Mouser Electronics Examines Impact of 5G and Edge Computing on Intelligent Transportation Systems in Newest EIT Episode
IDTechEx Explores 5G From 2022 Onward: Deployment Status, Industry Challenges, and Market Outlook
Zoom Unveils Reseller Partner Program for Zoom Phone BYOC
SIPPIO Joins the Zoom Phone Provider Exchange Program to Enable Calling Services
Wirepas Announces 10M Euro Injection in Funds to Accelerate Development of First Non-Cellular 5G Technology
China Tower 5G development gains traction and Two Wings business scales rapidly
CSG and Analysys Mason Study Reveals Growth Opportunities and Potential Pitfalls Facing Communications Service Providers Post COVID-19
Comcast Establishes 50 WiFi-Connected Lift Zones in Houston and Surrounding Areas
Axiata to commercialise Open RAN for network leadership across emerging Asia
Thales revolutionises IoT "out-of-the-box" connectivity to any cellular network worldwide
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Research confirms the new IoT standard delivers the 5G promise for massive IoT
The simulations of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland prove the performance and scalability of the new global IoT standard DECT-2020 New Radio (NR) for massive machine type of communication. The technology, already on its way to be included in the 5G standard, exceeds the 5G requirements defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Wirepas, a key contributor to the new standard with its connectivity software, see these results pave the way for the global expansion of the technology. The ITU requirements for 5G technology are strict. To be adopted, a technology needs to undergo thorough test simulations. To test the DECT-2020 NR technology, VTT built an extensive simulation platform and conducted an independent analysis of the functionality and performance in very high device densities. The simulations provided undisputable data on the DECT-2020 NR performance, confirming the technology met all the 5G requirements for massive machine-type communications. Juho Pirskanen, Principal System Engineer at Wirepas, explains that there were also other findings: “The extremely detailed simulations suggested that DECT-2020 NR has good power consumption and coverage properties. It also works well in varying user node densities, providing much needed flexibility in supported applications and system deployments. The use of mesh network topology is key to achieve these benefits.” - Pushing the simulation boundaries The 5G standard requires at least a million user nodes per square kilometer and the transmission of one packet in two hours per device. A wireless simulation scenario with one million users per square kilometre is enormous for detailed system simulation and required VTT to push the boundaries of their simulation software and hardware platforms. “We used the NS-3 simulation tool for this project. We developed a simulator where the simulation scenario could be split into several stages to minimize run time and computer memory consumption, which were both extremely high. We then ran various parallel simulations with high-performance computers. The simulation platform enabled testing performance of a very complicated network in a reasonable time: the biggest scenario where we analysed four million user nodes in a time period of two hours took only 24 hours in real time,” says Mika Lasanen, Senior Scientist and Project Manager at VTT. - More collaboration VTT has profound experience of wireless systems and network simulations. Wirepas has previously collaborated with VTT in different radio research projects. “We have great trust and experience in VTT’s radio experts for third-party technology validation. We are very pleased on VTT dedication on simulation details and results reliability showing that the DECT-2020 NR technology exceeds the ITU requirements. It is an important step in this standardization journey continuation. It offers completely new levels of performance for enterprises who can now independently manage their IoT solutions including networks and data”, says Jussi Numminen, Director of radio strategy and IPR at Wirepas. To provide first-hand performance estimates, Wirepas is planning on analysing more practical local network deployment scenarios. Tuomas Korpela, Solution Sales Lead from VTT, states that VTT is more than willing to continue the successful cooperation: “DECT-2020 NR has true potential to become widely used globally in areas such as smart buildings and factories, the energy sector and asset tracking. Further analyses on user requirements, resource allocation and performance measurements could be interesting next steps.”
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Pivotal Commware Selects Powermat Technologies as Wireless Power Supplier for Echo 5G Subscriber Repeater
Pivotal Commware, Inc., a global leader in 5G mmWave infrastructure products, and Powermat Technologies, a leading supplier of advanced wireless power technology for telecom, today announced the integration of Powermat’s wireless power technology into Pivotal’s Echo 5G subscriber repeater, designed for delivering superior broadband experiences to more 5G mmWave subscribers at less cost. Echo is a low-profile, glass-attached repeater installed by subscribers to facilitate in-building penetration of mmWave signals from 5G small cells. Other members of Pivotal’s mmWave ecosystem include the Pivot 5G outdoor repeater, WaveScape RF planning software, and Intelligent Beam Management System for real-time network optimization and management. Mobile network operators use Pivotal’s products to accelerate time to revenue from mmWave mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) services. Pivotal’s patented Holographic Beam Forming™ technology is responsible for not only Echo’s small size and low weight, but also its uniquely low 15W power consumption, low enough to power magnetically through window glass using Powermat’s technology. This way, the Echo can be powered from an indoor wall outlet as part of a subscriber installation – an important consideration for operators. “Self-installing subscriber repeaters is a must-have for an operator to meet its business case for deploying 5G mmWave services,” said Brian Deutsch, CEO of Pivotal Commware. “The Echo’s low power consumption opened the door for Pivotal to take advantage of Powermat’s Smartinductive technology. Together, we can help operators overcome mmWave propagation challenges to deliver ultra-high capacity, low latency 5G to millions.” Powermat’s unique wireless power solution is designed to serve 5G infrastructure, IoT, robotics, and security applications that provide up to 65W of power over a distance of up to 30 cm. Its platform, designed for self-installation, automatically learns the distance between the receiver and transmitter and calibrates accordingly. The result is a dynamic system suitable for residential and industrial 5G repeater installations. “Powermat’s low-frequency Smartinductive technology leverages the best of both magnetic induction and resonant wireless charging technology and is designed specifically for reducing the cost of deployment of Telecom & 5G infrastructure on a vast scale,” said Elad Dubzinski, CEO of Powermat Technologies. “We are immensely honored to join forces with Pivotal Commware, an innovative global market leader, and to be the technology company chosen to provide this crucial part necessary for the global deployment of the 5G revolution.”
