Google Fiber expands in Arizona and Colorado

Google Fiber announced plans to expand in the cities of Chandler, Arizona and Westminster, Colorado.

In 2022, Google Fiber kicked off expansion in five new states: Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevado and Idaho.

https://fiber.google.com/#cities

Google Fiber to launch 5 Gbps and 8 Gbps residential tiers

Thursday, October 13, 2022  Google Fiber  

Google Fiber plans to launch 5 Gig and 8 Gig symmetrical residential service beginning in early 2023. Pricing will $125/month for 5 Gig and $150/month for 8 Gig, including a Wi-Fi 6 router, up to two mesh extenders and professional installation.Google Fiber believes the new 5 Gig and 8 Gig will appeal to creative professionals, people working in the cloud or with large data, households with large shared internet demands.  The company also notes...

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Ericsson intros precise-location software for indoor 5G

Ericsson introduced new precise-location software for indoor 5G that enables new enterprise use cases such as asset tracking and tool positioning. The softare is called Ericsson 5G Precise Positioning and could be used in environments such as factories, mines, hospitals, warehouses, and other industrial private network applications, as well as in emergency response scenarios.

The company is also making two additions to its Ericsson Radio Dot System portfolio:

• IRU 8850 -- an indoor radio unit suited for medium-to-large venue coverage. Designed for simple and speedy deployment, it delivers up to four times the capacity of its predecessors, enhancing network performance and user experience in medium to large venues. It is also up to 70 percent more energy-efficient compared to active DAS technology.
• Ericsson Indoor Fusion Unit, a compact, all-in-one indoor 5G solution that combines radio and baseband functionalities into one unit. This radio provides small- to medium-sized building coverage.

David Hammarwall, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson, says: “The new Radio Dot System equipment and location services software further increase the flexibility of Ericsson’s indoor portfolio. Scalable and cost-efficient, the expanded portfolio offers a one-stop-shop to accelerate indoor 5G rollouts globally, spreading the benefits of premium indoor connectivity. It will also enable a variety of use cases for service providers and enterprises that will boost operational efficiency, safety, and user experience.”

https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2023/2/new-ericsson-solutions-boost-indoor-5g-capacity-and-precise-location-services

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FCC approves Kuiper’s orbital debris mitigation plan

The FCC approved Kuiper Systems'updated orbital debris mitigation plan, thereby satisfying a condition of the 2020 approval for Kuiper to deploy and operate its non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellation.

Kuiper Systems is a subsidiary of Amazon.

Kuiper is approved to operate its fixed-satellite service (FSS) system in the 17.7-17.8 GHz, 17.8-18.6 GHz, 18.8-19.3 GHz, 19.3-19.7 GHz, 19.7-20.2 GHz, 27.5-28.6 GHz, 28.6-29.1 GHz, 29.1-29.5 GHz, and 29.5-30.0 GHz bands, and to provide Mobile Satellite Service (MSS), in addition to FSS, in the 19.7-20.2 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz bands, and to use MSS feeder links in the 19.4-19.6 GHz and 29.1-29.5 GHz bands, subject to certain conditions.

The FCC notes that Kuiper has provided a worst-case single satellite large object collision risk that can be approximated as 0.0007212 and a targeted mission lifetime of seven years.   Over a 15-year license term, and assuming replenishment on a five-year cycle, there would be the initial launch plus a replenishment cycle for the 3,236 satellites, for a total of 6,472 satellites, not counting satellites used to replace failed satellites. At a 5% failure rate, there would be 326 failed satellites for 6,472 satellites launched, with a corresponding cumulative collision risk of 0.230784 (approximately 1 in 4.3). 

https://www.fcc.gov/document/international-bureau-grants-kuiper-satellite-modification

Amazon's Project Kuiper signs launch partners

Tuesday, April 05, 2022  Amazon, Kuiper, Satellite  

Amazon's Project Kuiper, which aims to increase global broadband access using a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), announced commercial launch contract forArianespace’s Ariane 6, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rockets.The contracts total up to 83 launches over a five-year period, providing capacity for Amazon to deploy the majority of its 3,236-satellite constellation. It is the largest commercial...

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Amazon's Project Kuiper aims for 3,236 LEO satellites 

Sunday, July 07, 2019  Amazon, Satellite  

Amazon filed an application with the FCC to launch up to 3,236 low-Earth orbit satellites for delivering advanced broadband services. Amazon's Project Kuiper proposes up to 3,236 Ka-band satellites in 98 orbital planes with an apogee of 630km. Each satellite would have an estimated life of 7 years. The company says its Kuiper System will deliver satellite broadband communications services to tens of millions of unserved and underserved consumers...

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stc trims power by 15% with Ericsson Micro Sleep Tx

Saudi Arabia's stc has seen a 15 percent reduction in power consumption of the remote radio units in all LTE bands by implementing Ericsson's Micro Sleep Tx software feature.

Ericsson Micro Sleep Tx for LTE automatically enables and disables the radio’s main power amplifier and other hardware blocks during fixed idle periods, reducing power consumption. Micro Sleep TX also ensures that the power amplifier is ready to be switched on when needed.

Ericsson notes that many mobile operators have 10,000 or more radio sites deployed. This high number of radios can represent more than 75 percent of a  service provider’s network power consumption.

Fadhel Isa, Head of Networks for Customer Unit stc and Ericsson Saudi Arabia and Egypt at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “Power efficiency is on top of our agenda and, together with the increased capacity demands, it guides both the development of new components, products, and features. The Micro Sleep Tx feature reduces radio power consumption during low utilization periods by switching off the radio power amplifiers. Today, our industry partners can rely on our technologies to significantly reduce power consumption without compromising network performance.”

https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/5/2023/ericsson-stc-delivers-a-more-sustainable-network-with-power-saving-micro-sleep-tx-feature

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NTIA to enforce Made in America rule for broadband projects

 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has vowed to strictly enforce "Build America, Buy America" (BABA) requirements for projects funded by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

NTIA said it does not currently see any need for waivers for fiber optic glass or cable. The BEAD Program has different requirements, and manufacturers have time to re-shore or expand their operations.

https://www.ntia.doc.gov/blog/2023/making-internet-all-right-here-america

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