Here are some 5G trends for year 2020:
It looked like 5G and wireless dominated the airways in 2019. It seems that year 2020 will be a real test for 5G if it will really take on or fails to full-fill the big expectations. It seems that 5G networks are available at some place here and there from many operators, but 5G end user devices are not yet widely available or desired. New year will bring more 5G base stations.
5G: How Much is Real vs. Marketing? Is 5G ready for prime time? Breaking down the marketing hype versus what’s really going on in the industry. Marketing claims 5G is pervasive. The question is when: 2020 or is it 2025?
First, let’s define 5G also known as 5G New Radio, or 5G NR:
There is sub-6-GHz 5G for the cellphone protocol that requires LTE: 5G NSA.
There is sub-6-GHz standalone 5G: 5G SA.
There is 20- to 60-GHz 5G: 5G mmWave.
It seems that 2020 will be the real test for 5G devices as the 5G device mass market has not yet really started. Samsung says it shipped 6.7M+ Galaxy 5G phones globally in 2019, accounting for 53.9% of the 5G phone market (Galaxy S10 5G and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G). 2020 is expected to be an interesting year for 5G growth across the smartphone market. Increased 5G rollouts by carriers means that customers will presumably be more interested in actually buying 5G devices. One June 2019 forecast made by Canalys has global 5G smartphone shipments crossing 4G smartphone shipments in 2023.
5G will be integrated to some PCs. Dell debuts a new Latitude 9510 laptop with built-in 5G, to launch March 26.
Ericsson says they are now 5G networks leader according to Ericsson ylitti odotukset kirkkaasti: ”Olemme 5g-johtaja” article. Nokia has cut its outlook for this year and next because of the need to step up its investments in 5G but ‘We don’t have a 5G problem,’ says Nokia’s head of software.
5G will be a good growing market for test device manufacturers as engineers will once again need to sharpen their skill sets and adopt new design and testing techniques. A lot of 5G Component Characterization and Test will be needed.Delivering 5G Devices to Market Will Bank on OTA Testing.
Network side needs also testing equipment. One approach being adopted to gain ground in the race to 5G involves the rapid prototyping and testing of network architectures. There is need for programmable RF devices. Industry seems to want their own private networks.
5G components are available from many sources already. The typical RF component suppliers are all providing 5G solutions: Avago/Broadcom, Huawei, MediaTek, Murata/pSemi (previously known as Peregrine), Qualcomm, Qorvo, Samsung, and Skyworks.
Challenges: Even the sub-6-GHz versions have technical issues in that the 5G target “air time” latency is 1 to 4 ms. Typical RF component manufacturers appear to be providing components that focus only on the sub-6-GHz frequency bands. The geopolitical situation relative to 5G also adds confusion to the 5G timeline.
There are many technical issues must be considered in the utilization of mmWave: mmWave frequencies travel relatively small distances. the mmWave transmitters consume a considerable amount of transmit power, providing additional challenges for battery-operated devices.
5G in automotive: The automobile industry is experiencing exponential growth of self-driving features, and this trend is expected to continue. 5G network connections are expected to have a major influence on the development of self-driving cars making them faster, smarter, and safer. Where is car technology going in 2020?
As 5G work has started for many installers and marketers, the the researchers are already thinking about the nest step Beyond 5G chips. They are already planning technologies that could enable high-speed wireless devices beyond the 5G standard.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Uusin brittiraportti: Huawein heikko koodi on tietoturvaongelma
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11235-uusin-brittiraportti-huawein-heikko-koodi-on-tietoturvaongelma
HCSEC eli Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre on Huawein oma, jo yhdeksän vuotta Iso-Britanniassa toiminut yksikkö. Sen tehtävä on valvoa ja edistää Huawein tuotteiden laatua ja tietoturvaa brittioperaattoreiden käytössä. Nyt HCSEC on julkistanu kuudennen arvionsa.
Arvion mukaan Huawein verkkolaitteiden koodissa on edelleen vakavia puutteita. Tutkimuksessa viimeien vuoden aikana löytyi merkkejä huonoista koodauskäytännöistä. Raportin mukaan Huawei ei näytä täyttävän omia sisäisisä koodauksen sääntöjään.