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IoT Challenger Announces World’s First Non-Cellular 5G Technology, Sets New Global Standard for IoT
Wirepas, an IoT connectivity company from Finland, has Developed an Infrastructure-less and Autonomous Technology, now becoming the first non-cellular 5G The new 5G Standard for IoT challenges the cellular monopoly No middleman No infrastructure No subscription fees Free dedicated global frequency Dense network capabilities One tenth of the cost Wirepas, a Finnish company on a mission to change enterprise IoT, today announces the world’s first purpose-built non-cellular 5G technology, operating on a free global 1.9 GHz spectrum. The new standard lets any enterprise set up and manage its own network autonomously with no operators anywhere in the world. It also eliminates network infrastructure, equipment, middlemen or subscriptions - at a tenth of the cost in comparison to other market solutions. This new 5G standard means that for the first time, any business, regardless of size, will finally be able to digitalize their business with world-class, reliable and affordable 5G connectivity. It will allow industries to run their own independent IoT systems and develop new services around their own expertise and business domain. It also enables them to store and consume the data generated in the way they see best fitting for them (on premises, in public cloud or anything in between), democratizing the data ownership. “Time, complexity, and cost have stood in the way for a wide adoption of 5G IoT. No technology could cost-efficiently connect millions of devices,” said Teppo Hemiä, CEO of Wirepas. “We are paving the way for a true adoption of IoT, beyond cellular solutions - making subscriptions, infrastructure, tower sites and equipment unnecessary. When the technical aspects of using 5G for your IoT systems become plug-and-play, business can instead focus on extracting the value from their solutions, for better decision making and in turn better efficiency.” A network based on the new standard builds itself and each device is as capable as a regular base station. Combining this decentralized approach with the global, license-free, dedicated 1.9 GHz spectrum means these benefits will become truly mainstream and are easy-to use. The demand for affordable networks is high for businesses looking for scalable, high-density applications in a multitude of areas such as smart meters, building management systems, logistics and smart cities. More specifically, it will assist in the urbanization, building, and energy consumption in the construction of these smart cities. It also opens opportunities for new use cases, scaling at mass the levels of communication for future. The energy transition from fossil fuels to electricity boost local renewable energy production and consumption market requiring new communication capabilities. This creates a circular economy and allow for the traceability of goods, raw materials and waste. “We realized a few years back that the current technologies and operation models had difficulties to really digitalize everything. There was a lack of technologies supporting autonomous operations, having state of the art radio performance and being future proof to enable capacity and performance improvements. We already have a product, Wirepas Massive, that can solve many of the IoT problems. Now we have standardized that technology and are developing a product, Wirepas Private 5G, for even more demanding applications. This is a natural evolution of our technology,” says Teppo Hemiä, CEO at Wirepas. Wirepas has been the key contributor in developing the new standard, currently called DECT-2020 NR, owned by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). The standard was published last year and is on its way to be included in the 5G standard in October 2021. Wirepas will closely monitor the market feedback on the standard and provide updates on usage, implementation and use cases. To learn more about Wirepas, please visit: https://www.wirepas.com
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Mouser Electronics Unveils 2021 Empowering Innovation Together Program with Debut Podcast on 5G Technology
Mouser Electronics Inc. today announced the launch of the 2021 series of its award-winning Empowering Innovation Together™ program, with the debut of a new podcast, The Tech Between Us. The new series will delve deeper into technology than ever before, encompassing a timely collection of podcasts, videos, articles, blogs and infographics that center around today’s key tech trends, starting with 5G. Mouser Electronics Unveils 2021 Empowering Innovation Together Program with Debut Podcast on 5G Technology The first episode of The Tech Between Us podcast will spotlight 5G technology and is available on the Mouser website, Alexa, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora and Spotify. “We are very excited to launch this year’s EIT series, including a new podcast that will enlighten, educate and entertain,” states Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics, a leading global distributor of the newest semiconductors and electronic components. “In a world where ‘connection’ has a whole new meaning, we are more intertwined than ever, thanks to the innovative minds of technologists, engineers and innovators driving the world forward.” Each month, the series explores a new tech trend through the various content pieces. In the podcast’s debut episode on 5G, Raymond Yin, Mouser’s Director of Engineering Content, interviews Dr. Matthieu Bloch, Associate Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech University, and discusses the capabilities and impact of fifth-generation wireless technology on communications, robotics, manufacturing and automation. The 2021 EIT series will also feature four byte-sized videos, Then, Now and Next, as well as articles, blogs, infographics and other content with discussions led by Mouser thought leaders and other experts. Upcoming tech topics following 5G will look closer at power supply, automation and more, and explore new product technologies like sensors, RF and wireless, and power management. The program will highlight various new product developments and uncover the technical developments needed to keep pace with innovation in the marketplace. The 5G tech trend content is sponsored by Mouser’s valued manufacturer partners Amphenol ICC, Amphenol SV, Analog Devices, Intel®, Microchip Technology, Qorvo and TE Connectivity.
