Khurram Sheikh

✨ ICYMI! BroadbandOne joined forces with Etheric Networks, one of California's leading ISPs! Together, we’re bringing cutting-edge connectivity to the Salinas market, kicking off in early 2025. Harnessing our innovative #mmWave spectrum, Etheric will deliver super-fast and dependable internet service to rural and agricultural communities that need it most. This partnership is a true game-changer, providing local businesses with high-speed, low-latency solutions. Keep an eye out for more updates as we revolutionize wireless experiences and broaden our footprint in California! Check out the news here in this article from The Fast Mode: https://lnkd.in/e-yePx4W #NextGenConnectivity #CaliforniaInnovation #GameChanger

30

The dynamics of higher power are very interesting – there are two scenarios. If higher power applied to both GAA and PAL, enterprise/indoor systems are potentially at risk of higher interference (needs more careful analysis given 2 categories of devices, but I suspect there are workarounds and may not be as large as feared). If higher power is applied to PAL only and not GAA, then interference to enterprise or indoor networks will be limited (intra-PAL will coordinate leaving a possibility of interference in case of adjacent PAL/GAA assignments; intra-GAA does not change from present model). Higher PAL power would better justify the money spent on spectrum licenses and a differentiating feature over GAA aside from access hierarchy!

7

The future of wireless services of all types is likely to involve more spectrum-sharing and other more sophisticated approaches to #spectrum assignment and management. This applies to #5G, #6G, #WiFi, #satellite, audiovisual and various classes of aviation and martime networks, as well as government and defence usage. Sharing will occur based on multiple dimensions - location, duration, directionality, power and obviously frequency. That, in turn, will require a range of key enablers, including technological components such as spectrum databases, sensing systems, better transceivers, mapping tools, cross-technology signalling and much more. There will also need to be streamlined regulatory processes, spectrum marketplaces, and a whole variety of use-cases for AI + spectrum. There will also be a need for more international cooperation and (hopefully) eventual harmonisation. The evolution of spectrum-sharing is a central theme for me at the moment, and something that regularly crops up in my discussions with regulators, operators, vendors and investors. I've written a guest article for my client CRFS (a spectrum-sensing vendor) which discusses this in more detail. https://lnkd.in/esxTh_Yf

29

14 Comments

🌐 Empowering the Wireless Broadband Industry with U.S. Manufacturing Funding 🌐 The future of Wireless Broadband is poised for a significant boost as the U.S. government ramps up funding for domestic manufacturing. This funding is not just a financial injection—it’s a catalyst for innovation that will redefine the landscape of connectivity across the nation. Why Wireless Broadband? Wireless Broadband offers a more versatile and scalable solution than traditional Fiber. With the government’s commitment to enhancing U.S. manufacturing, we can expect a surge in the production of cutting-edge wireless equipment that will make high-speed internet accessible in even the most remote areas. Driving Innovation Through Funding Government funding isn’t just about creating more of what we already have—it’s about fostering innovation. The manufacturing of Wireless Broadband equipment will benefit from the latest advancements in technology, leading to faster, more reliable, and more affordable internet access. This focus on innovation will also spur the development of new, more efficient manufacturing processes, reducing costs and increasing the availability of Wireless Broadband solutions. The Competitive Edge of Wireless Broadband Wireless Broadband offers unique advantages over Fiber. It’s quicker to deploy, less invasive, and can cover larger areas without the need for extensive infrastructure. As U.S. manufacturing ramps up with government support, the Wireless Broadband industry is set to outpace traditional methods, providing a competitive edge that will drive growth and expansion. Call to Action At Intelpath, we are committed to leading this transformation. We believe in the power of innovation and the potential of Wireless Broadband to connect communities nationwide. Stay tuned as we continue to explore the opportunities that government funding will bring to the U.S. manufacturing sector and the Wireless Broadband industry 👉 Visit our website to learn more about how Intelpath is contributing to the deployment of Wireless Broadband across the U.S.: www.intelpath.com 📞 Contact Intelpath to take advantage of our microwave planning services. For all Wireless Broadband providers, there is no upfront fee to determine channel availability: [email protected] #Broadband #DigitalEquity #NTIA #BEAD #Microwave #mmWave #WirelessTechnology #NetworkDeployment #FreeOffer #Intelpath #HighSpeedInternet #WirelessBroadband #Innovation #USManufacturing #GovernmentFunding #Connectivity #TechInnovation #DigitalTransformation #Broadband #FutureOfInternet #TelecomIndustry