Vaikka moniin aiemmin havaittuihin ongelmiin onkin tehty parannuksia, vuoden 2019 aikana HCSEC havaitsi useita kriittisisä haavoittuvuuksia Huawein reitittimissä. Esimerkiksi protokollan käsittelyssä oli heikkolaatuista koodia ja laitteissa oli vanhentuneita käyttöjärjestelmiä.
Ulkoinen RTOS eli reaaliaikakäyttöjärjestelmä oli korvattu Huawein omalla, Linux-pohjaisella RTOSilla.
Englantilaisten operaattorien verkoissa on HCSEC-raportin mukaan silti edelleen paljon piirikortteja, joissa on vanhentuneita komponentteja ja vanhentuneita RTOS-käyttöjärjestelmiä. Myöskään oman RTOS:n ylläpito ja päivitysohjelmaa ei ole NCSC:n mukaan laadittu kestävällä tavalla.
Huaweilla on käynnistetty jättimäinen projekti (2 miljardia dollaria viiden vuoden aikana), jossa yhtiön ohjelmistokehityksen prosessi uudistetaan vastaamaan nykyaikaisia vaatimuksia.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokian 5G-puhelin: erinomainen näyttö ja akkukesto, mutta muutama kysymysmerkki
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11234-nokian-5g-puhelin-erinomainen-naytto-ja-akkukesto-mutta-muutama-kysymysmerkki
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2020/10/06/nokia-lisaa-panoksia-reefshark-piirien-kehitykseen/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Onko alle 400 euron 5g-puhelin hyvä ostos? Testissä salamastartin saanut OnePlus Nord
https://www.is.fi/digitoday/testit/art-2000006656637.html
Kauppoihin alkaa tulla keskihintaisia 5g-puhelimia. Testasimme Suomessa tukevan aseman saaneen OnePlussan Nordin.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia ja Tampereen yliopisto kehittämään yhdessä 5G-piirejä
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11241-nokia-ja-tampereen-yliopisto-kehittamaan-yhdessa-5g-piireja
Etusivu > Uutinen > Nokia lisää panoksia ReefShark-piirien kehitykseen
Nokia lisää panoksia ReefShark-piirien kehitykseen
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2020/10/06/nokia-lisaa-panoksia-reefshark-piirien-kehitykseen/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Security of 5G: “We must not surrender our national security for the sake of short-term technological development”
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/24/defence-committee/news/119865/the-security-of-5g-we-must-not-surrender-our-national-security-for-the-sake-of-shortterm-technological-development/
The Defence Committee publishes its report “The Security of 5G”. The report finds that the development of 5G will increase our dependency on mobile connectivity, opening the UK up to security risks such as espionage, sabotage or system failure. The report makes a number of recommendations including on the following topics.
A clear conclusion from the Committee was that the UK vendor market for 5G kit is not diverse enough. The Government should work with mobile network operators to bring in new vendors to the UK, for example Samsung or NEC, as well as encouraging the development of industrial capability in the UK. In addition to this, OpenRAN presents an opportunity to move away from the current consolidated vendor environment to one in which operators no longer have to consider which vendor to source from. The UK Government and mobile service operators should continue investment in OpenRAN technology and work to make the UK a global leader in both technological development and production.
The risks of Huawei
Our inquiry found that there is clear evidence of collusion between Huawei and the Chinese state, which supports the decision to remove them from the UK’s networks.
The designation of Huawei as a high-risk vendor by the UK Government is appropriate and completely justified with the correct steps being taken to remove them from the UK’s 5G. In the meantime, however, the Committee is content that Huawei has been, and continues to be, sufficiently distanced from sensitive defence and national security sites.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, said:
“Protecting the public and preserving our nation’s security are amongst the principle responsibilities of Government. The decision to embed a technology that compromises this would constitute a gross dereliction of these duties.
The West must urgently unite to advance a counterweight to China’s tech dominance.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Design and verify 5G systems, part 1
https://www.edn.com/design-and-verify-5g-systems-part-1/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=link&utm_medium=EDNAnalog-20201008
Tomi Engdahl says:
5G will finally get its U.S. closeup with the expected debut of Apple Inc’s next iPhone on Tuesday. But the blazing speeds promised will not materialize for most people.
iPhone 12 to offer 5G speeds U.S. networks can’t deliver
https://cybernews.com/news/iphone-12-to-offer-5g-speeds-u-s-networks-cant-deliver/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=rm&utm_content=iphone_12_5g&fbclid=IwAR2fOndnQTRvAL8o_x_pC0w85LKx__bPRL2vtW7jiakR-J5NFuM8uYTmdRo
5G will finally get its U.S. closeup with the expected debut of Apple Inc’s next iPhone on Tuesday. But the blazing speeds promised will not materialize for most people.
