and better reliability. As some experts express high hopes for the potential of network slicing, could this move revolutionize telecommunications amidst the surge in hybrid work?