19

1 Comment

It is good to see other peer consulting firms and strategists catching-up on the Synchronous S-curve phenomenon we have been talking about since the LTE cycle. Some are calling it a supercycle. We will be exploring how the current Synchronous S-Curves will shape the next decade at our annual summit on Sept 5th. It will help shape your strategies and product roadmaps. https://lnkd.in/gzeB2Uw

7

If you are involved with FTTH or broadband in the US, you should read this! Steve Ross is a very astute journalist/editor with decades of experience in our industry. Some quotes: The demise or reduction in the Affordable Connectivity Program’s reach is by far the biggest reason for the current unexpected decline in deployer construction volume and equipment vendor sales. But tight money, high interest rates, and BEAD’s slow start, along with obsolete carrier thinking, doesn’t help. ACP is tied to financing because it has been assured cash flow for broadband providers — $30 (up to $75 for tribal communities) a month to households with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line. The money went directly to providers, who were often aided in marketing by local governments, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and nonprofits. Broadband investors and lenders liked the assured cashflow. Not one person I talked to – at banks, in Congress, in deployer and state broadband offices – complained about labor shortages. But no deployer, design, or construction firm I talked to was hiring at more than the replacement rate. This may create a bottleneck as BEAD funds start getting spent.

22

In other news, T-Mobile is returning mmWave (28 GHz) spectrum to the FCC. https://lnkd.in/d3g7r7Bi As I often say, spectrum is not fungible. A MHz of licensed spectrum is very different than a MHz of unlicensed spectrum, a MHz of mid-band spectrum is very different than a MHz of mmWave spectrum, etc... Consider T-Mobile's statement to the FCC, "the propagation characteristics of the [28 GHz]spectrum only allow for stable communications over limited distances where there is a clear line of sight between the transmit and receive locations." And then there was the South Korean failure with mmWave 5G. https://lnkd.in/dZCkSKE8 With such a track record of failure with mmWave IMT/cellular, I find it a bit hypocritical for @GSMA to claim that Wi-Fi has plenty of spectrum "headroom" in 57-71 GHz (and therefore doesn't need more mid-band). If MNOs can't make mmWave work at macro/pico power levels at 28 GHz, it's not hard to see how Wi-Fi power levels at 57-71 GHz will work for typical applications. There are some cool outdoor pt-pt systems, but mmWave is not the answer for general Wi-Fi uses - as the GSMA well knows based on its own members' experiences.

18

12 Comments

The FCC’s renewed focus on 5G funding for rural broadband is a significant development in the effort to bridge the digital divide. The recent article details how this reboot aims to enhance connectivity in underserved areas, bringing faster and more reliable internet access to rural communities. As we look to the future, it's clear that sustained investment in broadband infrastructure is crucial for fostering economic growth and ensuring equitable access to digital resources. This move by the FCC is a positive step toward addressing connectivity challenges and supporting rural development. https://lnkd.in/g78Vwf5e

5

The #microwave industry has reached a consensus on the evolution direction of 5G/5.5G to ultra-broadband, simplified, multi-channel, is fully prepared for the new era Because #microwave #transmission is such a widely adopted technology, each evolutionary advance of the broader industry tends to spur further innovations in microwave in particular The needs of #5G & 5.5G spurred the development of wider, smarter microwave pipes; increasing scarcity of spectrum resources drove more spectral efficiency gains with microwave; the digital transformation of enterprises was met with new microwave solutions tailored to their needs; carriers' commitments to provide universal coverage prompted efforts to bring down the #TCO of microwave technology; with the emergence of new applications like ultra-broadband, multi-channel microwave, ultra-long-haul transmission, microwave again rose to the occasion with new #innovations in planning & delivery The larger bandwidth of 5G and 5.5G puts increasing the capacity of microwave backhaul high on the agenda. Demand for backhaul capacity could soon be tens of times higher than what it is now. Among all the microwave spectrum options, E-band is considered the sweet spot for 5G and 5.5G deployments, hence the importance of fully exploring its potential capacity. The increasing #density of microwave networks & paucity of #spectrum #resources necessitates the improvement of spectral efficiency In the current climate of global economic recovery, industry digital transformation is catalyzing a myriad of industrial applications of microwave transmission, such as in offshore wind power, disaster relief, power transmission. Microwave plays an important role in connecting industries & bringing network access to every part of society Universal coverage requirements imposed on carriers have driven innovation in the microwave transmission space. Those innovations are bringing down TCO through flexible modular design of products & solutions, lean deployments, simplified O&M. Long-haul microwave leverages new technologies such as high-gain beamforming (#HGBF) to bring down TCO The communications industry has evolved from Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (#PDH), Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (#SDH), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (#ATM) to Internet Protocol (#IP), & #mobile #backhaul has likewise been changing from carrying only voice and data traffic to supporting the mobile Internet. In this process, ultra-broadband microwave has led to the emergence of new KPIs for future microwave planning The mass deployment of networks and introduction of new technologies such as multi-channel microwave & long-haul transmission inevitably result in complexities & challenges in planning, installation, O&M, optimization, but have also spurred the industry to develop new solutions for efficient microwave deployment & O&M Follow us on Kaneshwaran Govindasamy & Global 5G Evolution click comment box. #subscribe our #youtube channel #Huawei Huawei

