TheNewsGuru

Tag: 5G

  • Ericsson launches critical communications broadband portfolio

    Ericsson on Thursday said it had launched a critical communications broadband portfolio for the benefit of service providers.

    Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson, said that this would enable service providers to meet the business and mission-critical needs of industries and public safety agencies.

    According to him, Ericsson has developed a new portfolio comprising three offerings: Critical Network Capabilities; Critical Broadband Applications; and Flexible Deployments for both local private networks, and nationwide mission-critical LTE networks.

    “When communication is disrupted by minutes, seconds, or even milliseconds, it can have huge consequences for business operations or serious implications for public safety.

    “Hence the need for fast and reliable communication is therefore paramount.

    “Such critical communications are used in many areas: from first responders and nationwide emergency services to workforce safety in enterprises.

    “There is a growing demand for business-and mission-critical broadband for such cases, service providers need to deliver the highest level of availability, reliability and security to meet this demand, ’’ Narvinger said in a statement.

    He also noted that “the company sees growth opportunities for service providers and government operators by addressing new segments with LTE/5G networks’’.

    Narvinger said that the critical broadband portfolio would enable customers to effectively secure the critical communication needs of sectors such as public safety, energy and utilities, transportation, and manufacturing.

     

  • Italy denies report it will ban Huawei, ZTE from 5G plans

    The Italian Industry Ministry on Thursday denied a newspaper report that it planned to ban China’s Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp from participating in the rollout of its 5G infrastructure.

    “We have no intention of adopting any such initiatives,’’ the ministry said in a statement.

    It added that national security was a priority and that it would re-evaluate the situation if any critical issue emerge.

    Huawei faces international scrutiny over its ties with the Chinese government and suspicion Beijing could use its technology for spying, something the company has denied.

    At the time of its establishment, Huawei focused on manufacturing phone switches, however, it has since expanded to building telecommunications networks.

    It also included providing operational and consulting services as well as equipment to enterprises inside and outside of China and manufacturing communications devices for the consumer market.

    Huawei had over 170,000 employees as of September 2017, around 76,000 of them engaged in research and development (R&D).

    It has 21 R&D institutes in countries including China, the U.S, Canada, the UK, Pakistan, Finland, France, Belgium, Germany, Colombia, Sweden, Ireland, India, Russia, Israel and Turkey.

    As of 2017, the company invested $13.8 billion in R&D, up from $5 billion in 2013.

     

  • GSMA announces new growth companies to ‘GSMA 100’

    GSMA announces new growth companies to ‘GSMA 100’

    The mobile communications industry body, GSMA has named 18 new growth companies to the ‘GSMA 100’.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the GSMA 100 is a global innovation discovery initiative designed to identify the world’s most promising growth-stage companies and advance the next generation of connectivity and digital services.

    The new companies named after AppOnBoard, Cinarra, Cloudify, CUJOAI, DefinedCrowd, Genus AI, Invisible Systems, IoTium, Jiminy, and KaiOS.

    Others are Limitless, Litmus Automation, Lumina Networks, Messagenius, SecureHome, UserTribe, Vilynx, and Zeotap.

    “The GSMA 100 companies are leaders in categories that are poised to drive digital transformation and industry growth.

    “We look forward to working with these companies to unlock business development and investment opportunities and champion innovation in our industry,” said Laxmi Akkaraju, Chief Strategy Officer, GSMA.

    According to GSMA, the selected 18 new companies focused on key innovation priorities, including 5G, AI, data analytics, consumer experience, IoT and cybersecurity.

    TNG reports the GSMA 100 is nominated by GSMA operator members, ecosystem partners and leading technology investors and primarily comprises growth-stage, venture-backed companies, some of which are operator portfolio companies.

    The latest additions to the GSMA 100 represent corporate venture investments by companies including AT&T, KPN Ventures, Reliance Jio, Singtel Innov8, SoftBank and Verizon.

