5gfactor

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer examine the debut of the Marvell AtlasOne chipset, the company’s 50Gbps PAM4 chipset solution for 5G fronthaul, targeted at improving performance for integrated radio access networks (RAN), as well as Open (O-RAN) and virtualized (vRAN) architectures. To meet growing 5G capacity demands, mobile operators are prioritizing fronthaul solutions that scale beyond 25G. The Marvell AtlasOne chipset, optimized for performance improvement and up to 25% lower power consumption, is part of Marvell’s electro-optics portfolio aimed at easing vRAN and O-RAN adoption.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer explore Ericsson ConsumerLab’s presentation of its annual 10 Hot Consumer Trends report, now in its 11th year. This year, Ericsson ConsumerLab focused on the topmost high-tech facilities that consumers conceive in hybrid malls by 2030. In the Everyspace Plaza construct, AR glasses, haptic body suits, and tactile gloves could be shared at low cost, and environments could be programmed and adapted to a broad array of emerging applications and activities.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Shelly Kramer and Ron Westfall examine recent passage of the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal that includes $65 billion targeted at expanding access to reliable high-speed Internet and further bridging the digital divide through investment in broadband infrastructure including 5G connectivity.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer delve into the Qualcomm Investor Day 2021 event highlighted by CEO Cristiano Amon’s Keynote that talked about his vision for the company and propelling Qualcomm’s ongoing success through market diversification.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer break down the key takeaways from the GSMA produced The Mobile Economy North America - 2021 report released in conjunction with MWC Los Angeles 2021 show, including the major North American trends through 2025, evolving mobile operator content strategies, and expanding private network drivers.

In this episode of The 5G Factor, part of the Futurum Tech Webcast family of content, I’m joined by my colleague and fellow analyst, Ron Westfall for our weekly look at what’s happening the world of 5G. Our conversation today explored the following:

• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is good news for efforts to bridge the digital divide. Passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the good news that brings for expanding broadband and 5G connectivity across the nation, closing the digital divide and allocating millions to a variety of different initiatives, as well as $100 million to each of the states.
• Data from the GSMA report: 2021 The Mobile Economy North America including the fact that in North America, $1 trillion of mobile technologies and services generated 4.4% of GDP in North America in 2020, which is a contribution equivalent to $1 trillion of economic value added. Wonder why we focus so much on 5G — these numbers are only going up! Ron broke down growth we can expect ahead, content strategies for CSPs and partnerships we’re seeing, along with some info on private networks, which we’ve covered here frequently
• Qualcomm had an impressive Investor Day 2021 event this last week and we wrapped the show talking about some of Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon’s vision, the diversification strategies the company has and is embracing, and how that’s paying off and will continue to do so for the technology giant now and in the future.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer assess the 5G ecosystem implications of the Rakuren Symphony, Intel, and Juniper Networks collaboration to develop Symware, a carrier-grade Open RAN solutions aimed at modernizing radio cell sites by using the latest cloud-native architecture and capabilities.

Their conversation emphasized:

• Why the Symware multipurpose edge alliance can provide communications service providers with the flexibility to densify their network, support new features while reducing the required hardware per site, and ultimately accelerate Open RAN deployments.
• How the Symware solution combines the containerized cell site routing functionality and a containerized DU (Distributed Unit) one a single general purpose server platform, which can ease adoption complexity and decrease mobile operator capital and operational expenditures.
• The use of Intel’s Xeon D Processors and FlexRAN reference software showcasing Intel portfolio innovation by enabling the consolidation of RAN workloads into a single Symware server as well as fulfilling the performance, capacity, and cost requirements of 5G RAN environments.
• How the integration of Juniper’s routing technology and ORAN into a single platform can leverage disaggregation techniques and routing stacks to advance 5G networking slicing capabilities key to CSP 5G monetization objectives.

Shelly and Ron concluded that the three-way collaboration gives mobile operators the streamlined Open RAN solution along with the smart security, automation capabilities, and supply chain confidence needed to ramp up their Open RAN plans especially as they are increasingly candid about making Open RAN integral to their overall 5G network build and business objectives.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer assess the partnership between Qualcomm and Nothing, a start-up founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei and dedicated to building a world without barriers between people and technology.

Their conversation focused on:

• The 5G ecosystem implications of Nothing’s first device launch of a transparent earbud - ear (1) - in August 2021that comes with active noise cancellation and a retail price of $99, selling more than 100,000 units in the first two months.
• Why Qualcomm’s alliance is much ado about Nothing, especially in how the Qualcomm Snapdragon platform can power innovation of Nothing 5G products down the line.
• Nothing raised in $50 million in a new Series A round extension backed by strategic and private investors setting the stage for speculation on Nothing portfolio development direction.

