SpaceX signs up with Google Cloud for Starlink connectivity

Google Cloud and SpaceX have secured a partnership to provide businesses with 'seamless, secure' access - through the former's cloud infrastructure and the latter's connectivity.

Under the partnership, SpaceX will locate Starlink ground stations within Google's data centre properties. This will provide a benefit of security, low latency, and reliable delivery of data from more than 1,500 Starlink satellites.

"Google Cloud's high capacity private network will support the...

14 May 2021 | Rural Telecoms

Virtyt Koshi, Mavenir: On waves of innovation, OpenRAN, 5G, and more

Dr Virtyt Koshi, SVP and general manager EMEA at cloud-native network software provider Mavenir, recalls a video telecommunications system pioneered by BT which he used in his lab at the University of Oxford in 1995. It had "everything that Zoom had and much more", he explains. Unfortunately, carriers in general did not capitalise on innovation, and these days for example, BT is valued at around a $20 billion market cap, whilst Zoom is around $100bn.

The change is continuous - and...

29 March 2021 | Open RAN

Telecoms industry to ‘partly rebound’ in 2021 after difficult 2020, finds Analysys Mason

Virtually every industry has been severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the telecoms sector no different. Yet analyst firm Analysys Mason argues telecoms will return to a modest growth in 2021, led by IoT, 5G and edge opportunities.

In its yearly predictions, Analysys Mason said industry revenue fell by 2.7% ($4.3 billion) in 2020. While noting total revenue will grow 1% on this year's figures, the analyst firm warned that 2019 levels will not be exceeded until...

4 December 2020 | IoT

The connectivity outlook for transportation and smart cities: 5G, AI and more

How can transport authorities and operators work together to invest in 5G networks to enable smart city services that help them stay safe and connected?

A new report from BAI Communications has explored the themes of transport and connectivity within smart cities. The study, which surveyed more than 2,400 rail users in Hong Kong, London, New York City, Sydney and Toronto, emphasised the importance of advanced network infrastructure and data-driven services.

Justin...

4 November 2020 | Networks

Nokia report says 5G could add $8 trillion to global GDP by 2030

The economic impact of 5G technologies continues to be assessed and calculated - and in its latest analysis, Nokia puts it at adding $8 trillion to global GDP by 2030.

In its 5G Business Readiness Report, which surveyed more than 1,600 technology decision makers in eight markets, Nokia outlines various stages of 5G maturity. Similar to the various reports on cloud computing maturity, organisations further down this road are growing faster and, more interestingly, are the only ones...

12 October 2020 | Operators

5G could bring up to $3.3 trillion to Latin America by 2035, says Nokia and Omdia

5G technologies could bring up to $3.3 trillion to Latin America by 2035, according to a new study by Nokia and research firm Omdia.

The study, titled 'Why 5G in Latin America?', notes the uncertainty around the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic - yet alongside the projected $3.3tn in economic and social value promised by 5G, a $9tn improvement in productivity is also predicted.

"It is too early to be definitive about how Covid-19 will change behaviours and the patterns of 5G...

28 August 2020 | Research

142 years of strong connections: How Eastern is changing the Philippines’ telecom ecosystem

Sponsored The telecoms ecosystem in the Philippines is a fascinating one, as the Southeast Asia country looks to capitalise on burgeoning digital infrastructure.

According to a report from BuddeComm earlier this month, the coming years will see most telecom investment in the Philippines focused on supporting fibre infrastructure in urban areas. The report also states that ‘a continuing interest in new data centre builds is expected as well as augmenting existing...

21 July 2020 | Networks

Vodafone builds first UK ‘standalone’ 5G network for Coventry University

Vodafone has claimed an industry first with the launch of the UK's inaugural 'standalone' 5G network built for Coventry University.

Coventry, which maintained its top 15 ranking in the Guardian's most recent university league tables, was recognised by the operator for its 'innovation and excellence in digital teaching'. The network will be used to trial virtual reality (VR) learning technologies for student nurses and allied health professionals.

The announcement was...

6 July 2020 | LTE

Samsung achieves 8.5Gbps speeds in new 5G mmWave test

Samsung Electronics has said that it has achieved speeds of 8.5Gbps across multiple devices with 5G mmWave technology, a claimed industry fastest.

The lab demonstration combined 800 MHz of mmWave spectrum with MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple input, multiple output) technology, running on Samsung's 5G mmWave access unit.

Through two test mobile devices, the demonstration saw approximately 4.3Gbps speeds on each, meaning a combined peak speed of 8.5Gbps across both...

17 April 2020 | LTE

Small Cell Forum publishes two new 5G physical layer API specifications

The Small Cell Forum (SCF) has published a set of key documents that are focused on stimulating a competitive ecosystem for 5G-era small cell hardware, software and equipment vendors. 

These new documents, which extends last year’s 5G Physical Layer API specification, allow small cells to be assembled using components from different vendors to address a mix of 5G use cases relatively easily.

The new release also includes two new specifications, SCF223: 5G NR FAPI...

14 April 2020 | Hot Topics