    The GSMA 100 represents the innovation priorities of mobile operators around the world.

    Companies are referred into the programme through investment and key partners.

    Contributors to the GSMA 100 to date include: América Móvil, Blumberg Capital, British Telecom, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, EIT Digital, Etisalat, Telecom Italia, HV Holtzbrinck Ventures, and KPN Ventures.

    Others are MegaFon, MTN Group, Orange, Rogers Communications, Sony Innovation Fund, Telefónica, Telenor Group, Telstra Ventures, US Cellular and Vodafone, among others.

     

  • Huawei set for launch of foldable 5G smartphone

    Chinese smartphone maker, Huawei is set for the launch of the first foldable 5G smartphone.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the launch event will take place just a day before Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 kicks off.

    The smartphone maker made this know via a press invite, that was shared by the official Huawei Mobile Twitter handle.

    The invite image depicted what appears to be a foldable smartphone’s hinge, giving slight hint as to its design.

    It showed the silhouette of a foldable smartphone’s hinge and leaves little scope of doubt regarding the product Huawei is expected to launch at the event on February 24, 2019 in Barcelona.

     

    The Chinese smartphone maker’s foldable smartphone is expected to come equipped with the in-house HiSilicon Kirin 980 SoC and the Balong 5000 modem.

    The Huawei’s upcoming foldable 5G offering will reportedly feature a 7.2-inch display.

    Huawei will reportedly manufacture between 24,000 and 30,000 units of the upcoming smartphone in the initial phase, however, it is not known in what markets it will eventually arrive.

    Huawei’s announcement is still a few weeks away, but with companies like Samsung, LG and Xiaomi throwing their hat in the foldable smartphone segment, 2019 appears to be the year when the foldable form factor truly becomes mainstream.

     

  • Nigeria braces for next level of tech revolution

    Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta has stressed the need for collaboration among academia, telecom industry players and the regulatory body as the nation gears up for the next level of technology revolution.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Prof. Danbatta was speaking during NCC’s Fifth Roundtable Forum with Academia, Telecom Industry and other Stakeholders when he said, “the emergence of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities, 5th generation network (5G), Broadband technology have led to huge opportunities and consequent risks”.

    The forum, holding in Minna, Niger State on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th January 2018 is expected to improve collaboration among the Commission, academia, telecom industry players and other stakeholders to accelerate innovation, industrial growth and sustainable development in the Nigerian telecoms industry.

    Danbatta at the forum on Wednesday said the collaboration is needed to ensure that these technologies are adequately prepared for by the time they emerge in the Nigeria’s telecom ecosystem.

    He acknowledged that innovations, inventions and improvements that evolve from collaboration with academia are a catalyst for improving efficiency and productivity, driving economic growth and attracting more FDI into the country.

    Speaking at the event, Danbatta, represented by Engr Austin Nwaulune, Director Spectrum Administration, NCC, said, to this end, the NCC as regulator of this critical sector, aims to ensure all stakeholders are protected and the industry is nurtured for maximum benefits to all players in the industry.

    He stressed that regulatory excellence has the capacity to drive social and economic transformation in the country and, that the NCC seeks to ensure that regulations match with existing realities.

    Prof Danbatta reiterated that the three areas which are fundamental to future growth and development of the sector include: innovation in terms of new ideas, industry growth in terms of building capabilities and the role of the regulator in promoting synergy between the academia and the NCC while ensuring regulatory excellence and operational efficiency of the industry.

    “The potential opportunities and important aspects that should be considered by all stakeholders are critical aspects that academia are invited to research and proffer pragmatic solutions.

    “The Commission has, among other things, directed funds to encourage innovation by boosting research and development in Universities across the country.

    “There is need to collaborate with emphasis on development of prototypes that would meet the standards required by the industry,” he said.

    Present at the event include members of the academia from various universities and Polytechnics in the North Central region of the country, representatives of telecom companies and other regulatory bodies.

