Jim Patterson

I enjoyed the discussion and insights from GSMA and others on Private 5G deployment use cases and what it takes to drive adoption.

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The US government continues to support the development of the Open RAN ecosystem as it seeks to widen vendor choice for operators networks. The $420 million in new funding announced by the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is a significant boost for the development of open radio units. This initiative has two key aims: ▪ Commercialisation: Accelerating readiness for commercial trials to prove the technology's viability for wider deployment. This has been a long held reservation on the new technology. Many operators we speak with have concerns about wide level commercial deployments in existing infrastructure. ▪ Innovation: Supporting R&D efforts in Open RAN performance and capabilities to drive the technology forward. The investment is a clear signal that the US remains committed to fostering a competitive, diversified telecoms equipment market. It should open up opportunities for US-based Open RAN vendors and could create a more innovation-friendly environment following a difficult few months with some of the larger names in the sector #OpenRAN #telecomsequipment #NTIA #innovation #USinvestment

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Understanding how digital signal modulation affects fiber optic transmission, a good primer for all involved in telecom network planning

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Chip Pickering, the CEO of INCOMPAS, the trade organization for competitive telecom providers, issued a press release last week congratulating the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) for their decision to reinstate net neutrality. https://lnkd.in/gFKeswQ5 If that was not bad enough, Chip went on to state he was “deeply concerned” that the FCC chose NOT to impose a USF tax on broadband internet services. Has the leader of my trade organization lost his mind? Chip’s reasoning is that the Feds must tax every American’s internet service to sustain and grow the federal communication bureaucracy. Please keep in mind that the current USF tax rate on legacy services is approaching 50%!  If Americans are daily shocked at the increasing price of groceries, how about an additional 50% tax on your home internet service bill? INCOMPAS should focus their lobbying efforts on the elimination of the FCC, as no other three letter federal agency has done more to stifle competition, impede innovation and fleece the American consumer than the FCC.

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Excellent post by Javier Domínguez Lacasa about spectrum policy for midband Midband is the lifeline for Telcos to provide high-speed and reliable data services. There is no other spectrum band that offers the reach, bandwidth, and properties like midband. Unfortunately, this is a scarce resource and extremely expensive. As a scarce resource, regulators need to prioritize the benefits of the majority of users who connect daily to these services. Consider this: effective spectrum allocation can enhance network capacity by up to 50%, which directly improves service quality and user satisfaction. With 5G technology expected to cover one-third of the world’s population by 2025, the efficient use of midband spectrum becomes even more crucial. This band is essential for enabling advancements in IoT, smart cities, and autonomous vehicles, and its optimal use could significantly boost these developments. Moreover, the economic implications are substantial. A 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration can lead to a 1.5% rise in GDP in developing economies. This highlights the critical role of midband spectrum in driving not only technological innovation but also economic growth and digital inclusion. https://lnkd.in/gYtybk_s #Telecommunications #Midband #SpectrumPolicy #Connectivity #Innovation

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As long as antennas remain the bottleneck in wireless broadband networks, the need for spectrum will grow along with the growth in network traffic

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Will T-Mobile become an open fiber operator? As of February 2024 T Mobile was offering fiber fixed Internet in 13 markets in the states of Florida, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, California, and New York by partnering with fiber providers Tillman FiberCo, Intrepid Fiber Networks, SiFi Networks, and Pilot Fiber. Last week, T-Mobile has announced a new fiber broadband initiative called "Lumos" that aims to reach 3.5 million homes with fiber by 2028. This fiber network buildout is part of T-Mobile's broader strategy to expand its broadband offerings beyond its existing 5G wireless network. The Lumos fiber network will be built and operated by Lumos Networks, a subsidiary of T-Mobile, and will focus on both urban and rural areas. T-Mobile plans to leverage Lumos' existing fiber infrastructure as well as build new fiber assets to reach the 3.5 million home target over the next 5 years, in a similar fashion to AT&T's Gigapower, with the help of the private equity EQT. Would T-Mobile have plans to exploit an open fiber infrastructure business? #competitiveadvantage #strategicplanning

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Another one of the hidden assets in broadband networks. This is truly transformational!

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Alive Telecom Solutions Available for 900 MHz Antennas

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Open-RAN is the Future of Energy-Efficient Networks Dont be left with a dinosaur - transistion to Open RAN . This article from Job Benson Head of Mavenir RRU business highlights some so the advanatages in transition to an Open RAN architecture

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Heading to D.C. for the Federal Communications Commission Technology Advisory Council quarterly meeting tomorrow 6/21. We are midway through the year and will provide an update alongside Brian Daly on #6G developments as part of our charter. We have explored the recently concluded first 6G workshop in 3GPP, interacted with IEEE 802.11 working group(s) to expand the horizon beyond cellular to unlicensed and #WiFi and looked at the state of the art and requirements for 6G of #URLLC applications in the automotive sector. The breath of technologies being investigated ( #ISAC, #RIS, #metasurface, #nativeAI, #quantum, #security ) will need motivating use cases and spectrum needs will tie it together. Look forward to updates from the spectrum sharing and AI working groups as well. Tune in on www.fcc.gov/live starting at 10 AM ET. https://lnkd.in/eeU38TJx

