Charter launches Spectrum Mobile over Verizon infrastructure

Charter Communications, the second largest cable operator in the U.S. with over 25 million subscribers, launched its Spectrum Mobile service. Charter is operating as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using Verizon's nationwide 4G LTE network in combination with its own nationwide network of Spectrum WiFi hotspots. Spectrum Mobile is offering two plans: (1) unlimited data for $45 a month (2) By the Gig at a price of $14/GB. Both plans include...

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U.S. provides a temporary lift on exports to ZTE

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) agreed to temporarily lift export restrictions to ZTE that were imposed on the company on 15-April-2018. In a statement dated 02-July-2018, the BIS grants temporary authorization to engage in transactions with ZTE until 01-August-2018. In June, at the urging of President Trump, BIS announced a deal with ZTE to lift the export restrictions in exchange for ZTE agreeing to pay...

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U.S. seeks to block China Mobile from entering U.S. market

Citing national security concerns, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration is requesting that the FCC deny a license request from China Mobile to offer services in the U.S. market. “After significant engagement with China Mobile, concerns about increased risks to U.S. law enforcement and national security interests were unable to be resolved. Therefore, the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, through the National Telecommunications...

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Ciena's Packet Design acquisition enhances its Blue Planet automation

Ciena completed its previously announced acquisition of Packet Design, which focuses on network path optimization technologies. Ciena said the integration of Packet Design’s capabilities enhances its Blue Planet network automation platform, which can now provide multi-domain, multi-vendor, and multi-layer support across Layers 0-3 of the network. https://www.ciena.com/insights/articles/Ciena-Completes-Acquisition-of-Packet-Design.html Ciena...

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China Mobile, Tencent, and Huawei test 5G eMBB slicing

China Mobile, Tencent, and Huawei have completed the first round of testing of 5G network slices designed for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services requiring stable network latency. The target application is augmented reality (AR) gaming. In Phase 1 of the 5G slicing verification project, terminals, networks, and AR game platforms were connected. The test verified the effects of data rate acceleration with slicing at the terminal side, and with...

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New Zealand signs ABB for North/South Island power link upgrade

Transpower New Zealand awarded a contract to ABB to upgrade the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link which interconnects the transmission grids of the North and South islands. New Zealand's North Island houses more than three times the population of the South Island, which besides its picturesque landscape, offers vast amounts of hydropower. ABB noted its historic involvement in the link-- the first New Zealand link was commissioned by ABB,...

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