FCC looks to expand use of high band mmWave spectrum
The FCC has outlined actions to accelerate 5G roll out across the country, including possible expanded use of the 71–76 GHz, 81–86 GHz, 92–94 GHz, and 94.1–95 GHz bands, known collectively as 70/80/90 GHz. The FCC stated that these bands were unused in large parts of the country, save for a few high traffic routes. Commercial use could be expanded while protecting incumbents, including federal government agencies.
The FCC also officially adopted procedures for the upcoming Rural Digital Opportunities Fund auction, due to start October 29 2020, and has confirmed it will provide $16bn over the next 10 years for deployment of fixed wireless networks to rural locations presently unserved by broadband.
Twitter lets 5G Covid-19 conspiracy tweets stand, but with correcting links
Twitter has acted to counter tweets from conspiracy theorists linking high frequency millimeter wave radiation with weakened resistance to Covid-19 infection. It has stopped short of deleting such tweets but has instead posted the message, ‘Get the facts on Covid-19’, linking to a page entitled ‘No, 5G isn’t causing coronavirus’. The page then debunks the conspiracy theory by linking in turn to accurate websites and resources.
Other social media sites are still taking a more piecemeal approach, with Facebook and YouTube deleting some postings or videos but not all. Perhaps of greater relief for the industry was the recent report from the International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the Germany-based body in charge of setting limits on exposure to radiation, essentially giving all clear to mmWave. In the first such guideline update in over 20 years, it called for only minor revisions to make 5G safe for deployment.
China on course for 600,000 5G base stations by year end
China’s mobile operators will have deployed over 600,000 5G base stations by the end of 2020, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). By the end of May, the three big operators, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, had set up more than 250,000 5G base stations across China between them, while shipments of 5G-capable handsets had reached 59.85m units, on track for 180m by the end of the year. The current number of 5G subscribers has passed 36m. China Mobile, which has the world’s largest number of subscribers, brought 29.17m over to 5G in the first quarter of 2020, ending March with 31.72m.
Singapore’s M1 works with Airbus on 5G UAV trials
Singapore operator M1 and aircraft manufacturer Airbus are partnering to test whether 5G unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) could be more precise than current satellite-based navigation systems. The companies will perform coastal tests of UAV flights connected to M1’s 5G Standalone network. They will also trial a specially built aeronautical 5G modem, designed for drones in urban settings. In April, a joint venture between M1 and fellow MNO Starhub won one of two nationwide 5G spectrum licences in Singapore, with obligations to achieve 5G coverage over 50% of the island state by 2022, and the entire nation by 2025.
Reliance now has six investors for Jio Platforms
India’s Reliance Industries has now signed up six investors for Jio Platforms, the disruptive but cash-guzzling division that houses the Reliance Jio MNO. The latest is the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), which is buying a 1.16% stake for $750m. It joins Facebook and four other investment vehicles which now collectively own 17.72% of Jio Platforms and RIL has collected $10.76bn for these stakes, which will eliminate Jio’s debt and provide a cash reserve to boost expansion.
Facebook is the largest investor, paying $5.7bn for almost 10% in Jio Platforms. The only other company with more than 2% is Vista Equity Partners, which paid $1.5bn for 2.32%. Fellow US private equity and venture capital players, Silver Lake and General Atlantic, have take stakes of 1.15% and 1.34% respectively, while Mubadala – like ADIA a Gulf-based sovereign wealth fund – has paid $1.2bn for 1.85%.
Telecom Italia may sell a stake in Inwit towerco
Telecom Italia is said to be close to finalizing a deal to sell a stake in its tower joint venture, Inwit, to a consortium led by Ardian Infrestructure. This would help in TIM’s debt reduction program. It would see TIM transfer its 33.2% holding in Inwit to
a holding company, and then sell a stake in this business then sold. Reuters said the transaction could bring the operator’s debt down by €4bn to €17.7bn. TIM and Vodafone Italy own 33.2% each of Inwit.
Croatia is latest market to test DSS
Croatia’s Hrvatski Telekom has tested dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) technology to accelerate 5G roll-out. It has run trials for the past two years in parts of the city of Samobor, where Hrvatski has activated 5G technology on 10 base stations in the 2.1 GHz band (the main 3G spectrum) and five base stations in the 3.5 GHz band. Boris Drilo, CTIO of the operator, said: “By applying dynamic spectrum sharing technology, we tested the largest 5G coverage area by combining 5G technology in separate (3.5 GHz) and shared 4G/5G spectrum (2.1 GHz) and thus made the biggest breakthrough in the development of 5G technology in Croatia.”
Cox may re-enter US mobile market with MVNO offering soon
Cox Communications looks set to join fellow cablecos Comcast, Charter and Altice in launching a mobile service in the USA, according to sources. This might rely on an MVNO deal with AT&T, given that the telco has been dropping hints about its willingness to sign partnerships with cable operators. Comcast and Charter ride on Verizon’s network while Altice uses Sprint’s (now T-Mobile). Cox’s Tony Krueck wrote on LinkedIn earlier this year that he was “establishing and leading the team to design, develop, and launch a retail wireless line of business for Cox Communications”. Cox has registered its interest in bidding in the upcoming CBRS auctions. It has been in an out of the mobile business, building its own CDMA network in 2010 (which it closed down two years later); and taking part in two partnerships with other cablecos and Sprint in the early 4G years.
MWC cancellation costs jobs for GSMA staff
The GSMA, the cellular industry association, is making 20% of its 1,000 staff redundant, blaming the move on cancellation of Mobile World Congress 2020 in Barcelona. That was the first major event to be cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and hit the GSMA hard because it accounts for about 80% of its annual revenue. The Association has minimized staff losses by implementing wider cost-cutting measures which, on top of the job losses, should trim 40% from this year’s budget.