     

  • Huawei secures over 25 commercial 5G contracts, to spend $2bn on cyber-security

    Chinese technology giant Huawei Technologies said it has secured more than 25 commercial 5G contracts, the largest in the world, and has shipped more than 10,000 base stations for the fifth generation of mobile communications.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Huawei’s rotating chairman, Ken Hu made this known while speaking at a press conference at the company’s headquarters in Shenzhen on Tuesday, saying the company expects revenue to exceed $100 billion this year, as against revenue of $92 billion in 2017.

    The Chinese company also said on Tuesday that it would be spending $2 billion over the next 5 years to focus on cybersecurity by adding more people and upgrading lab facilities, as it battles global concerns about risks associated with its network gear.

    The typically secretive Chinese technology giant made the comments at one of its most in-depth press conferences at its Dongguan offices, after welcoming about two dozen international journalists into its new campus in the southern Chinese city.

    Huawei has been in the news these past weeks for the arrest of its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, daughter of its billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei, in Canada at the request of the United States.

    This has exacerbated the woes of the Chinese firm, which has already been virtually locked out of the US market and has been prohibited by Australia and New Zealand from building 5G networks amid concerns its gear could facilitate Chinese spying.

     

  • Samsung to unveil its first 5G-capable smartphones early 2019

    Samsung to unveil its first 5G-capable smartphones early 2019

    Samsung has been reported of having plans to unveil its first 5G-capable smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February next year.

    According to a report, the South Korea company will announce the phones during the mobile trade show, followed by the launch in March to coincide with the rollout of 5G services.

    Samsung had officially hinted at plans for the 5G smartphones, but the release details were hazy until now.

    Samsung in the past said it will be introducing its first 5G smartphone via US telecom operators like Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T.

    Recall, as per a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, Samsung had stated it will include the 5G capabilities in a variant of its upcoming Galaxy S10 smartphone.

    This phone will feature a mammoth 6.7-inch screen and is internally codenamed ‘Beyond X’.

    It will also pack as many as six cameras – two in the front and four on the back.

    The phone may also include a feature called “reverse wireless charging,” using which the phone could be used to wirelessly charge other devices by placing them together.

    Adoption of 5G is not just limited to the South Korean manufacturer.

    Pretty much all smartphones companies including the likes of Huawei, HMD Global, Xiaomi, ZTE, and Sony, as well as the chip makers are actively working on 5G devices.

    Many makers of smartphones are likely to use Qualcomm chipsets with the X50 modem to include 5G functionality in their devices.

    Among the firms that have been most vocal about their upcoming 5G devices, Xiaomi showcased the 5G variant of its Mi Mix 3 phone at a recent event in China.

    The phone is expected to hit store shelves sometime in Q1, 2019. OnePlus is likely to release its first 5G phone with a price tag close to $800, and has confirmed it will arrive by May-end.

     

  • Deployment of 5G network will foster economic development – NCC

    Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has called for regulations and successful deployment of 5G network to foster economic development.

    Danbatta made the call on the side-lines of a workshop themed “Future of Industry, Driving Innovation and Growth’’ organised by Global System Mobile Association (GSMA) in collaboration with NCC in Abuja.

    The workshop brought together leaders from across the telecommunications industry and policymakers to discuss future regulations in the industry and push for consensus on reforms.

    “The telecom industry is a key enabler of productivity across economies and societies.

    “It is not only a significant contributor to economic activities of a Nation, but also towards the growth of other sectors of the economy.

    “The proposed 5G networks are the next generation of connectivity in the telecommunications industry, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections on smart phones and other devices than ever before,’’ he said.

    According to the NCC boss, it is imperative that issues of telecommunications be taken seriously to foster innovation and growth in the industry.

    Danbatta noted that the factors hindering growth in the sector were policies, regulations and performance of networks and called for adequate measures to address them.

    Similarly, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA said Nigeria had always been in the forefront of development and should play a leadership position in the deployment of 5G services.