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Graphene for 6G Communications, Explores IDTechEx
6G Communications needs graphene. 6G will initially launch at a few hundred GHz where several diode and transistor technologies are available in the laboratory but things get tough when second-generation 6G operates at around 1THz to get the ultimate response time, data capacity, data transfer and other promised advances. This will coincide with 6G adding promised user benefits that can only come by handling higher power. The later 6G Reflective Intelligent Surfaces RIS everywhere will do more than smarten up and redirect the beams but actually amplify them, charging your phone and operating devices with no power. Making, manipulating and using the beams all potentially benefit from graphene, the total graphene opportunity being in the IDTechEx report, “Graphene Market & 2D Materials Assessment 2021-2031”. Fit-and-forget graphene supercapacitors will often replace batteries as 6G devices need less power. These supercapacitors excel in energy and power density leveraging graphene’s excellent conductivity, huge area density and compatibility with best-performing new electrolytes. Pseudocapacitors promise even more. Most of their research involves graphene. See the IDTechEx report, “Supercapacitor Materials and Formats 2020-2040”. Desired THz electronics necessarily become smaller and thinner. Heat dissipation then adds to the challenges so graphene’s area density, heat conduction, thinness and electrical conductivity are some of the reasons for its appeal in planned 6G communications. Indeed, graphene is a candidate both in the 6G active devices and the metamaterials essential to the manufacture of the smart surfaces to get the feeble beams through. 6G cannot succeed without widely deployed reprogrammable intelligent surfaces RIS and they cannot succeed unless made as metasurfaces affordably collimating, polarising and redirecting beams with almost no electricity. Both the sub-wavelength patterning and the integrated active devices are candidates for graphene. See the IDTechEx report, “6G Communications Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces Roadmap, Materials, Market 2021-2045”. New wide-bandwidth plasmonic antennas are intrinsically small, efficiently operating at THz. Contrary to electronic and optical technologies relying on up-conversion of microwave and mm-wave signals or down-conversion of optical signals, direct generation of THz signals is possible in hybrid graphene/3-5 semiconductor devices. Efficiency increases by lack of energy loss through harmonics. 100 times smaller than traditional metallic antennas, they easily embed. Their frequency response can be electronically reprogrammed. One efficient THz Schottky-diode detection scheme employs epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide. Biological and chemical sensors can be manufactured this way - relevant to 6G because it is intended to have ubiquitous sensing and positioning at its heart. A German-Spanish research team revealed its gold-covered graphene to better generate THz pulses possibly in CMOS for 6G. Epitaxial graphene on GaN promises functional electronics, single-molecule electronics, plasmonics and phononics and detection of ultra-fast electronic processes. Little wonder that the EU Graphene Technology and Innovation Roadmap predicts graphene-enabled on-chip optical data, spin-logic devices and 6G networks will be in development in 2030. 1THz second-stage 6G gets very serious preparation then. Due to unique band structure, the conductivity of graphene can be dynamically modulated optically or electrically creating reprogrammable electric and optoelectronic devices. A new type of optical transistor—a working THz amplifier—uses graphene and a high-temperature superconductor. Here graphene excels in transparency, insensitivity to light and massless electrons. Double graphene with superconductor traps graphene electrons. THz radiation hits powered graphene making trapped particles inside attach to outgoing waves, amplifying them. NAIST Korea and others demonstrate real-time modulation of wave amplitude and phase in reflection and transmission. Graphene is patterned into an array of nanoribbons exciting localized THz plasmon resonance with a trade‐off between graphene carrier mobility or relaxation time and efficiency. Appropriate structures tightly localize incident fields enhancing graphene light-matter interaction potentially for 6G reprogrammable intelligent surfaces RIS everywhere. Graphene’s THz conductivity can be modified by an optical pump altering the carrier concentration and energy distribution. Recently, a variety of optically stimulated graphene‐based tunable metasurfaces have been proposed. See the IDTechEx report, “6G Communications Market, Devices, Materials 2021-2041”. THz dynamically-controlled graphene multifunctional metasurfaces are appearing experimentally. One large array of graphene reflective unit cells has them controlled independently by size and external static gate voltage realizing multi-functionality. The so-called graphene field-effect transistor is another THz focus. IDTechEx CEO Raghu Das summarizes, “6G systems may become a trillion-dollar business. Exploiting a variety of benefits, graphene may be used for the metasurfaces, supercapacitors and various active components involved. Near term IDTechEx forecasts for open-market graphene sales remain modest partly because 6G applications kick in from 2030 at the earliest and much of the graphene employed will be made in the process as with epitaxial growth. Graphene supercapacitor manufacturers often make their own and anyway these are currently only a few percent of the supercapacitor market.” For more information on 6G Communications please visit www.IDTechEx.com/6GComms and for further information on Graphene please see www.IDTechEx.com/Graphene. The full portfolio of research available from IDTechEx is available at www.IDTechEx.com/Research.