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ECFiber is extending Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits for eligible customers through May 2024. As quoted in the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society write-up: "ECFiber customers in danger of losing a $30 monthly credit on their bill as the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) expires will receive a one-month extension directly from ECFiber. The decision was made by the executive committee in hopes that the ACP program funding will be replenished by congressional action in the coming weeks. “We can move quickly because we are a small community-oriented ISP,” said committee member Irv Thomae, who chaired ECFiber for many years, “but we cannot provide this support on our own for very long.” ECFiber has also been enhancing the ACP benefit by providing a private $20 monthly credit through its internal affordability fund, which previously had been the source of donations totaling $270,000 to the now-inactive Equal Access to Broadband, Inc., a nonprofit that ECFiber leadership created to develop affordability programs prior to the advent of the ACP. The full governing board of ECFiber had previously voted to continue the $20 subsidy for the remainder of 2024." Continuing the story in a Vermont Business Magazine article: "The cost of building and operating a business that delivers world-class broadband where cable and phone companies refuse to invest means the lowest price ECFiber can offer is $72 a month, largely because it is funded by borrowed money, not grants. “If ECFiber had no debt service expenses, our lowest price could probably be $39 a month,” said F. X. Flinn, Board Chair, “That day is 15 to 25 years in the future, but at that point we will not only be the best technology, but also the low-cost provider. Until then, we need the Federal and State governments to help low-income households with targeted subsidies. The ACP accomplishes that; it certifies eligible households and has a simple system for registering customers. It just needs to be funded.” The combined $50 credit brings that down to $22 for eligible households." For the complete articles, please click the following links below: Broadband Breakfast: https://lnkd.in/gcvxErf3 Vermont Business Magazine: https://lnkd.in/gQReYWpT Benton Institute for Broadband & Society: https://lnkd.in/g_FvV6VG #ecfiber #affordableconnectivityprogram #acp #savetheacp #vermont #vermontbiz

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Interesting Read - The Western Governors Association is pressing Congress and Federal agencies to cut thier own red tape around Broadband Funding. Historically, most all of the Federal programs around Broadband funding are frout with Polices, Decres and procedures that impede the approval process, and limit the ablity of many Rural Providers to bid on and win funding. Tha WGA is also pushing to standardize the approved definition of broadband to "at least" 100 megabytes per second (Mbps) for downloads, 20 megabytes per second for uploads, and "scalable to" 100 Mbps for both, across all Federal Funding. #ruralbroadband #ruralinternet, #ruralconnectivity, #wisp, #wirelessbroadband

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Looking forward to the panel discussion on private 5G networks and how they are helping in digital transformation, challenges and opportunities.

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Incredibly large $ amounts have been raised worldwide by auctioning spectrum. Interestingly, here are some number for different countries: $3.91 per MHz/Pop for 900 MHz in Thailand $3.57 per MHz/Pop for 900 MHz in India $3.02 per MHz/Pop for 900 MHz in Hong Kong $2.99 per MHz/Pop for 700 MHz in Canada $2.70 per MHz/Pop for 1700 MHz in the U.S. Here's a short note on how auctions compare with other approaches to offering spectrum: https://lnkd.in/g8k5N7cM

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AT&T and AST SpaceMobile Announce Definitive Commercial Agreement May 15, 2024 https://lnkd.in/evWxqnFY AT&T* and AST SpaceMobile have entered a definitive commercial agreement to provide a space-based broadband network direct to everyday cell phones. This agreement extends until 2030. Previously the companies were working together under a Memorandum of Understanding. This is not just one small step, but one giant leap towards enhanced connectivity for consumers and businesses across the country. This summer, AST SpaceMobile plans to deliver its first commercial satellites to Cape Canaveral for launch into low Earth orbit. These initial five satellites will enable commercial service that was previously demonstrated with several key milestones. These industry first moments during 2023 include the first voice call, text and video call via space between everyday smartphones.

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At Connectbase, our mission is clear: to transform how connectivity, digital infrastructure and services are bought and sold. We're achieving this by pioneering the concept of Location Truth for the Connected World. Our innovative data platform constructs a detailed location grid of the world, aligned with rights of way, jurisdictional boundaries, property lines and building footprints. Each building is translated into spatial polygons and our unique GLID (Global Location ID), creating a comprehensive system to understand and connect every structure. The crucial attributes connected to each GLID include: - Address(es) - Category (primary and secondary) - Size (square footage and height) - Footprint (parcel, right of way, jurisdiction, LEC, MSO, power) - Tenant details (profile, other locations, and spend) - Networks (onnet and nearnet) To lead the transformation of better quoting and ordering, essential for revolutionizing the Connected World, we've embraced strategic positions focused on Location Truth, creating a Connected Fabric, enabling digital Ecosystems, and having a Global platform. Stay tuned as we reveal how each strategic position is enabled through our digital platform and APIs, and reinforced by a passionate team committed to our customers. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gPqdZ6Yc #Connectbase #LocationTruth #Connectivity #Innovation #ServiceProviders #CustomerObsessed #StrategicGrowth #befound #beconnected

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Programmable networks are intelligent assets. Unleash the power of such advanced networks (5G, Wi-Fi 6, etc) with Shabodi’s simplified Network APIs. Shabodi Corp #Networkapis #networkexposure

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