Ron and Shelly see Qualcomm’s collaboration with Nothing as a solid bet that Nothing can beat something alternatives setting the stage for Snapdragon-fueled device innovations across the 5G mobile ecosystem.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer examine the cutting edge 5G capabilities that T-Mobile is showcasing at T-Mobile Park, home to Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners and why 5G-powered Augmented Reality (AR) experiences and 5G Mixed Reality (XR) application are ready to deliver immersive and interactive sports venue experiences.  

Their conversation focused on:

• The use of Nreal smart glasses to view an enhanced AR scoreboard and attain real-time MLB stat cast updates.
• How partners, such as Omnivor provider of real-time face-to-face volumetric conversations for holographic applications and Iconic Engine, a supplier of XR streaming applications, are fueling T-Mobile 5G smart stadium innovations.
• The application of breakthrough 5G drone technology enabled first-person views of the Field of Dreams ballpark movie site as well as broadcast MLB at Field of Dreams over T-Mobile’s 5G network.
• Why using 5G technology to capture key MLB data such as the speed of fielders running to catch a ball, the velocity of pitches thrown, and the launch angle for each batter augments that overall stadium experience for MLB aficionado

Shelly and Ron surmised that the 5G-powered T-Mobile Park XR/AR experiences advance the ability of T-Mobile to monetize 5G smart stadium services and that combining 5G smart stadium capabilities with 10-cent beer nights would make for an unparalleled experience.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer assess Nokia’s introduction of FP5, its fifth generation of high-performance IP routing silicon that targets enabling communications service providers (CSPs) to provide greater and enhanced protection against escalating network security threats as well as efficiently scale network capacity and enable new higher speed 5G and IP services.

Their conversation emphasized:

• The urgency of solving the DDoS security challenge since between 2019 and 2020 the number of DDoS attacks grew by 154%.
• Why the FP5’s ability to deliver integrated line rate encryption for L2/L3 network services is integral to fulfilling CSP security objectives especially across the IP network security domain.
• How Nokia bringing 800GE routing interfaces for service provider applications to market advances the ability of data centers to scale rapidly expanding workloads and supporting new applications and it is not too soon to consider 800G capabilities.
• The Nokia’s FP5 network processors support of driving down power consumption per bit by 75% shows that CSPs do not need to trade-off energy efficiency and sustainability objectives in strengthening their network security implementations.

Shelly and Ron concluded that the FP5 silicon solutions bolsters Nokia’s competitive prospects in the Routed Optical Networking market segment and advances CSP prioritization of safeguarding their networks on a comprehensive basis.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer explore the mobile ecosystem implications of UK-based Vodafone’s preparing to announce the largest IoT airtime supply deal outside of China, encompassing millions of NB-IoT connections.

Their discussion highlighted:

• The deal, with a yet unnamed manufacturer, breaks the million-mark threshold on connection volume, and it’s the beginning of what they see as large OEMs coming to market, and this is purportedly the first market to be built only for IoT.
• How the viability and ultimate success of the Vodaone NB-IoT network is predicated on solving the billing, roaming, and interoperability issues that have stymied prior CSP cellular IoT service rollouts.
• Vodafone’s NB-IoT addresses 55 in-network market segments with the potential to reach over 180 segments.
• The current Vodafone offering uses LTE capabilities although 5G can potentially make the NB-IoT service more suitable for emerging use cases related to transportation, fleet management, and warehousing.

Shelly and Ron concur that the Vodafone NB-IoT network is a breakthrough for confirming CSP ability to offer and manage massive IoT services and that Vodafone’s €12.99 deal for 10 years of NB-IoT airtime is a tremendous value.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer examine DISH Network’s selection of IBM to help automate what it is promoting as the first greenfield cloud-native 5G network in the United States.

Their conversation focused on:

• IBM’ crucial role in providing the intent-based orchestration and AI-enabled automation capabilities across DISH’s multi-vendor and multi-layer cloud native 5G network, now consisting of at least 30 named suppliers.
• The DISH collaboration with IBM accentuates that AI-powered automation and network orchestration software and services is essential to enabling 5G network orchestration and key 5G capabilities such as network slicing.
• Through IBM’s Cloud Pak for Network Automation solution, DISH aims to use intent-based orchestration capabilities to efficiently synthesize hardware and software resources that enable the network slicing that is key to the creation and delivery of new services such as use case specific network slices.
• Why IBM’s AI and orchestration assets are so well-suited for fulfilling the major interworking and integration challenges of the DISH cloud-native 5G network architecture and deployment.