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Big Gains for Low-loss Materials in the 5G Market Reports IDTechEx
5G roll-out is in full swing. 144 5G networks have been launched with 90 more expected in 2021. Over 200 5G devices are now on the market and 5G is expected to reach 1 in 5 people by the end of 2021. The 5G network is split broadly into the sub-6 GHz and mmWave spectrums. The vast majority of the deployment to date has been in the sub-6 GHz bands with the extent of infrastructure upgrades ranging from minor software changes to moderate unit upgrades. Whilst the sub-6 GHz bands are certainly vital to 5G, mmWave is where many of the wonderous vertical applications touted by operators are made possible. The super high download rates and super low latency help enable technologies such as autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, game streaming, and much more. mmWave also comes with significant challenges; many will be aware that it has poor signal propagation, potentially being blocked by walls, windows, and even the mobile user's hands. But another key challenge is the dielectric losses experienced in materials utilized throughout the infrastructure and mobile devices. This jump in frequency up to bands with 28 GHz and above also creates significant signal losses in materials used for the antennas, advanced electronics packaging, and many more areas. The IDTechEx report “Low-loss Materials for 5G 2021-2031” outlines the key material challenges as the 5G deployment continues in both the sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands, benchmarks the various material options, considers the players active in this field, and forecasts granular market breakdowns for these materials in infrastructure, mobile devices and customer premises equipment (CPE). The emphasis on low-loss materials in 5G has already started to take effect with Apple transitioning back to LCP (liquid crystal polymer) in the iPhone 12, partly for its low-loss properties, and rumors are circulating around large mmWave antenna orders being shared between companies to keep up with demand for the iPhone 13. We are also seeing increased moves from big materials players like Solvay advertising their PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), LCP and PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) options, SABIC expanding their production of low-loss PPE (polyphenylene ether) resin by 10-fold, and large acquisitions like DuPont acquiring Laird, both players active in this space. As 5G deployment continues we can expect to see many more 5G mobile devices and much more mmWave utilization, especially later into this decade. Due to the poor signal propagation at high frequency, the mmWave network will be densely packed with infrastructure, combine this with the need for low-loss materials and we see an extremely large market for options such as PTFE, LCP, PPE, ceramics, hydrocarbons, glasses and more as we transition away from the legacy BT-epoxy (bismaleimide-triazine) based materials. Aside from the low-loss material challenges, there are a host of issues relating to the extra heat generated by 5G devices and the materials solutions to solve them, IDTechEx has a report dedicated to this topic, “Thermal Management for 5G”, which covers semiconductor choices, die-attach technologies and “Thermal Interface Materials”. Additionally, there is a large number of technologies and players in the 5G space covered by the report “5G Technology, Market and Forecasts 2020-2030”. For more information on the low-loss 5G report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/LowLossMats, or for the full portfolio of 5G related research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/5G
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Global 5G Coverage to Grow 253% by 2025 and Reach 53% of Population
Data presented by Bankr indicates that the 5G technology global coverage will grow by 253.84% in the next five years. By 2025, about 53% of the global population at 4.14 billion will have access to technology. Few regions are driving 5G technology uptake By 2021, the network coverage will reach an estimated 1.95 billion people representing about 25% of the global population. In the next two years, the network will be accessible to 32% of the global population at 2.5 billion. In 2023, 5G network is projected to reach about 39% of the global population at 3.05 billion people. By 2024, an estimated 46% of the global population at 3.6 billion will be using the network. The Bankr research highlighted the current state of the global 5G network. According to the research report: "The over one billion access to 5G coverage in 2020 is a culmination of a joint clear consensus on the 5G network by major players in recent years. The coverage is significant however, it is being driven by a select few regions in Asia, the US, and Europe. Other regions are still building the infrastructure to accommodate the technology. Notably, Asia is a current leader in 5G after undergoing a rapid migration in mobile broadband networks and smartphones setting the perfect ground for 5G adoption."
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HUBER+SUHNER extends its SENCITY Rail MIMO Antenna portfolio with dual-band GNSS services
HUBER+SUHNER has extended the capabilities of its rail rooftop antennas with its launch of the railway industry’s first embedded dual-band GNSS receiving antenna that meets all of the industries’ stringent requirements. Adding to its established SENCITY® Rail antenna portfolio, the new MIMO rooftop antenna enables railway operators to improve geo-spatial positioning and time precision of their operations. Supporting both the upper and lower GNSS bands, this latest innovation enables pin-point location accuracy for the most rigorous applications such as autonomous trains. With greater transparency of movement on the tracks, railway operators can now improve the operational planning of densely crowded railway tracks and metro lines. “The GNSS port on the antenna supports a higher number of satellite constellations. This enables operators to improve signal acquisition time, as well as reducing the impact of obstructions in order to increase efficiency on the tracks,” said Daniel Montagnese, HUBER+SUHNER Product Manager for Railway Antennas. “The GNSS port is complemented by two broadband Cellular and Wi-Fi compatible ports which can be deployed for a variety of different train to ground services.” The SENCITY MIMO Rail antenna supports the GPS, Galileo, BeiDou and GLONASS constellations. The antenna’s robust design also meets the stringent EN 50155 railway standard and is fire retardant according to EN 45545-2 and NFPA130.
