5G Focus is a weekly global feature including notable 5G trials, launches, use cases and major equipment supply contracts. It also features in-depth analysis of strategies, expansion plans, business models and other related initiatives.
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The Week Ahead: Spectrum bills to be examined in House, Senate
In the House, lawmakers will consider several bills, including one that will extend the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum bidding system through March 31, 2024. Meanwhile, senators will examine legislation requiring the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to periodically update their memorandum of understanding on spectrum coordination.
US AND CANADA
* AT&T Inc. is using Google LLC's cloud-streaming technology to deliver free games through web browsers on its subscribers' phones, Dow Jones Newswires reported. The move allows AT&T to demonstrate how its 5G and fiber technology can support games on mobile devices.
* Canada will ban equipment made by China's Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and ZTE Corp. from being used in the country's 5G mobile network, Dow Jones Newswires reported. The decision concludes an almost four-year security review disrupted by geopolitical tension between the two countries.
* Verizon Communications Inc. began accepting orders for Motorola Mobility LLC's recently released moto g stylus 5G smartphone.
* Semiconductor maker GlobalFoundries Inc. unveiled the GF Labs program, which will focus on developing and advancing new semiconductor technologies in areas including the internet of things, 5G, 6G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and next-generation automotive.
* Cloud-based networking platform provider Celona Inc. will use Keysight Technologies Inc.'s Open RAN Architect service to test the performance and reliability of 5G private network rollouts for enterprises.
* Verizon will invest an additional $97.9 million in Texas over the next two years. The investment will focus on the expansion of the telco's 5G Ultra Wideband service in both new and currently served markets across the state, among other things.
* TELUS Corp. targets spending C$17.5 billion on network infrastructure, operations and spectrum across the Canadian province of British Columbia by 2026. The communications technology company also aims to spend C$17 billion over the next four years on improving its network in Alberta province. The investments in both provinces will cover the launch of TELUS' stand-alone 5G network, the launch of 3.5 GHz spectrum to enable 5G access in rural areas, and the expansion of its 5G fixed-wireless network.
ASIA-PACIFIC
* China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. reported 174.8 million subscribers to its 5G services as of April. The telecom operator also said its virtual 5G industry private networks served 1,552 customers last month.
* Celcom Axiata Bhd., DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd., Maxis Bhd. and U Mobile Sdn. Bhd. are eyeing a majority stake in Digital Nasional Bhd., a Malaysian state-run agency tasked with deploying 5G, Reuters reported, citing a letter to the country's finance ministry. The companies reportedly objected to the government's offer of a 70% stake in the agency, spread among a wider group of companies.
* Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group signed an agreement with Casa Systems Inc. to explore the use of 4G and 5G technologies in various cases, including public and private networks, in-building solutions, and home networking.
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
* Subscribers of Belgian operator Proximus' Mobile Flex offering will get 5G access at no additional charge with speeds capped at 100 Mbps, beginning July 1, CommsUpdate reported, citing Androidworld.
* Italian mobile operator Wind Tre SpA said its 5G TDD network is now available to 56.6% of the country's population via 3.5 GHz spectrum, while its 5G FDD network already covers 95.7% of the population, CommsUpdate reported. Industry peer Telecom Italia SpA, meanwhile, launched 5G services in the cities of Bari and Padua, as well as 16 other locations.
* State-owned operator Mobile Communication Co. of Iran rolled out its 5G coverage on Kish Island, located off southern Iran's coast, CommsUpdate reported, citing Ebinews.
* British Telecom announced the trial of a new hypersensitive quantum radio receiver to accelerate the performance of next-generation 5G and internet of things networks.
* Vodafone Group PLC unit Vodafone GmbH plans to activate 5G+ on a large scale by 2025, making it available to over 90% of residents in Hesse, Germany.
* Tele2 AB agreed to build a private 5G network for electric boat company X Shore AB's newly built factory in Nykoping, Sweden, Dow Jones Newswires reported.
* Orange Polska SA said there are now more than 1 million 5G devices on its network, with over 6.3 million residents covered by 5G, Telecompaper reported.
* Romania's Digi Communications NV will begin the launch of its 5G network in Portugal in June, CommsUpdate reported, citing ECO. The deployment will initially cover Lisbon, Porto and other big urban centers, ahead of a full nationwide launch.
Featured research
Wireless Investor: MediaCensus survey shows few subscribers add new devices to their plans: More sophisticated capabilities are coming from 5G, giving way to a greater breadth of connected devices such as virtual-reality glasses.
Multichannel Trends: Fixed wireless propels Q1'22 US broadband sub growth: Cable, wireline telco, satellite and fixed wireless added 3.2 million residential broadband subs in the trailing 12 months, according to Kagan's full industry estimates, boosted by the increasing influence of 5G-enabled offerings.
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