34

4 Comments

Trends and Development in Open Ran - A great read. 5G Americas White paper https://lnkd.in/gfq5S6bP Trends and Developments in Open RAN covers these essential topics: Energy Efficiency: New Open RAN specifications enable features like advanced sleep modes and selective channel activation, reducing power consumption and contributing to network sustainability. Enhanced Beamforming: Demodulation Reference Signal based Beamforming (DMRS-BF) optimizes uplink performance and enables more efficient fronthaul bandwidth use, especially in capacity-constrained scenarios. Security Solutions: With a focus on Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), the paper outlines the adoption of MACsec encryption in fronthaul networks, ensuring secure, reliable communication. New Use Cases: Open RAN’s adaptability fosters new applications, from cloud automation to enterprises connectivity and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) integration, including satellite support, which expands connectivity to remote and underserved areas. Maturation of RAN technologies: As RAN technologies mature, RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs) become more pivotal by enabling programmability through xApps and rApps. By enhancing network automation and optimization, the RIC enables mobile network operators to manage and tailor network resources dynamically to meet evolving user demands. Ecosystem Expansion: Rapid expansion of Open RAN ecosystem, fostering collaboration among chipset vendors, hardware providers, and system integrators. The growth is supported by global deployments, industry shifts towards open and interoperable networks, and strong partnerships like O-RAN Alliance and ETSI, with backing from US government initiatives to enhance testing and interoperability. Additionally, the white paper underscores 5G Americas’ commitment to supporting the Open RAN ecosystem, as industry players work towards a more versatile, secure, and globally harmonized network environment. It also offers a glimpse into ongoing research by the O-RAN ALLIANCE’s next Generation Research Group (nGRG) on open and intelligent RAN principles essential for 6G. “Open RAN is breaking down proprietary barriers, driving multi-vendor interoperability, and fostering cloud-native scalability. This momentum reflects the industry’s dedication to innovation, and with continued adoption from greenfield to brownfield networks and into new verticals, Open RAN is set to redefine network efficiency and sustainability for the future,” said Gaurav Sehgal, Senior Manager of Product Marketing at Mavenir and 5G Americas contributor. “Open RAN’s interoperable design marks a new era of innovation, driving a dynamic ecosystem that benefits operators and consumers alike,” said Sanil Ramachandran, Director of Technology, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics America, and co-leader of the 5G Americas Open RAN working group. https://lnkd.in/gAgrZimK

79

2 Comments

November 2024 Feature Paper #1 Brought to you by IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology The growing adoption of #electricvehicles (#EV) is creating problems in integrating the EV charging infrastructure with the electricity grid. Uncoordinated charging can lead to overloading of transformers or lines, power quality problems and imbalances. The article - Comparison and Analysis of Algorithms for Coordinated EV Charging to Reduce Power Grid Impact - co-authored by Cesar Diaz-Londono, Paolo Maffezzoni, Luca Daniel, and giambattista gruosso, presents two intelligent charging coordinators per group of EV charging stations, with the aim of managing charging while taking into account the power limits of transformers, as well as other economic aspects. Both coordinators address uncertainties related to the arrival time of EVs, charging status and inflexible transformer demands. Real-world data sets were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed strategies through simulation studies on different scenarios. The comparative analysis shows that the flexibility maximisation strategy effectively mitigates transformer overload events. The study emphasises the importance of innovative charging strategies for seamless integration of electric vehicles and the need for coordinated charging pools for reliable charging operations. We hope that the short summary of this feature article written in layman language may make your reading a pleasure! https://lnkd.in/eM_7SVAT #ieee #ieeevts #journal #openjournal #vehicle #vehicular #charging IEEE Vehicular Technology Society

