Scott Wharton

Another one of the hidden assets in broadband networks. This is truly transformational!

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Excellent post by Javier Domínguez Lacasa about spectrum policy for midband Midband is the lifeline for Telcos to provide high-speed and reliable data services. There is no other spectrum band that offers the reach, bandwidth, and properties like midband. Unfortunately, this is a scarce resource and extremely expensive. As a scarce resource, regulators need to prioritize the benefits of the majority of users who connect daily to these services. Consider this: effective spectrum allocation can enhance network capacity by up to 50%, which directly improves service quality and user satisfaction. With 5G technology expected to cover one-third of the world’s population by 2025, the efficient use of midband spectrum becomes even more crucial. This band is essential for enabling advancements in IoT, smart cities, and autonomous vehicles, and its optimal use could significantly boost these developments. Moreover, the economic implications are substantial. A 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration can lead to a 1.5% rise in GDP in developing economies. This highlights the critical role of midband spectrum in driving not only technological innovation but also economic growth and digital inclusion. https://lnkd.in/gYtybk_s #Telecommunications #Midband #SpectrumPolicy #Connectivity #Innovation

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I spent yesterday at the LS telcom Spectrum Summit, in Lichtenau near Baden Baden in southwestern Germany. LS does a range of products and services primarily for regulators and other government agencies interested in monitoring or managing #spectrum allocations, as well as telcos and enterprises running or deploying wireless #networks of all types. There were various panels and presentations on themes such as: - Outcomes from #WRC23 and insight into behind-the-scenes processes at ITU and national regulators in managing the agenda & onsite negotiations - Spectrum-sharing models, with a particular focus on sharing spectrum with the defence sector, satellite industry and (once more) 6GHz for #5G + #WiFi. There was also a good discussion by Martin Sims of PolicyTracker about whether advances in sharing fit well with current international regulatory mechanisms like WRCs. - Practicalities of #Private5G. There was a speaker and small demo booth from Siemens talking about the uses for Industrial 5G, as well as a network set up onsite in the German 3.7-3.8GHz band - What happens to the UHF band between 400-700MHz in future, especially around the longevity of broadcast TV vs. alternative use-cases - Ongoing work in the UAE to set up a comprehensive system of spectrum-monitoring and a big-data and analytics systems to optimise security & efficiency of usage - A demo of a drone-based monitoring tool and set of applications that can be used by regulators (or others) for deciding what spectrum bands are used in a given area, as well as hunting down any sources of interference. I was speaking on a panel about future models for converged networks, especially around 4G/5G/6G and satellite, Wi-Fi and other technologies. There were also presentations by GSOA about future #5G & #6G NTN integration, and a great talk by Meta about the real-world design & tech challenges in creating AR glasses, blending #WiFi, #Bluetooth and #5G. (Key takeout - use cellular via a tethered smartphone, not in the device itself, when Wi-Fi not available. Latency is less important than you think). As with last week's #EUspectrum event, there was a strong message that the 3GPP community is going to have to get used to more #spectrum sharing in future, especially for #6G, so it better get engaged and take it seriously ASAP. Also it needs to expect pushback on the idea of continual mobile data growth, and closer scrutiny of its demand forecasts. Lobbyists won't get as easy a ride in future. My own presentation is attached - basically I spoke about convergence vs. coexistence, and also the importance of divergence in some settings. I covered #indoorwireless, trains & enterprise wireless, but also noted that "spectrum efficiency" needs to take account of real-world constraints & user behaviour. Thanks to Saul Friedner for the invitatation. This was my 3rd time at the event & was very much worth the rather travel to somewhere quite remote!

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Highly Dynamic Spectrum Sharing is a key next step in spectrum sharing’s evolution. Join the conversation at the WInnForum’s new task group on the subject. More below: #spectrumsharing #winnforum #globalinnovation

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I’ve written another piece on US #spectrum policy & #mobile bands - and what should be done in preparation for #WRC27 over the next 3 years. This is part of my ongoing focus on global spectrum-sharing policy, as well as my advisory work with SFTF. This time it has been published via Fierce Network. My view is that the US should directly engage with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) process at multiple levels, to push for greater understanding and technological innovation in sharing approaches. In particular the focus of IMT (ie #5G & #6G) spectrum should be on regulators assuming a “sharing-native” future in the 2030s, instead of the historic focus of assigning exclusive licences. This should be reflected in any figure IMT identifications & footnotes. In addition, it should be a core part of the various study groups and working parties’ efforts. There also needs to be far more realism about mobile traffic on the international stage - its flattening growth, the many non-credible forecasts, its localisation to specific areas & the impact of aspects such as FWA and indoor use. A critical aspect is dealing with the proposed IMT study bands for WRC-27, which seem “coincidentally” to be exactly the same as those used within NATO for military communications. At the moment, the US #CBRS band is one of the leading examples of dynamic spectrum sharing in practice. The work by NTIA & NSF is also advancing the technological base, including the role of AI. It should be advocating this work more globally, especially at ITU. But first, the mainstream US mobile industry needs to get onboard. #spectrumpolicy #telecompolicy #technology #regulation

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A better solution than the FCC ULS for finding specific applications.