Ron and Shelly see the DISH deal as the CSP validation needed to boost IBM’s overall 5G ecosystem credentials and fulfilling customer-specific and vertical-specific needs through AI, orchestration, and network slicing innovation.

In this episode of Futurum newest webcast series, The 5G Factor, I’m joined by my colleague and fellow analyst Ron Westfall to explore and break down some of the most exciting news, trends, and partnerships in the 5G ecosystem. In this week’s episode we covered some exciting 5G news, including:

The future of cloud gaming — it’s powered by 5G. The future of cloud gaming is exciting, especially when powered by 5G end-to-end network slicing, which is revolutionizing cloud gaming services. We explore how this capability, the E2E network slicing, has been optimized for cloud virtual reality game streaming using Ericsson’s networks, service orchestration, and monetization tools, all of which will be instrumental in enabling communication services providers (CSPs) to “get a slice” of the action and, more importantly, monetize their networks. Ericsson’s E2E network slicing is definitely something to keep an eye on, as we know it will be a key enabler for innovation and opening up a myriad of 5G opportunities for CSPs across multiple industry segments, including healthcare, government, transportation, energy and utilities, media and entertainment.

Vodafone’s Multi-Million Market NB-IoT Deal is, Well, Pretty Massive. Cellular narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is in the news this week as UK-based Vodafone is reportedly on the brink of announcing its biggest ever IoT airtime supply deal outside of China. Carrier managed services can serve as a harbinger for how 5G and IoT can work on a mass market level – fleet management, transportation, warehousing, etc. where a mobile IoT is required. Our conversation covered why this deal is a big one and what it marks the beginning of.

IBM Partners with Telefonica for Cloud Native, 5G Core Network Platform. More exciting 5G news of the week is around IBM’s partnership with Telefonica to help the telco implement its UNICA NEXT 5G core network platform. IBM’s intelligent automation software and services will come from IBM’s Global Business Services unit and our conversation uncovered why this is also a very big deal – for both IBM and Telefonica.

DISH Makes a Tasty Treat of its Greenfield Cloud-Native 5G Network with IBM as a Partner. In another win for IBM’s Global Business Services unit, this new smart network will be agile, scalable, and fully virtualized, looking to benefit enterprise customers across a multitude of industry verticals.

Nokia addresses the alarming increase in DDos attacks. With DDos attacks that disrupt network traffic and servers growing by a massive 154% between 2019 and 2020, largely targeting financial services, telecoms, and government agencies, but now spreading out to target businesses of all kinds and all sizes, Nokia’s move here to build network security into its latest gen silicon is an impressive — and much needed — solution.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer examine a report from Vodafone and WPI Economics advocating on the UK government to accelerate the deployment of 5G and IoT technology to help meet zero emission goals by 2050.

Their discussion covered:

• The shrewd timing of Vodafone lobbying the UK government to advance nationwide sustainability goals after working with Ericsson to improve 5G network efficiency capabilities across the London portion of its network.
• How digital 5G and IoT technology can accelerate the attainment of UK net zero emission objectives (i.e., 4% reduction per annum) by targeting three verticals in particular: Manufacturing, Transportation, and Agriculture.
• Why Vodafone’s proactive stance in working with the UK government to advance nationwide sustainability goals has society-wide benefits and not only telecommunications.

Ron and Shelly view Vodafone’s approach to working with the UK government in offering practical 5G and IoT solutions across three key industry verticals to achieve nationwide zero emission goals is laudatory and merits emulation by other mobile ecosystem players.     

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer examine Amdocs supplying the business support systems, including 5G monetization capabilities, for what Orange is touting as Europe’s first 5G SA end-to-end experimental cloud network being built out in France.

Their discussion covered:

• Why Orange promoting its 5G SA network development as an experimental cloud network is a shrewd marketing move that aligns with pragmatic expectations for 5G SA rollouts.
• The expanding role of AI in assuring and accelerating the automation of business processes and operations in software-centric, cloud native environments.
• With Orange targeting the support of hundreds of users by the end of 2021, it will become incumbent for the operator to produce lessons learned and viable use cases at the beginning of 2022.
• How Amdocs gains a sizable marketing boost from its inclusion in Orange’s multi-vendor implementation of the operator’s experimental hybrid cloud 5G SA network.

Ron and Shelly view Orange’s progress in rolling out its experimental 5G network as key to boosting its overall open 5G objectives, including Open RAN assimilation, and helping Europe keep pace with 5G SA deployments in North America, China, and Northeast Asia.   

