Verizon begins C-band rollout with Ericsson and Samsung

Verizon confirmed that the installation of C-band equipment from Ericsson and Samsung Electronics Co. is now underway. 

Ericsson is providing its Antenna-Integrated Radio (AIR) product, which features a massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) architecture with Ericsson Uplink Booster and advanced beamforming technology.  Samsung is also supplying Massive MIMO radios and fully virtualized RAN (vRAN) solutions.

Verizon secured an average of 161 MHz of C-band spectrum nationwide in the recent FCC auction,  Verizon's rollout requires new network equipment including basebands, radios and antennas to be placed on existing towers.

“We’re moving fast, with cooperation from our equipment partners, to have everything in place as soon as this C-band spectrum is cleared for use,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer at Verizon. “This is a massive undertaking designed to add this game-changing capability as quickly as possible to the network our customers already rely on for consistent, superior performance when they need it most.”

In the first quarter of 2022, Verizon expects to put into service the new 5G C-band spectrum in the initial 46 markets and to provide 5G Ultra Wideband service to 100 million people. Over 2022 and 2023, coverage is expected to increase to more than 175 million people and by 2024 and beyond, when the remaining C-band spectrum is cleared, more than 250 million people are expected to have access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband service on C-band spectrum.

Verizon’s spectrum bands are contiguous, which will streamline deployment across the mainland United States. Also helping to speed deployment are the recently signed and announced agreements with Verizon’s tower partners, Crown and SBA Communications, which provide for process improvements including standardizing and reducing forms and minimizing legal reviews, allowing Verizon engineering teams to expedite deployment of C-band equipment. Both agreements establish terms for leasing space on existing towers for C-band equipment.

https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-starts-c-band-equipment-deployment

Read More

Spirent and Innolight test 800G

Spirent Communications has validated an 800G optical transceiver from InnoLight Technology (Suzhou).

The project successfully demonstrated an 800G link up and line rate traffic transmission using IEEE 802.3ck OSFP for VSR application. InnoLight and Spirent engineers worked closely to develop and get the 800G link operational to emulate the traffic of hyperscale datacenters.

“We were delighted to work with Spirent to showcase this latest step towards 800G interoperability,” said Osa Mok, Chief Marketing Officer for InnoLight. “As vendor-agnostic test and measurement leaders, Spirent was able to help us create the environment to continuously test and validate the performance of our 800 Gbps OSFP DR8+ 2km SMP optical transceivers, which are such vital components of the future datacenter and cloud network ecosystem.”

"We are seeing increasing demand from customers for 800G test solutions, and this partnership with InnoLight is a major step forward in proving interoperability and increasing customer confidence in this new technology,” said Abhitesh Kastuar, general manager, Cloud & IP, Spirent Communications. “We are working at the bleeding edge of current high-speed Ethernet technology development to enable our customers to design, develop and eventually deploy 800G technology, and this successful interoperability demonstration will give early adopters the confidence to accelerate design and development of their 800G capable next-gen devices.”

http://www.spirent.com/HSE

Read More

Dutch report: Huawei backdoor into KPN's mobile network

The Dutch newspaper Volksrant published a report alleging that Huawei had full access to KPN's mobile subscriber traffic as far back as 2010. 

The report states that although KPN was aware that Huawei had gained uncontrolled and unauthorized access to the core of the KPN mobile network, the company did not disclose the security threat to the public. 

The story is picked up by other leading European news media.

For its part, Huawei has denied the allegations, saying it never had access to the prime minister's phone conversations nor those of anyone else in the country. 

https://www.volkskrant.nl/

https://www.huawei.com/nl/news/nl/2021/de-volkskrant-over-intern-rapport-kpn-onze-reactie

KPN picks Ericsson for 5G core

Thursday, October 15, 2020  Ericsson, KPN, Netherlands  

 KPN has awarded a five year contract to Ericsson to deploy dual-mode 5G Core software with full support services, including an accompanying systems integration program with third-line support services.

