Verizon tests carrier aggregation of C-Band + mmWave

Verizon achieved speeds of 4.3 Gbps in a trial of carrier aggregation using its newly acquired national footprint of C-band spectrum and its existing mmWave spectrum. 

The lab trial aggregated 100 MHz of C-band spectrum together with 600 MHz of mmWave spectrum to provide greater efficiency for data sessions transmitting over the wireless network. The basebands and radios used were from Ericsson’s industry-leading Ericsson Radio System portfolio including the RAN Compute Baseband 6648, Antenna-Integrated Radio (AIR) 6449 for the C-band spectrum, and the Streetmacro 6701 for mmWave. The radios leverage massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) architectures. The device used in this lab trial was a pre-market test device based on MediaTek’s M80 modem, which combines mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G technologies onto a single chip.

“The depth of our spectrum portfolio, now the strongest in the industry, allows us to quickly expand access to a world-class 5G experience for our mobile and fixed broadband customers, providing high speeds, low latencies and enormous capacity,” said Adam Koeppe, Senior Vice President of Technology Planning at Verizon. “These lab trials demonstrate the exceptional network performance our customers will receive as we are able to integrate our newly acquired C-band spectrum with mmWave spectrum.” 

The trial follows the recent announcement of new agreements with Verizon’s tower partners, Crown and SBA Communications, which provide for process improvements including standardizing and reducing forms and minimizing legal reviews. Additionally, Verizon has already started installation of C-band equipment from Ericsson and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd to speed deployment of its 5G Ultra Wideband and fixed wireless broadband service. These combined efforts, along with ongoing lab trials to optimize 5G technology on C-band spectrum will allow Verizon to offer expanded mobility and broadband services to millions more consumers and businesses as soon as the spectrum is cleared. 

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.

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FCC opens $7.17B Connectivity Fund, consumer discounts open May 12

The FCC unanimously adopted final rules to implement the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, which will enable schools and libraries to purchase laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and broadband connectivity for students, school staff, and library patrons in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The new rules define eligible equipment and services, service locations, eligible uses, and reasonable support amounts for funding provided.  It designates the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) as the program administrator with FCC oversight, and leverages the processes and structures used in the E-Rate program for the benefit of schools and libraries already familiar with the E-Rate program.  It also adopts procedures to protect the limited funding from waste, fraud, and abuse.

“Far too often, students, teachers, and library patrons lack the access they need to broadband and connected devices.  This need has become even more apparent during these unprecedented times,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting Chairwoman of the FCC.  “Between this Emergency Connectivity Fund Program and the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, we are investing more than $10 billion in American students and households.  These investments will help more Americans access online education, healthcare, and employment resources.  They will help close the Homework Gap for students nationwide and give so many more households the ability to connect, communicate, and more fully participate in modern life.”

The FCC notes that recent estimates suggest there may be as many as 17 million children struggling without the broadband access they need for remote learning.  

Under the program, Congress dedicated $3.2 billion for consumers, including:

Discounts – eligible households can receive discounts off monthly broadband service

o Up to $50 per month for eligible households

o Up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

o One-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

 Consumers can begin applying for and enrolling in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program on May 12, 2021.

https://getemergencybroadband.org/

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FCC expands 3.5 GHz CBRS for Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa

The FCC approved a series of measures to make mid-band spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band (3550-3700 MHz) available for 5G and other advanced wireless services to a diverse array of operators, including actions that will enable commercial deployments in the 3550-3650 MHz band segment in Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa for the first time.

Highlights:

• Approved new and updated ESC sensor deployment and coverage plans of four environmental sensing capability (ESC) operators – CommScope Inc, Google, Federated Wireless Inc, and Key Bridge Wireless LLC, clearing the way for commercial access to the 3550-3650 MHz portion of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service in Puerto Rico and Guam for the first time.  
• Approved Federated Wireless Inc. to expand its Spectrum Access System (SAS) operations to cover the 3550-3650 MHz portion of the 3.5 GHz band in American Samoa consistent with protection criteria described by NTIA in a letter filed with the Commission on April 26, 2021, which will enable the first Citizens Broadband Radio Service deployments in that portion of the band in American Samoa.
• Conditionally approved three entities that applied during the Second Wave SAS application window – Fairspectrum LLC, Nokia, and RED Technologies, completing the first phase of the two-stage SAS application review process established by the Commission.

In addition to these actions, last week, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau granted an additional 13 applications for Priority Access Licenses in the 3.5 GHz band, representing 125 licenses. 

“No matter who you are or where you live, you need access to modern communications to have a fair shot at 21st century success.  This is true, of course, for those living in Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa too,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “These actions continue our efforts to bring 5G to everyone, everywhere in the country—and not create communities of 5G haves and have-nots.  I want to thank our partners at NTIA and the Department of Defense for working closely with our great FCC team to make this progress possible.”

https://www.fcc.gov/35-ghz-band-overview

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Telefónica acquires 20% stake in Nabiax in exchange for 4 data centers

Telefónica will acquire a 20% in Nabiax, a colocation and hosting partner owned y Asterion Industrial Partners, in exchange for four data centers (two in Spain and two in Chile). Asterion and its coinvestors, who retain the remaining 80% of the share capital in Nabiax.