25

Check out the latest advancements on 6G radio design and innovation on topics including AI-driven air interface design, advanced MIMO transmissions, joint communication and sensing, integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, and a lot more from Hexa-X-II! https://lnkd.in/ddaSZXuM #SNSJU #6G #AI

33

Some big announcements this week related to the use of #AI in Telco Mobile Networks. Timing couldn't be better as Spectrum Effect was just this week awarded the patent for the use of AI and Machine Learning Models for classifying interference types in Mobile Operator RAN networks. I have strong conviction on AI's ability to drive more efficient and effective operations of mobility networks and ultimately better outcomes for consumers of the services that mobile networks enable. We are in fantastic company to be joined on this journey with the NVIDIA, Ericsson, Nokia, and T-Mobile announcing their intentions to invest in this space. https://lnkd.in/ebB4BM9X

51

3 Comments

Being there yesterday for the CPUC’s grant approval was inspiring. Out of the $157 million awarded statewide, Vallejo’s $3.8 million allocation is more than broadband—it's about families in these project areas, small businesses along the way, and the transformative potential of connectivity for Mare Island. Seeing this collaboration between the City of Vallejo, our Smart Fiber Networks team, and Cal Consulting, I felt immense pride. Each project brings real impact, closing the digital divide and setting Vallejo up as a model for accessible connectivity. Yesterday wasn’t just an approval but a step toward a more connected, equitable future. #CPUC #MMBI #VIPFiber #SmartFiberNetworks #CalConsulting #DigitalEquity #ConnectivityForAll #BroadbandforAll #CommunityInvestment #PublicPrivatePartnership #ClosingTheDigitalDivide #InfrastructureDevelopment #HighSpeedInternet #BroadbandAccess #EquitableFuture

21

5 Comments

The FCC’s approval of Starlink’s direct-to-cell service with T-Mobile is significant. This partnership aims to provide cellular coverage in areas where traditional networks don’t reach, addressing long-standing issues with dead zones. It also strengthens emergency communication capabilities and improves network reliability, particularly in rural and remote locations. However, could this partnership potentially cannibalize some of Starlink’s revenue? Kathleen and I are both T-Mobile and Starlink customers. We are a “work from anywhere” couple and we use Starlink at our cabin in a remote part of Alaska because T-Mobile service doesn’t work there. With this new partnership, we might find we no longer need Starlink. The same could be true for boats, RVs, and other remote homes that currently rely on Starlink due to lack of coverage from traditional networks. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. #telecommunications #connectivity #motivation #success #mindset #growth #SolutionsAsAService

29

1 Comment

Exciting developments are on the horizon as 5G Americas' latest whitepaper on "The #6G Upgrade in the 7-8 GHz Spectrum Range" reveals promising advancements. This groundbreaking research highlights the potential of the 7-8 GHz spectrum to transform connectivity, offering 10-20 times more capacity and faster data rates than current 5G networks. For Qualcomm, this represents a significant shift in the connectivity landscape, enabling us to lead the way in supporting cutting-edge technologies such as #AI and #XR with unprecedented efficiency and reduced latency. Moreover, the ability to repurpose existing #5G infrastructure and the potential for spectrum sharing make this transition not only innovative but also cost-effective. https://lnkd.in/gbCDzYV3

29

1 Comment

Great news for operators! A more rational CBRS DPA activation methodology has been approved. This will ensure more uptime for broadband fixed wireless providers because channel grants will not be suspended as often. Though there are 15 possible CBRS channels losing one or more does not guarantee that an operator can easily get a replacement or a replacement channel adjacent to other channels. Adjacency is required by many smaller radio vendors to concatenate channels that enable effective broadband speeds and it helps even the efficiency of larger vendors. For those using GAA because they have no PALs or are supplementing their PAL bandwidth with GAA, losing channels forces more users on the remaining GAA channels and thus, interference. This act proves that spectrum sharing is viable and not detrimental to incumbents when deployed with reasonable controls.

6

The most interesting dynamics in the US wireless market is happening in the FWA space. It has completely upended the Broadband market. FWA has been directly responsible for vaporizing significant portions of Cableco marketcaps while creating new billion dollar revenue streams for the mobile operators. It is also accelerating the inevitable convergence and consolidation. It is a case study worthy of Clayton Christensen’s attention. more analysis in our Q1 update - https://lnkd.in/gDZwgJ94

77

10 Comments