The secure cloud-native dual-mode Ericsson 5G Core will allow KPN to meet increasing data demands of customers in existing consumer markets, as well as pursue new 5G innovation opportunities in emerging enterprise segments supported by enhanced network slicing capabilities. 

Arun Bansal, President of Europe and Latin America, Ericsson, says: ”We are pleased to expand our 100-year partnership with KPN through our technology-leading 5G Core solutions. We will work closely with KPN to ensure that consumers and enterprises in the Netherlands can benefit from the emerging opportunities of 5G as it embraces digitalization. Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core provides the cutting-edge, container-based, microservice architecture that will help KPN to both develop new business models as well as move onto the next level of network operational efficiency.”

Read More

Russia's MTS launches 5G in Moscow with Huawei

MTS, Russia's largest mobile operator, activated commercial 5G services at 14 iconic locations in Moscow in partnership with Huawei.

MTS is the first telecom operator in Russia to be granted a 5G license. It has given strategic priority to 5G network construction and service development. a

MTS is using Huawei's proprietary Super Blade Site solution. Given that over 40% of sites in Moscow are macro pole sites,  the Super Blade Site solution with antenna/AAU, RF and BBU products integrated in a blade which resolve difficulties in antenna installation space and site rent.

"5G has been and will remain a top priority for MTS. We are eager to explore and develop 5G applications for our individual and enterprise users to drive the national economy. At 14 pilot sites a big number of consumers can experience the 5G benefits — high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity for next-generation applications. This also gave us unique opportunity to monitor infrastructure performance and service quality under real usage" said Victor Belov, MTS Chief Technology Officer.

"With careful management of customer requirements and profound market insights, Huawei provides leading 5G solutions that best suit the needs of our Russian partners. We will continue to help MTS explore 5G applications and innovate together with industry partners in Russia by using cloud computing, big data, IoT, and other technologies," said Zhao Lei, Director of Huawei Eurasia CNBG.

https://www.huawei.com/en/news/2021/4/mts-launch-5g-commercial-2021

Read More

UK to examine NVIDIA’s takeover of ARM

The U.K.'s Digital Secretary, Oliver Dowden, instructed the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to begin an investigation into the proposed sale of ARM to NVIDIA.

ARM, which is headquartered in Cambridge, is a major global player in the semiconductor industry. 

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden states: “Following careful consideration of the proposed takeover of ARM, I have today issued an intervention notice on national security grounds.

“As a next step and to help me gather the relevant information, the UK’s independent competition authority will now prepare a report on the implications of the transaction, which will help inform any further decisions.

“We want to support our thriving UK tech industry and welcome foreign investment, but it is appropriate that we properly consider the national security implications of a transaction like this.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/digital-secretary-instructs-cma-to-look-into-nvidias-takeover-of-arm

Read More

Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) test mmWave in Riyadh with Nokia

 Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) completed a mmWave technology trial in its live 5G commercial network in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh. The trial, which used Nokia’s mmWave AirScale technology, achieved the highest throughput at a site in prince Mohamad bin Abdulaziz street (Tahlya street) in Riyadh, a high-density area in the heart of the capital.

Alaa Malki, CTO, at Mobily, said: “We are committed to proving world-class, pioneering services to our customers by bringing the latest innovations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This successful trial with Nokia is testament to our continued efforts in this direction, and the highest throughput achieved in the trial allows us to deliver high-capacity wireless broadband access to our subscribers in high-density areas.”

Tareq Khalaf, Customer Team Head of Mobily, at Nokia, said: “Extreme network capacity and speed are essential to enable new 5G services in densified locations. We are proud to have collaborated with Mobily on the evolution of its 5G network through this mmWave trial, achieving the highest speed for them to enable innovative 5G services in busy locations for people and businesses.”

• In January 2021, Nokia and Mobily successfully piloted 4G and 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) network slicing on their live commercial network.