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NGMN Alliance Publishes Second 5G White Paper
The Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance published its second 5G White Paper and has launched further projects based on its conclusions. After the highly recognised NGMN 5G White Paper published in 2015, the NGMN Alliance followed up with another leading message to the mobile industry demonstrating how NGMN continues to drive the ecosystem forward. Whilst initial 5G services have been launched, there is much more underway to realise the full potential of 5G. The NGMN White Paper lays out how 5G is expected to increasingly enable new business models and many new use cases, and gives its recommendation on how to realise the full benefits of virtualisation, cloud, edge computing and more. One of the obvious conclusions is, that the industry must avoid fragmentation by adopting global standards with open, interoperable interfaces and application programming interfaces, thereby delivering the promise of agility and scalability. Some of the key elements the 5G White Paper 2 highlights are: • A common Operator platform architecture is desired in order to allow edge computing to be used on a global scale. • Mobile Network Operators are uniquely placed to provide a fully integrated solution for Verticals that encompasses networks, clouds and platforms, with dynamic customisation, partnerships, end-to-end management, carrier-grade security and efficient spectrum use. Mobile Network Operators and Verticals should increase their engagement to develop meaningful, mutually-beneficial partnerships and business models in order to fully deliver the 5G potential. • Increased focus needs to be given to further improving energy efficiency, sustainability, social wellbeing, trust, and to digital inclusion. Drawing on some of the challenges and actions identified in the White Paper, the NGMN Alliance recently launched two projects: Future Networks Cloud Native Platform, to create a holistic view on how network cloudification should be exploited, and Future Green Networks, to drive energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. Nick Sampson, Director, Wireless Access and Core Network Standardisation, Orange, and co-editor of the White Paper, mentions: “Building on NGMN’s first 5G White Paper, this document emphasises key actions to support the continuing delivery of the 5G promise, in terms of enabling new business models and opportunities, and achieving the required agility to meet a myriad of requirements from existing and new users.” Javan Erfanian, Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, Bell Canada, and co-editor of this White Paper indicates: “Following our 5G launch, we are pleased to continue working with the global industry and the entire ecosystem to drive and realise the full 5G vision for the benefit of all our customers. The NGMN White Paper 2 targets the next phase in this journey both to outline key requirements and success factors, including the new and extended value created and delivered by the mobile network operators working together with a broad partner ecosystem.” “The 5G White Paper 2 provides a guideline for the 5G evolution with new visions, new use cases and new challenges. Engagement with Verticals is identified and highlighted to fully realise the NGMN's 5G vision. This document further describes the unique and expanded role of the mobile network operator as a network and services provider. It is worthy of being the reference for producing 5G specifications and promoting the 5G ecosystem,” says Nan Hu, Lead Researcher and Manager of 5G Standardisation, China Mobile Research Institute, China Mobile, and third co-editor of the White Paper. Anita Döhler, CEO, NGMN, points out: “The NGMN White Paper 2 describes the 5G objective of enabling and contributing to prosperity and productivity with significant energy and resource efficiency, sustainability, social wellbeing, trust and inclusion and promotes the engagement with the wider ecosystem to fully address the 5G outreach. I would like to thank everyone who worked on this position paper, which is a very valuable asset for the overall industry. As stated above, our White Paper kicked off several new activities already. This is an exciting time to be joining the NGMN Alliance and I look forward to continuing on the journey to 5G success and beyond.”
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Unite Communications’ TextMeAnywhere Solution Helps Retailers Manage COVID-19 Curbside Pickup Logistics Through Text
Unite Communications’ recently launched TextMeAnywhere solution helps retailers manage customer curbside pickup during COVID-19 by introducing an easy to use web application that transforms an existing landline, VoIP, or Toll Free number of a business into a textable number. COVID-19 physical distancing orders mandate that retailers reduce store capacity so customers can remain two meters apart. Curbside pickup is a great option for customers that want to purchase an item online and pick up the same day without having to go into the store. Retailers have had to quickly adapt to adopt this new option, frequently running into logistics issues when their business phone numbers are landlines. They have had to ask staff to manage multiple phone calls, send emails that get stuck in spam, or purchase mobile phones and numbers to not have to ask staff to use their personal mobiles. “TextMeAnywhere turns the business number into a textable number and allows staff to easily chat with customers on the web application. The business number is likely already stored in the customer's phonebook, so they know who is texting. SMS messages see a 98% open rate whereas emails only see 20% and are the preferred method of communication by most customers,” says Brian Presement, CEO of Unite Communications. Retailers deemed essential had an advantage because they were forced to adapt from the beginning and provide curbside pickup as the only option, but now other retailers are beginning to follow. Curbside pickup is an easy, convenient option to offer customers and the TextMeAnywhere solution makes the logistics behind it just as easy and convenient for any retailer.
