5G deployment is accelerating worldwide, but COVID-19 pandemic challenges still loom, experts said Wednesday during an RCR Wireless webinar. 5G has hit the “scaling to volume phase,” with 2 billion connections expected by 2025, said Sebastien Prieur, group manager-5G transport and RF at Exfo, a testing and analytics company
Howard Buskirk
Howard Buskirk, Executive Senior Editor, joined Warren Communications News in 2004, after covering Capitol Hill for Telecommunications Reports. He has covered Washington since 1993 and was formerly executive editor at Energy Business Watch, editor at Gas Daily and managing editor at Natural Gas Week. Previous to that, he was a staff reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Greenville News. Follow Buskirk on Twitter: @hbuskirk
A notice of inquiry on receiver standards and a Further NPRM on wireless emergency alerts are expected to be approved Thursday with only minimal changes from what was circulated by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (see 2203310065). There have been some discussions about both items among the commissioner offices, but only the WEA FNPRM provoked concerns, industry and FCC officials told us. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and FCC staff recommended a few questions to be added to the receiver NOI, which were added to the item, officials said.
As NTIA and the states work through the details of the more than $48 billion in connectivity money that will be awarded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the wireless industry is making a concerted push to make sure wireless remains part of the equation. Some state officials remain skeptical of how big of a role wireless will play, and remain focused on fiber. Industry officials are watching closely for NTIA rules due out in May.
Early signs this week are that smaller carriers may be interested in pursuing licenses in the 2.5 GHz auction, which starts July 29, as they fill in their mid-band spectrum holdings. The biggest player in the auction is still expected to be T-Mobile, which already has a dominant position in the band since its buy of Sprint, and is using 2.5 GHz for its 5G rollout. The Rural Wireless Association had a webinar Thursday on the nuts and bolts of auction participation.
Smaller carriers have to navigate an increasingly complex landscape, as private networks emerge and open radio access network technologies become part of the mix, industry executives said at the Competitive Carriers Association conference, streamed from Tampa Wednesday. Questions remain about what 5G will look like in rural markets, they said.
Keeping pace with China on standards-setting for 5G and telecom in general is becoming more challenging, with the U.S. failing to keep up with huge investments China is plowing into standards work, speakers said during an FCBA webinar Wednesday. Congress and the Joe Biden administration are focused on ensuring strong U.S. participation in standards-setting work, but the U.S. isn’t catching up, they said.
Carriers large and small are feeling pressure to offer 5G to their customers, executives said at a Competitive Carriers Association conference, streamed from Tampa Tuesday. “All broadband is local,” said CCA President Steve Berry: “Broadband deployment, broadband build, is local.”
Industry counseled against FCC regulation on vulnerabilities to the security and integrity of border gateway protocols (BGP), in early comments on a February notice of inquiry from the FCC (see 2202250062). Cisco and other commenters said the issues are difficult and complex and require an international approach. The notice is part of the FCC’s cybersecurity focus as it looks at vulnerabilities posed by Russian companies (see 2203180051).
The FCC is working on a proposal on siting wireless and broadcast towers, small cells and other facilities in flood plains. An NPRM, circulated last month by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, takes on how the FCC should help the U.S. meet targets in executive order 13690, handed down under President Barack Obama in 2015, rescinded during the Trump administration and reinstated in the early days of the Biden administration.
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet joined Microsoft President Brad Smith and security experts Friday in seeking more focus on “responsible” AI. It's time for a broader national discussion, involving the government, interest groups and the companies building AI systems, said speakers during a Center for Strategic and International Studies webinar Friday. CSIS plans to launch a project in coming months.