Nabiax operates eleven data centers that it acquired from Telefónica in 2019.

The transaction includes an agreement for housing services in the four DC’s under equivalent terms and conditions as those established in the prior transaction (initial term of ten years). The transaction does not include the sale of servers owned by Telefónica, nor the management and access to customers hosted on them. Telefónica will therefore continue to provide and manage the services that it has been offering to its customers from these DCs and will maintain the direct relationship with such customers.

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Movistar Chile picks Nokia for 5G launch

Movistar Chile, a division of Telefónica, is using Nokia's AirScale portfolio for its 5G launch. In addition, Nokia will upgrade Movistar’s 4G and 4G+ networks to strengthen the critical network backbone across Chile’s key markets.

The upgraded network, which will operate across Movistar’s recently won spectrum in Chile’s 5G auction in the 3.5GHz band, will leverage Nokia’s AirScale Radio Access portfolio to deliver ultra-low latency, huge connectivity and extreme capacity, offering both consumers and small to medium-sized business a path to 5G in Chile for the first time. Nokia’s AirScale portfolio can be seamlessly upgraded from 4G/LTE to 5G/NR via a software-based upgrade to enable a smooth evolution towards 5G deployments.

Nokia notes that Chile is the first country in Latin America to have a 5G auction.   Movistar Chile acquired 50 MHz in the 3.5Ghz band, which will support enhanced mobile broadband services in Chile. 5G is an evolution in mobile networks. Telefónica Hispanoamérica is evaluating the right circumstances for deployment in each market, taking steps towards the evolution of the network in several countries.

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Swisscom picks Nokia for new optical transport network

Swisscom selected Nokia as the sole supplier to build an end-to-end wavelength division multiplexing/optical transport network (WDM/OTN) nationwide. The fully automated and high capacity optical transport network will support Swisscom customers’ surging bandwidth demands driven by an increase in remote work and learning applications, video streaming, gaming and cloud computing.

The modernized optical network will transport all of Swisscom’s fixed and wireless traffic from customer-provided equipment to metro access to the backbone, and will support client services from 1G to 400G. The deployment will include the Nokia WaveFabric, based on the 1830 family of WDM/OTN platforms powered by the Nokia PSE-V coherent digital signal processor (DSP), and the Nokia WaveSuite portfolio of networking applications for network commissioning, service enablement, and network health and analytics. Also deployed will be the Nokia WavePrime Digital Twin as a Service, which provides a cloud-hosted digital representation or simulation of the physical network to design, replicate, test and analyze in order to optimize physical network performance and reliability.

Christoph Aeschlimann, CIO and CTO, Swisscom, said: “Swisscom has set out its network expansion strategy until the end of 2025, which is to equip the network for the new decade. This strategic partnership with Nokia highlights Swisscom’s commitment to delivering a high capacity, fully automated nationwide optical backbone for Switzerland. This next-generation transport network can quickly adapt to changes and provide superior services and connectivity experiences to our customers. Nokia has proven to be a trusted partner and has been the preferred choice to transform our optical network.”

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Linux Foundation and Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance sign MoU

The Linux Foundation and the Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance (NGMN) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for formal collaboration regarding end-to-end 5G and beyond. 

NGMN's mission is to provide impactful industry guidance to achieve innovative and affordable mobile telecommunication services for the end user, placing a particular focus on Mastering the Route to Disaggregation, Sustainability and Green Future Networks, as well as on 6G and the continuous support of 5G's full implementation.

The Linux Foundation's vision of harmonizing open source software with open standards has been in effect for several years, including collaborations with ETSI, TMF, MEF, GSMA, the O-RAN Alliance, and more. NGMN also maintains longstanding co-operations with all of these organisations. The alignment between The Linux Foundation and NGMN represents the latest in a long-standing effort to integrate open source and open standards across the industry. 

"We very much look forward to a mutually inspiring and beneficial collaboration with The Linux Foundation. Open Source is gaining increasing relevance for the strategic topics of our Work Programmes such as Mastering the Route to Disaggregation, Green Future Networks and 6G. We are delighted to partner with The Linux Foundation to jointly drive our mission for the benefit of the global ecosystem", said Anita Doehler, CEO, NGMN Alliance.

"We are thrilled to be aligning with such an innovative, industry-leading organization," said Arpit Joshipura, General Manager, Networking, Edge and IoT, the Linux Foundation. "Integrating NGMN's expertise across pivotal areas like Disaggregation, Green Future Networks, cloud native, automation, and early work on 6G into LF Networking's 5G Super Blueprint initiative is a natural next step for the industry."

http://www.ngmn.org

https://www.linuxfoundation.org/

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