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HomeGrid Forum accelerates G.hn deployment with its member Comtrend launching three new products for broadband connectivity
HomeGrid Forum is celebrating the advancements of G.hn technology in Gigabit broadband access as leader in advanced networking solutions and member of the alliance, Comtrend, unveils a new range of G.hn adapters – enabling users to extend their local area network through existing powerlines, reducing operational costs and the need for additional infrastructure. By utilizing MaxLinear’s G.hn Wave-2 networking chipset, the new family of PowerGrid solutions offers the best performance over in-home electrical wiring, with data rates four times higher than legacy powerline technologies. “We are delighted that Comtrend has successfully deployed G.hn technology into its new line of products and are confident that our continued collaboration will unlock more opportunities and future advancements in line with ever-changing consumer demands,” said Dr. Len Dauphinee, HomeGrid Forum President. “This announcement builds upon the impact that G.hn has already had globally and together we are working hard to expand the use of G.hn and ensure complete compliance, interoperability and reliability through our highly regarded certification program.” The complete range, including the PowerGrid 9180dc, the PowerGrid 9181PoE and the PowerGrid 9183, incorporates G.hn technology and features end-to-end encryption algorithms to ensure a highly secure powerline network. Delivering a 2-in-1 solution with a Direct Current (DC) output of 30W for a multitude of home gateways, set-top box (STB) and Wi-Fi Access Points, the PowerGrid 9180dc is available in EU and US plug versions and has been granted CE, FCC and UL certifications. Eliminating the need for additional wiring, the adapter comes pre-configured to allow convenient installation in a matter of minutes. Designed for IP security surveillance, the PowerGrid 9181PoE features two integrated 802.3at PoE ports efficiently providing both data and power to IP cameras and other PoE devices. It also supports TR-069 for remote management allowing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to remotely monitor and reset PoE outputs to promptly resolve any issues with the subscribers home network – resulting in increased customer satisfaction and reduced operational costs for the ISP. Providing a single concentration of wired servers in one place – including Network Attached Storage (NAS), Media Servers, Network Video Recorder (NVR) and Printer servers – and supporting G.hn Wave2 technology with 100MHz MIMO operation, the PowerGrid 9183 G.hn/4-port Giga Switch offers quick and easy installation and can be used with two fully-programmable reception and transmission paths to achieve up to 2Gbps over powerline. “With significantly higher data rates and lower latency, G.hn powerline technology provides a more stable home network backbone,” said Frank Chuang, Vice President of Marketing for Comtrend. “This eliminates the need to install wired Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi backhaul devices, reducing costs for network operators.” HomeGrid Forum and its members have been working on the development and global deployment of G.hn technology and ensures compliance and interoperability of silicon and systems through plugfests and rigorous testing across the entire eco-system.
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Infinet Wireless Installs High-Bandwidth Network Upgrade for Netsol CONNECT to Service Businesses Across Pakistan
Infinet Wireless, the global leader in fixed broadband wireless connectivity, has upgraded the connectivity network of NetSol CONNECT, a leading Pakistan-based networking consulting and integration firm, to improve performance and robustness with the aim of satisfying the day-to-day operational demands of the country’s leading businesses. NetSol CONNECT – a subsidiary of NetSol Technologies, the first and only Pakistan-origin company listed on NASDAQ – enlisted Infinet Wireless to overhaul its legacy infrastructure, which was not able to meet the high-bandwidth and reliability demands of its ‘digital-first’ customers. These requirements included a growing reliance on virtual meetings, real-time secure access and sharing of data files across multiple sites and other business, and financial and security applications relying on a stable Internet connectivity. Over a period of 12 months, NetSol worked with Infinet Wireless to deploy dozens of high capacity point-to-point links. The company selected Infinet Wireless’ InfiLINK 2x2 LITE for capacity requirements of up to 50Mbps, and a mix of its XG500 and Quanta 5 solutions for capacity requirements of up to 500Mbps. “Many of Pakistan’s premier businesses in the banking, manufacturing and industrial sectors rely heavily on our wireless networks to seamlessly conduct their day-to-day operations, better serve their own customers and compete with their global peers,” said Babar Shafiq, Chief Technology Officer at NetSol CONNECT. “Driven mainly by our customers’ increasing bandwidth demands, we selected Infinet Wireless to upgrade our network as it has one of the broadest portfolios of high-bandwidth wireless solutions available in today’s marketplace. These solutions surpassed all our expectations during the proof of concept we conducted early on in the process, and fully met our critical needs such as availability, reliability and consistent performance.” As the majority of NetSol CONNECT’s deployments are in congested cities, often with difficult topologies, the decision-making team required a solution that offered extensive interference mitigation and the ability to function without interruption even in Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. Infinet Wireless’ solutions have an advanced Instant Dynamic Frequency Selection (i-DFS) technology which allows automatic frequency channel change with zero downtime, in case of interference. “NetSol CONNECT is laser-focused on customer satisfaction and providing our customers with products and service of the highest quality and value possible. Partnering with Infinet Wireless is enabling us to make good on this commitment,” added Mr. Shafiq. “Furthermore, Infinet Wireless’ solutions offered us the best price-performance ratio – given the extremely price-sensitive market we operate in, this was a very important factor in our decision-making process.” Kamal Mokrani, Global Vice President at Infinet Wireless, said: “Thanks to our direct presence in Pakistan, we were able to work closely with NetSol CONNECT right from the very beginning of the project, gaining a better understand of the issues they were faced and designing a comprehensive platform to overcome them from day one. The main issues were related to a high level of radio interference and the added difficulty of connecting points-of-presence in non-light sight conditions. “We significantly increased the overall reliability of their infrastructure and reduced downtime to almost zero. This was achieved by the advanced technology we have designed over the years, one which is capable to operate non-stop even in the most difficult terrains and weather environments. We delivered to NetSol CONNECT a brand-new network that will enable it to not only meet today’s growth for its business, but also cater for new requirements well into the future.”