    “Mobile connectivity has already improved the welfare of millions of Nigerians, opening doors to new digital possibilities and powering the country’s economic development.

    “For Nigeria to take full advantage of the next phase of its digital transformation, it is vital that collaboration between industry and government enables the right policy environment for millions more to benefit from ultra-fast mobile broadband.

    “If policies do not keep pace with the needs of society and technological innovation, there is a risk that citizens will be left behind and productivity and competitiveness will suffer,’’ Goodluck said.

    5G network is expected to support a significantly faster mobile broadband speed and heavier data usage than previous generations while enabling full potential of the internet of things.

    Stakeholders at the workshop include Mr Sunday Dare, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Oluwatosin Bamidele, Chief Technical and Information Officer of Ntel, among others.

     

  • 5G to cover over 40% of world’s population by 2024

    5G to cover over 40% of world’s population by 2024

    5G is expected to reach more than 40 percent global population coverage and 1.5 billion subscriptions for enhanced mobile broadband by the end of 2024.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this will make 5G the fastest generation of cellular technology to be rolled out on a global scale, according to the latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report.

    According to the Mobility Report, North America and North East Asia are expected to lead the 5G uptake.

    In North America, 5G subscriptions are forecast to account for 55 percent of mobile subscriptions by the end of 2024.

    In North East Asia, the corresponding forecast figure is more than 43 percent.

    In Western Europe, 5G is forecast to account for some 30 percent of mobile subscriptions in the region by end of 2024.

    Between 2018-2024, total mobile data traffic is expected to increase by a factor of five, with 5G networks projected to carry 25 percent of mobile traffic by the end of the period.

    “As 5G now hits the market, its coverage build-out and uptake in subscriptions are projected to be faster than for previous generations. At the same time, cellular IoT continues to grow strongly.

    “What we are seeing is the start of fundamental changes that will impact not just the consumer market but many industries,” said Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks at Ericsson.

     

  • Smart Grid: China releases report detailing results of national 5G network slicing project

    Smart Grid: China releases report detailing results of national 5G network slicing project

    China Telecom, China’s State Grid and Huawei have jointly released a report that details the results of their national 5G network slicing project, which was first announced last September.

    TheNewsGuru gathers the report sets out the challenges encountered during smart grid development, potential application scenarios of 5G network slicing in smart grids, and analysis of the overall concept.

    It could be recalled that China has heavily invested in the “Made in China 2025” government mandated economic strategy; and a truly smart grid powered by 5G fits very nicely into this model, giving Artificial Intelligence (AI) a filled day.

    AI can enhance the predictability of demand and supply for renewables across a distributed grid, improve energy storage, efficiency and load management, assist in the integration and reliability of renewables and enable dynamic pricing and trading, creating market incentives.

    “We hope that the three parties can fully leverage the resources from the national major project and the 5G pilot resources of China Telecom to promote joint innovation and build an end-to-end 5G ecosystem,” a spokesperson for China Telecom commented.

    “The release of this report is a landmark of the substantial cooperation between operators and vertical industries in the 5G application field. Our next move is to further verify the 5G network slicing capabilities in power grid service instances and make network slicing easier to use through closer partnerships with State Grid and Huawei,” the spokesperson further stated.

    According to the report, 5G network slicing technologies will enable the intelligent operation of the power grid, with the 5G core network providing network slices with differentiated capabilities to fulfil the requirements of new services in specific scenarios.

    Network slicing should also enable grid utilities to control and manage network resources visually in the entire process, which the report calculates will significantly decrease the 5G network slice deployment cost and promote application innovation for a smarter grid.

    “The energy industry is experiencing a radical change. Research on 5G network slicing for power grid are based on new power grid operation and service modes to meet the emerging service requirements.

    “We are seeking a real-time, highly reliable, and efficient communication network to enable smart grid operations, intelligent power grid enterprises, and convenient electricity utilization,” said Wei Lei of State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power.