NTT Docomo is set to launch New Radio dual connectivity technology, offering download speeds up to 6.6 Gbps using 5G Standalone architecture. Utilizing sub-6GHz bands and mmWave, this VoIP-enhancing tech will debut in Tokyo and Kanagawa starting August 1.
Opensignal’s report shows T-Mobile leads in US 5G availability.
Google has reversed its decision to phase out tracking cookies. Businesses rapidly adopting generative AI face long-term infrastructure and security challenges. EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure plans to build a new data center. Nokia’s Broadband Easy Connect uses AI and cloud technology to streamline fibre connections.
Deutsche Telekom now operates 12,150 5G antennas across 920 German cities, leveraging the 3.6 GHz spectrum. This expansion enhances mobile services, adding 676 new locations. Around 97% of German households have access to Deutsche Telekom’s 5G network. The company also plans to introduce 5G Standalone in Germany this year.
Filtronic, a UK-based manufacturer of RF, microwave, and mmWave components, projects substantial growth in both revenue and earnings for its recently concluded financial year, driven by its involvement in the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite market and sales to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The company forecasts an EBITDA of £4.8 million for the year ending May, marking a notable increase from the £1.3 million recorded in fiscal 2023.
NEC has introduced a groundbreaking radio-over-fibre system featuring 1-bit fibre transmission, designed to create affordable, compact distributed antenna units (DAUs). This innovative technology transmits high-frequency analogue signals using a cost-effective electrical-to-optical converter, commonly used in digital communications.
Cornerstone, a leading passive infrastructure provider managing Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) and Vodafone’s shared mobile network, is set to introduce a cutting-edge neutral host network utilizing smart street light technology in urban environments.The partnership between Cornerstone and Signify, a Netherlands-based company spun off from Philips in 2016, will leverage Signify’s BrightSites Broadband Luminaire products. These innovative LED streetlamps act as network extenders, supporting a mesh network using 60 GHz millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum to facilitate 5G connectivity.
Recognizing the growing demand for mid-band spectrum, the International Telecom Union (ITU) appends new frequency bands for 5G usage. A significant addition was the 6GHZ spectrum, which is anticipated to facilitate the 5G evolution. Multiple global operators have conducted successful tests, making strides toward a seamless shift to 5G-Advanced. This advancement not only opens a myriad of industry opportunities but also promises an improved user experience potentially comparable to the fiber experience.
In a strategic move to bolster its mobile network, Australia’s premier telecom firm, Telstra, acquires local operations of small cell provider Dense Air. Both financial details and timelines of the transaction remain veiled. This comes after the Australia Competition Tribunal blocked Telstra’s partnership with TPG, favoring competition and avoiding regional coverage setback. While rivals speculate, Dense Air’s retreat from Trans-Tasman markets coincides with Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners’ takeover. This deal provides Telstra’s network expansion plans with crucial additional spectrum capacity.
Ofcom has cemented plans to propel UK’s 5G coverage by introducing the nation’s first millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum auction. This will span the robust 26GHz and 40GHz spectrum bands, targeting faster 5G speeds across 68 UK towns and cities. Interestingly, mmWave 5G promises impressive speed and capacity upgrades, but struggles with range and penetrability, making it ideal for densely populated areas. The auction awaits a verdict on a key industry merger before commencement.
As the Federal Communications Commission refocuses on airway ownership, the conversation around midband spectrum control heats up. Telecom leaders differ: AT&T calls for a review of midband acquisitions, while T-Mobile criticizes this as self-serving. Dish joins the debate, advocating a 25% national screen to encourage competition. Amid conflicting viewpoints, the FCC must forge a path in balancing market sense and fairness.