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Worldwide 5G Connections to Grow 20x to 2.7bn by 2025
Data compiled by Finbold.com shows that in the next five years global 5G connections will be 2.7 billion. According to the data, this will be a growth of at least 20 times from this year's 120 million connections. 5G Connections to keep growing The data projects that by next year, the connections will grow by 180% to stand at 340 million. By 2022, the connections will be 810 million and later grow by 72.8% to hit 1.4 billion in 2023. In the next four years, the connections will stand at 2 billion and later increase by 35% to stand at 2.7 billion by 2025. 5G is the 5th generation mobile network with a new global wireless standard following previous connections of 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. With 5G, the network is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything including machines, objects, and even devices. According to the report: “However, with the 5G network imminent, there have been concerns about the network’s potential impact on human health. There are still controversies that the network carries a dangerous escalation of traditional cellular technology that comes with higher energy radiation that causes potential damaging effects on human beings.” Globally, companies are moving to establish 5G connections as a way of reaping the full benefits of the technology. Big players in the technology world have filed patents concerning the network with Asia taking the lead. By February 2020, China’s Huawei had 3,147 filings followed by Samsung at 2,795.ZTE is third with 2,561 total patents while South Korea’s LG has 2,300 total patents filed. Elsewhere, Nokia has 2,149 patents while Erickson has 1,494. From North America, Qualcomm has filed 1,293 patents while Intel has 870 filings.
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New MERICS Study on Export Controls and the US-China Tech War
After a year in which the United States heaped pressure on European countries to ban Chinese telecommunications group Huawei from their 5G networks, the gradual rollout of US export controls on emerging technologies is likely to create new strains in the transatlantic relationship over how to handle China. On January 3, Washington began unveiling new export control proposals aimed at restricting China’s access to sensitive technologies — from artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to 3-D printing and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The US is asking allies in Europe and elsewhere to follow its lead and there is a risk that it could employ secondary sanctions to raise the pressure if they fail to do so. In light of this situation, European governments must urgently formulate their own approach to technology transfers. If they fail to do so, Europe risks being thrown onto the defensive by Washington. There is also a risk that the US push to curb technology exports aggravates divisions between member states and undermines the European Commission as an actor on trade. Over the past years, EU states have given the Commission a formal mandate to explore 5G security risks and develop an investment screening mechanism. It is high time to take a similar approach on emerging technologies, writes Noah Barkin, former visiting academic fellow at MERICS and author of the MERICS China Monitor “Export Controls and the US-China Tech War — Policy challenges for Europe”, published today. Based on numerous discussions with high-ranking representatives of the US government, European institutions and member states, Barkin argues that advanced technology-producing states in the EU that are directly affected by US controls must coordinate their actions better, explore new structures that respond to challenges at the nexus of trade, technology and security, and ramp up engagement with allies in Asia, which are facing the same pressure. Bringing experts from academia and business into the discussion is also urgent. The author urges member states to swiftly resolve a three-and-a-half-year stalemate over reforming the EU’s own dual-use export control regime and pivot to emerging technology challenges, pushing this up the political priority list during the German presidency of the EU in the second half of 2020. Mounting policy challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to distract from this effort. European concerns that US export controls are part of a push to contain China’s technological rise could also dissuade European capitals from tackling this in a proactive fashion. But developing a coherent, joined-up approach to emerging technologies is the best way for Europe to assert its own sovereignty and deliver on its promise to become more of a geopolitical player, instead of a powerless pawn in the US-China competition. Washington is demanding support for its technology curbs in bilateral talks and in multilateral export control regimes like the Wassenaar Arrangement. The author warns that the Americans could soon lose patience in building what they call "coalitions of caution" towards China. European companies could then be threatened with secondary sanctions. He gives the example of the Dutch company ASML, which has been unable to deliver its most advanced semiconductor manufacturing machine to a Chinese client amid an intense pressure campaign from Washington aimed at the Dutch government.
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5GLIVE to advance 5G potential across industries worldwide
5GLIVE will showcase the most innovative, cutting edge 5G use cases across a range of industry verticals, when the show launches later this year. Total Telecom's brand new event will shine a spotlight on the transformative potential of next generation connectivity across a range of verticals, including transport, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, utilities and media. 5GLIVE will be held at the ExCel, London from September 23-24, and will explore how 5G will enable new, agile business models and the development of 5G-enabled products and services. The event will bring together 400 leading industry speakers from the likes of Bosch, Deutsche Telekom, E.ON, Telefonica and UEFA, acting as a one stop shop for industry buyers and sellers alike. “We are thrilled to be hosting leading industry experts and operators at 5GLIVE to further accelerate the innovation potential of 5G across the global economy.” said Rob Chambers, Managing Director at Total Telecom. “The event will showcase how 5G will be the cornerstone of Industry 4.0. The initial response to 5GLIVE has been outstanding and we look forward to welcoming the people driving the future digital economy.” 5GLIVE will gather over 2,000 people from CSP’s and multiple vertical industries, 800 organisations and over 50 world-renowned keynote speakers. They include the CTO of Swisscom, the CCO of GE Power, CEO of BT Enterprise and SVPs from Lego and Deutsche Telekom. The event will comprise ten dedicated content streams including 5GPLACES – to focus on the inevitable advancements of the future for urban living; 5GTRANSPORT – looking into the value of 5G networks from both a private and public perspective of transport, and how these can drive connected and autonomous vehicles; 5GFINANCE – looking at the benefits of 5G connectivity for the finance and banking ecosystem. 5GLIVE will have over 250 partnering companies including sponsors, exhibitors and start-ups. It will also include a new 5GSTARTUPS stage for technology disruptors to pitch to VCs and Investors to explore new areas of development. Free tickets are available for attendees in the Telecoms, Manufacturing, Health, Utilities, Transport, Agriculture, Media, Finance and Public Sector industries. Interested attendees can register for 5GLIVE on the website.
