Cambridge Broadband Networks Limited (CBNL), which sells millimeter-wave licensed point-to-multipoint technology, said regional carrier Cellcom selected its 28 GHz VectaStar platform as a backhaul solution for its outdoor small cell deployments. “With an initial trial of VectaStar currently underway, Cellcom plans to utilize the technology to backhaul some of the company’s first LTE outdoor small cells as a densification strategy,” CBNL said in a news release. The FCC recently approved an order expected to lead to greater use of high-band spectrum for 5G (see 1607140052).
Not all is bad in forecasts from the research firm GfK that 2016 sales in the global consumer electronics sector will decline 5 percent to 814 billion euros (about $908 billion), Hans-Joachim Kamp, chairman of the supervisory board of CE trade-show IFA organizer gfu, told the opening IFA news conference in Berlin Wednesday. GfK 2016 forecasts, according to Kamp, that wearables of all types will grow 58 percent to 122 million, while smartphones rise 5 percent to 1.4 billion.
Representatives of CTIA met with staff from the FCC Public Safety Bureau on proposed changes to rules for wireless emergency alerts (WEAs). The agency proposed in November to allow longer WEA messages, inclusion of hyperlinks and narrower distribution of alerts (see 1511190053). CTIA addressed each of the changes, said the filing posted Wednesday in docket 15-91. “The WEA service represents a hugely successful Public-Private Partnership and wireless providers have diligently worked to develop and deploy the voluntary, four year old WEA service,” CTIA said. “Wireless providers have sought to ensure that alert originators and the ultimate beneficiaries, wireless subscribers, may respectively compose and receive meaningful emergency information in a timely manner.”
The FCC Enforcement Bureau proposed a fine of $23,000 against Daniel Delise for allegedly operating an unlicensed amateur radio station on 147.96 MHz from his residence in the Astoria section of Queens, New York. Delise also falsely transmitted an officer-in-distress call, the bureau said. “The Commission previously warned Mr. Delise that unlicensed operation of this station was illegal and that continued operation could result in further enforcement action,” the Wednesday notice of apparent liability said. In April, Delise was arrested for false radio transmissions over the New York City Police Department’s radio transmission system, the bureau said. Delise didn't comment.
New 5G deployments will require wide channel sizes and spectrum in a variety of bands, 5G Americas said in a report released Wednesday, by Rysavy Research. The report sums up much of what has been learned so far on 5G. “The mobile industry is in the process of massive transformation, creating vast new capabilities that will benefit businesses and society as a whole,” the report said. “The step from 3G to 4G was dramatic, and the advances the industry is unleashing, initially in LTE and then in 5G, will be even greater.” Standards bodies are unlikely to complete a standard before 2020, but that isn't slowing progress, the report said. “Engineers have demonstrated many of 5G’s expected capabilities, and some operators have stated they will deploy pre-standard networks for fixed applications as early as 2017. 5G will not replace LTE, but in most deployments will co-exist with it through at least the late-2020s with the two technologies tightly integrated in a manner transparent to users.”
Union workers for AT&T Mobility voted to ratify a four-year healthcare contract. The carrier and workers represented by Communications Workers of America reached agreement on terms in early August (see 1608030065). “Our main goal was to put health care benefits bargaining back in the regional bargaining agreement process and to make health care affordable for all Mobility workers,” CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor said in a news release Tuesday. “This new contract reduces healthcare costs and will improve the standard of living for our members.” An AT&T spokesman said, “Our objective in these negotiations was to reach a fair agreement that enables us to continue providing excellent union-represented careers to our employees, and we believe this contract does that.” Wages, pension and work rules for union-represented Mobility employees are negotiated under separate contracts.
Samsung began mass production of a mobile application processor, it said in a news release. It's designed for the budget smartphone market and other IoT devices, said Samsung Monday, and integrates an LTE modem with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM and global navigation satellite system.
French software company Oberthur Technologies launched the Flybuy series of wearables with mobile payment capability, it said in a Tuesday news release: It's a SIM-size contactless card with an antenna that can be inserted into a silicone or leather wristband, key chain or accessories for fitness trackers or watches.
Verizon is offering for preorder the latest versions of Fitbit, the carrier said in a news release. The Fitbit Charge 2 and Flex 2 can be preordered online for $149.99 and $99.99 respectively, the telecom company said. The Charge 2 is a smartwatch that includes “a plethora of features to make fitness tracking simple while maximizing workouts,” the carrier said. “SmartTrack technology automatically recognizes certain exercises, such as running and biking, and records them for you in the Fitbit app.” The device also connects to a phone for mapping routes and tracking stats like pace and distance traveled. The Flex 2 is an ultra-slim fitness wearable that records “all day activity tracking for steps, distance, calories, burned, active minutes, and hourly activity,” Verizon said.
Huawei joined the ZigBee Alliance at the Promoter level and accepted a seat on its board, said the alliance in a Monday announcement. The ZigBee Alliance “is heading in the right direction” toward the IoT, and Huawei is throwing its support behind ZigBee’s approach to device intelligence, said David Hoelscher, Huawei chief marketing director.