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer examine the implications of the collaboration between Ericsson and Qualcomm in completing what they tout as the first over-the-air 5G New Radio call on CBRS (Citizen Broadband Radio Service) spectrum in a recent trial.  

Their conversation covered:

• Why the 5G NR call on CBRS can help drive Industry 4.0 and 5G private network use cases.
• The suitability and relevance of CBRS shared spectrum for private networks.
• Where 5G private networks can deliver improvements over LTE private networks and boost ecosystem adoption of private networks.

Ron and Shelly see the Ericsson and Qualcomm collaboration as boosting the adoption of 5G private networks, especially as 5G networks transition to standalone (SA) implementations that enable operators to take full advantage of 5G NR on CBRS capabilities.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer examine the partnership between Vodafone and Ericsson in the deployment of new energy-efficient 5G radios across the London, UK vicinity.

Their conversation covered:

• Vodadone is using Ericsson’s antenna-integrated radio solution (AIR 3227) that have produced a daily network energy consumption decrease by an average of 43% daily in relation to previous generations of radio solutions.
• Vodafone’s plan to deploy 1500 of the Ericsson AIR 3227 units in Q2 2022 as integral to achieving organization-wide energy and sustainability objectives.
• How competition among the major RAN suppliers is yielding ever lighter compact radio products.
• The society-wide sustainability implications of Vodafone’s 5G network energy efficiency breakthroughs.

Ron and Shelly view the Vodafone and Ericsson collaboration as key in advancing energy efficiency metrics in better understanding the success of 5G network deployments and how 5G technology can play a pivotal role in meeting society-wide sustainability goals.  

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer share their perspective on the Nokia’s decision to pause its work in the O-RAN Alliance due to concerns related to working with China-based companies that are on the U.S. Department’s restrictive Entity list.

Their conversation addressed:

• Why the O-RAN Alliance is influential across the entire 5G mobile ecosystem and Nokia’s decision is important.
• The factors behind Nokia’s decision including the shutdown of ZTE in Q2 2018 for running afoul of U.S. trade and economic policies.
• How Nokia’s decision amounts to what qualifies only as a kerfuffle since the O-RAN Alliance is one of many major organizations supporting standard-based Open RAN development and that resolving Nokia’s concerns are at hand.

Ron and Shelly see Nokia’s decision to pause its contributions in the O-RAN Alliance as sound and that the prospect or idea of massive fallout in advancing the cause of Open RAN and Open 5G are over hyped and misplaced.   

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Shelly Kramer and Ron Westfall provide their perspectives on Ericsson’s decision to divest its product research and development activities in Nanjing, China by November 2021.  

Their conversation covered:

• Ericsson now has four R&D centers after the Nanjing R&D center divestment resulting in the apparent transfer of over 600 employees to TietoEVRY, a Finnish software provider with offices in China.
• How the move coincides with Ericsson’s market share loss to China-based rivals like Huawei and ZTE in China’s domestic 5G market.
• Why the decision of Ericsson’s leadership to remain committed to the China mobile market is a strategically sound one as China is the global leader in 5G deployments today and is a key testbed for emerging 5G applications and capabilities.
• Why geopolitical tensions and China’s recent economic and trade decisions may diminish China’s own mobile ecosystem and standing over the long term.

Shelly and Ron agree that doing business in China is becoming increasingly tricky today as developments such as new Edtech market regulations and Jack Ma’s reduced presence are indicators that deal-making across the China tech market, including the 5G and mobile sections. will become more challenging.

For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Ron Westfall and Shelly Kramer discussed expansion of the Boingo Wireless AWS partnership with Boingo Wireless integrating AWS edge and cloud services with the company’s own converged network offering and its impact on select industry verticals.  

Their discussion covered:

• How the Boingo Wireless AWS partnership is using DAS (distributed antenna systems), WiFi, and private networks to improve the overall wireless experience.
• The partnership’s focus on key verticals such as airports, stadiums, manufacturing, and healthcare/medical facilities as well as large enterprises with advanced wireless networking needs and how it can accelerate adoption of cloud-based wireless services.
• Why the expanded partnership can play a pivotal role in delivering the touchless experience to wireless network users.

Ron and Shelly find the expanded Boingo Wireless AWS alliance delivers the capabilities required to augment the overall wireless user experience, including touchless interactions, and demonstrates how ecosystem collaboration can bring out the improved outcomes through the interworking of 5G and WiFi technologies and that 5G and WiFi are not conflicting technologies in many key use case scenarios.