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Ranplan announces partnership with China Unicom
The Network Technology Research Institute of China Unicom – one of the world’s largest mobile operators with more than a quarter of a billion active subscribers – has selected Ranplan Wireless as a preferred supplier for a complete platform for HetNet design, optimization and management. The announcement of an initial order for USD 400k was made after extensive commercial and technical evaluation. China Unicom’s Technology Research Institute will be using Ranplan Professional to plan, simulate and optimize small cell and DAS solutions for in-building and dense indoor/outdoor urban environments such as stadiums, campuses and business districts. They will also use Ranplan Collaboration Hub, a cloud-based project management and workflow tool, along with Ranplan Tablet for onsite in-building site surveys, building modelling and simulating in-building coverage performance predictions. By using intelligent building and network modelling along with automated design techniques, China Unicom engineers will be able to speed up network planning time and reduce the costs of deployment. Ranplan Professional is an all-in-one, heterogeneous planning, optimization and simulation solution for 3G, 4G and 5G NR small cells, DAS and Wi-Fi networks across indoor and outdoor environments, which also integrates with macro-cell networks. The Technology Research Institute is a subsidiary of the China Unicom Group and is engaged in cutting-edge technology and application tracking, development strategy research, market and management research. It is also building a new technology business development and product incubation base for the Chinese wireless communications market to enable new breakthroughs and drive technology innovation. “We are very proud to have won the trust of one of the world’s largest mobile operators at a critical junction in the transition from 4G to 5G, characterized by an increased emphasis on cellular indoor mobility in close coordination with the outdoor environment,” said Per Lindberg, interim CEO of Ranplan Group AB. “It is our hope that China Unicom, as well as its ecosystem partners, will benefit from our suite of software that not only helps perfect the initial deployment of radio nodes, but also their subsequent performance within day-to-day operations.”
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“Advanced fiber networks are critical to address exponential 5G demands,” urges INNO Instrument America Inc. at ISE Expo 2019
USA 24 September – 5G networks are long anticipated to bring about faster speeds, improved network performance and more reliable services for consumers, but it will also place huge pressure on the existing wired infrastructure, according to Gil Perez, Director of Sales North America at INNO Instrument America Inc. With rising data demands that are expected to escalate exponentially due to extended 5G services, operators need to seriously consider advancing fiber deployment to deliver a network service which does not collapse under piling data and bandwidth demands. Mobile data traffic is anticipated to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 28.9% to surpass 1,307 exabytes on an annual basis in 2025, according to ABI Research. It is more important than ever for operators to continue extending fiber network deployments fast to keep up with this rate. In addition, 4G and 5G subscribers will represent 55% of total subscriptions in 2025 and will account for 91% of the total traffic generated. Extending fiber now will be integral for meeting future customer demands on networks. “5G must deliver a further step in the capacity of wireless networks, over and above that currently being delivered by 4G. No network has infinite capacity, but operators need to move closer to the ideal of there always being sufficient capacity to meet consumer’s needs,” said Perez. “Fiber is the preferred option for 5G because of its scalability, security and ability to handle the vast amount of backhaul traffic being generated. It can handle the increased speeds with lower attenuation and offers practically unlimited bandwidth potential - making it the perfect option for operators to future-proof their networks.” 5G offers an unprecedented leap in bandwidth speeds compared to the previous generation. But before 5G networks become prevalent, network infrastructure needs to be reliable and continuously support thousands of devices as well as manage the data collected and transmitted by these devices. Due to this 24/7 data collection and transfer, there are huge demands made on networks including higher network availability levels, full wireless network coverage, lower latency and higher bandwidth capabilities – all caused by an influx of connected devices. “Before operators make the jump to offering 5G services, they need to ensure that their existing network infrastructure has the capability to keep up with the ever-increasing demands, added Perez. “At INNO Instrument, our field-proven and clever yet intuitive methods and procedures ensure that network operators have the expert knowledge and tools needed to deploy reliable and cost-effective FTTx networks.” INNO Instrument America Inc’s extensive range of leading optical communications products and testing solutions, are designed with the industry’s biggest challenges in mind. With cost and reliability at the forefront, the company offers a whole host of innovative solutions to speed up the rollout of FTTx networks and ensure that 5G is a possibility worldwide. At the upcoming ISE Expo, INNO Instrument America Inc will be showcasing its most powerful and innovative premium core-alignment fusion splicer, View 8+ and the View 12R-200 mass fusion ribbon splicer, which has the capability to splice 200 micron fibers.