Read More

Millicom divests its African operations

Millicom International Cellular S.A. announced plans to sell its operations in Tanzania and for its stake in the AirtelTigo joint venture in Ghana. Once closed, the transactions will complete Millicom’s multi-year plan to divest its African operations and focus on its Latin America markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.

In Tanzania, Millicom has agreed to sell its entire operations to a consortium led by Axian, a pan-African group that was part of the consortium that acquired Millicom’s operations in Senegal in 2018.

In Ghana, Millicom along with its joint venture partner, Bharti Airtel Limited, have signed a definitive agreement for the transfer of AirtelTigo to the Government of Ghana. Millicom will take a $25 million charge as a result of this agreement. 

Millicom CEO, Mauricio Ramos, commented: “Today Tigo is a leading provider of broadband services to consumers, businesses and governments in Latin America, where penetration and data speeds remain low by the standards of more mature markets. Through our investment-led strategy, we are bringing reliable high-speed mobile and fixed broadband to the communities we serve in the region. With today’s announcement that we are divesting our remaining African businesses, we close a chapter in our history and open another solely focused on the Latin American region.”

https://millicom.gcs-web.com/

Read More

Fujitsu selects Keysight's 5G test tools for private 5G lab

Fujitsu has selected Keysight's 5G test tools to verify quality of a 5G wireless communications network deployed at its “Fujitsu Collaboration Lab” in Kawasaki, Japan.

The Fujitsu Collaboration Lab is a private 5G verification facility established in October 2020 to connect a wide range of devices from partner companies in private 5G deployments in Japan.

“Keysight’s Nemo test solution enables real-time performance measurement and visualization of networks in private 5G areas, enabling reliable 5G network operation,” said Takashi Kanda, Executive Director of 5G Vertical Service Office at Fujitsu. “Fujitsu will continue to cooperate with Keysight to accelerate efforts to optimize network operations and support customers' digital transformation.”

“We’re pleased to support Fujitsu with 5G test tools for validating private 5G networks,” said Petri Toljamo, vice president and general manager for Nemo wireless solutions at Keysight. “Keysight’s wireless network solutions provide Fujitsu with a connected end-to-end information flow, from collection of measurement data to post-processing and analysis.”

Fujitsu granted Japan's first Private 5G license

Thursday, February 20, 2020  Fujitsu, Japan, Private 5G  

Fujitsu has been granted Japan's first private 5G radio station provisional license by the Kanto Bureau of Telecommunications. Fujitsu plans to establish a radio station emitting private 5G radio waves in order to verify private 5G network systems at its Shin-Kawasaki Technology Square office in Kawasaki, Japan. In the spring of this year, Fujitsu will also move to open a "FUJITSU Collaboration Lab," which will serve as a dedicated co-creation space...

READ MORE

Fujitsu launches first private 5G network in Japan

Sunday, March 29, 2020  5G, Fujtsu, Japan  

Fujitsu today was granted Japan's first commercial Private 5G radio station license from the Kanto Bureau of Telecommunications and will begin operating a Private 5G network at its Shin-Kawasaki Technology Square office. Fujitsu will use its private 5G network to support an AI-enhanced video security surveillance system that can identify suspicious behavior through motion analysis. The network will also be used for a 5G co-creation and collaboration...

READ MORE

Read More

Nokia offers fiber access for National Cable Television Cooperative members

Nokia announced an agreement with the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC) to provide NCTC members with tailored fiber solutions and access to premier service programs. 

NCTC represents more than 700 cable and broadband operators in all 50 United States and its territories. Its members serve approximately 15 million consumers with broadband service across 3,000+ communities, many of which are smaller and located in rural areas. Several NCTC members had winning bids in the Phase I Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction, receiving awards to bring high speed fixed broadband service to rural homes and small businesses that lack it. In addition to the urgency to provide better connectivity to rural communities, COVID-19-related societal and behavioral shifts are forcing operators to greatly accelerate network upgrades.

Nokia said its fiber solution will enable NCTC members to efficiently boost network capacity from 2.5 Gbps to 10 Gbps and beyond as needed. 

Read More