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Rakuten Symphony is so appreciative to AT&T for being included in its network simplification transformation program. Thank you to all the AT&T executives who have given us this chance to be part of an industry-changing program. Mike Dano's article captures so many aspects of what is required to be successful in an undertaking like this. It starts with the fundamentals of using different words to describe what is being done. "I think the word 'cell site' goes away," AT&T's Todd Zeiler said. "I think this pivots to a world of CU, DU, RU. Servers and access points." Before we built mobile networks. Today we start building distributed data center operations where the primary user is a mobile network. We see so many parallels between how AT&T is approaching this and how Rakuten Symphony already approached it. The hope is we can discover an industry blueprint that can make sense for the whole of telecom to be able to follow and accelerate the change to being a truly software-driven cloud-native operation. From Mike Dano's below article when describing the vendors involved "One is Japan's Rakuten Symphony. According to The Mobile Network, AT&T counts roughly 7,000 users of Rakuten Symphony's Site Manager software within its own and its contractor construction teams. The software automates parts of AT&T's site deployment processes." To listen to the full discussion between Yigal Elbaz and Sharad Sriwastawa at MWC BCN this year click here https://lnkd.in/e5ErFYJg To learn more about Rakuten Symphony Site Management solution click here https://lnkd.in/eq8Bsx27

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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

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By 2033, 22% of IoT connectivity revenue will depend on support for voice and most of that will be using VoLTE (and eventually VoNR). If you're a provider of cellular-based IoT connectivity you need a voice strategy, and a cost-effective scaleable one. We at Transforma Insights have identified 11 characteristics of an optimised voice capability for IoT, which MNOs and MVNOs would do well to consider when considering how to deliver voice services. 1. Not reliant on 2G/3G circuit switched fall back (CSFB) 2. Standards-based and interoperable technology 3. Secure 4. Compliant 5. Enabled for location-based services 6. Stable, resilient and reliable 7. Able to enrich voice calls with contextual information 8. Flexible in routing of calls 9. Optimised to support constrained networks 10. Scalable and easily integrated technology 11. Cost-effective and scalable commercial model On the 5th November 2024, I and Azhar Sayeed, CTO of ng-voice, will deliver a webinar exploring the importance of voice services in IoT and the optimum way to deliver them. Topics for discussion on the webinar will include: - How voice services are an integral part of many IoT applications, particularly in the critical connected car segment. - What the options are for delivering voice, covering circuit switched fall-back (CSFB), native IP voice (VoLTE/VoNR/IMS) and over-the-top (OTT) voice, and why native IP voice will be the dominate choice. - The characteristics of an optimised voice capability for IoT, including considerations of security, compliance, features and future-proofing. - Recommendations for cellular connectivity providers (MNOs and MVNOs) on how they should best deliver voice services in a scalable way. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ew_QQ4P6

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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.

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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

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See how Ookla data powers the Fiber Development Index Analysis.

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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

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"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", Chetan Sharma, analyst with Chetan Sharma Consulting, wrote on social media. https://lnkd.in/e6m4B-vW #FWA #5G #wireless #broadband #internet #marketcap #disruptor #growth #subscribers #revenue #convergence #consolidation #casestudy

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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.

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Bridging the digital divide is essential for fostering education, healthcare, and economic development in these areas. Ensuring that tribal communities have access to reliable broadband is not just a technological necessity but a matter of equity and inclusion. Read more about the potential for enhanced support and the impact it can have: https://lnkd.in/exZKR2gB #TribalBroadband #DigitalInclusion #Connectivity #GAO #NTIA

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Curious about our Apollo 9408 and its ability to combine ultra high density with ultra low power consumption? Check out this demo and see what this transport platform can do for large communications service providers and webscale operators: https://hubs.la/Q02zP5b70

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This month in your Boundless newsletter from Eseye... How to get ready for the SGP.32 IoT standard, how we can help you comply with the new PSTI Act and Regulations, plus deep-dive into LTE Cat-1 Bis. #Boundless

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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!

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