2024: Open RAN’s tumultuous year
It was a roller coaster year for open RAN AT&T validated the technology when it selected Ericsson to lead its transition to open RAN But many people wonder about the roles of smaller vendors The past year has been...
Rip and replace funds AND an auction: Happy New Year!
Congress passed a big defense bill that includes full funding for the rip and replace program The legislation includes a provision for an FCC auction of AWS-3 licenses The spectrum is attractive to carriers because they already own equipment that...
Verizon breathes new life into MEC with Nvidia AI deal. Woot!?
Verizon has been talking about MEC for years and years and years and years But wait. Verizon is partnering with Nvidia on this deal, which adds AI to the mix, so it’s all good, right? Sorry if we sound a...
T-Mobile: What race? Convergence is already here
Convergence between wireless and wireline emerged as a big topic in 2024 AT&T and Verizon are moving to bundle more fiber-based internet services with mobile T-Mobile is getting involved in fiber JVs, but it’s downplaying the importance of a fiber...
Verizon lights up Macy’s T-Day parade route
Verizon is bringing its fiber and 5G to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade The operator told us how they set up multiple fiber circuits and upgraded wireless sites around the event All told, it takes around two weeks to set up...
Verizon’s latest DAS deployment isn’t as lame as it sounds
Verizon deployed open RAN-based DAS at two locations in Austin, Texas These DAS systems use O-RAN interfaces and gear from different vendors Using open RAN in the DAS produces cost savings Does deploying an open radio access network (RAN) distributed...
AT&T spends $1.018B for prime USCellular spectrum
USCellular agreed to sell choice bandwidth to AT&T for $1.018 billion All three major mobile operators “have taken a chunk” of the rural carrier’s assets, an analyst says The deal includes highly versatile 700 MHz bandwidth, as well as 3.45...
Verizon is using AI to improve call center performance
Verizon told us how they are deploying AI in their call centers A VP said that the AI helps staff learn how to best deal with customer calls Apps include a live call transcription and a virtual assistant MOBILE WORLD...
EchoStar’s new deal: Let the wireless games begin
It looks as though EchoStar finally got the financial lifeline it needed – in the nick of time EchoStar President and CEO Hamid Akhavan said they’re playing to win in the wireless business and now it’s time to execute Will...
Verizon service ‘fully restored’ after nationwide U.S. service disruption
A heatmap on Downdetector shows a cluster of outages around New York, another smaller cluster in Chicago and still smaller clusters in various locations, mostly in the U.S. southeast Downdetector said it saw more than 1.6 million user reports of...