The device, dubbed the iPhone 12 by analysts, can tap into 5G, or fifth generation wireless technology, that theoretically operates as much as 10 to 20 times faster than current 4G wireless networks.
Using the next iPhone or any 5G enabled device on today’s network, however, will be “like having a Ferrari … but using it in your local village and you can’t drive to up to 200 miles per hour, simply because the roads cannot maintain those speeds,” explained Boris Metodiev, associate director of research firm Strategy Analytics.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://semiengineering.com/the-quest-to-make-5g-systems-reliable/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Enabling 5G Small Cells with Efficient Power Solutions
Millions of 5G small cells are what make a 5G network tick. Companies have started developing 5G small-cell systems to enable this new standard, and those systems will need efficient power supplies.
https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/semiconductors/article/21144115/enabling-5g-small-cells-with-efficient-power-solutions?utm_source=RF+MWRF+Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS201008072&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Finally Joins The 5G Party
https://www.eetimes.com/apple-finally-joins-the-5g-party/
In its second round of announcements in less than a month, Apple introduced a new HomePod Mini smart speaker and its first lineup of 5G phones that range from the iPhone 12 mini to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Breaking it down to the technology level, this included a new intercom app, new OLED displays, a lidar sensor, and the new A14 Bionic mobile SoC.
The real interest is in the new lineup of iPhones. The iPhone 12 series are the first 5G phones. In conjunction with Verizon, Apple declared that “5G has finally arrived.” I hate to break the news, but the first 5G NR specification was ratified in 2018 and the wave of 5G phones began in early 2019. But we are happy to welcome Apple to the party. If you recall, Apple was relying solely on Intel modems during this time and Intel was late in delivering a 5G modem. At the same time, Apple was feuding (to put it mildly) with Qualcomm. Since the resolution of hostilities, Apple has shifted development of 5G iPhones to using Qualcomm modems and has acquired Intel’s modem assets to develop its own modems, but these will likely not be available for several more generations of iPhones. By shifting to Qualcomm, not only was Apple able to introduce an entire line of 5G phones, but the company also claims to have the highest combination of frequency support for the broadest global use — proving that the two companies are much better when they work together.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia: 5G tuo 8000 miljardia dollaria kasvua
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11260-nokia-5g-tuo-8000-miljardia-dollaria-kasvua
Nokia on julkaissut laajan kansainvälisen tutkimuksen koskien yritysten 5G-valmiuksia. Tutkimuksen mukaan 5G-teknologiaa hyödyntävillä teollisuudenaloilla on potentiaalia kasvattaa globaalia bruttokansantuotetta kahdeksalla biljoonalla dollarilla vuoteen 2030 mennessä.
Kahdeksalla avainmarkkinalla toteutetun Nokia 5G Business Readiness -raportin mukaan 5G-teknologiaa hyödyntävillä aloilla on valtava potentiaali globaalin talouden rakentajina. Vaikka yritysten investoinnit 5G:hen ovat kansainvälisesti vahvassa kasvussa, niin 5G:n täydestä potentiaalista on monissa yrityksissä hyödynnetty vasta murto-osa.
Raportin mukaan koronapandemia tulee kasvattamaan 5G:n arvonluontimahdollisuuksia ja nopeuttamaan digitalisaatiota erityisesti digitalisaation jälkijunassa tulevilla toimialoilla.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2020/10/14/markkinoiden-pienin-5g-puhelin-applen-a14-jattipiirilla/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Joe Rossignol / MacRumors:
Support for high-frequency mmWave 5G bands in the iPhone 12 lineup is limited to models sold in the US, with models sold outside US limited to sub-6GHz bands — As expected, the entire iPhone 12 lineup is compatible with faster 5G networks, but Apple’s website confirms that support …
iPhone 12 Lineup’s mmWave 5G Support Limited to the United States
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/10/13/iphone-12-mmwave-us-only/?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
As expected, the entire iPhone 12 lineup is compatible with faster 5G networks, but Apple’s website confirms that support for high-frequency mmWave bands is limited to models sold in the United States. This includes compatibility with Verizon’s new 5G Ultra Wideband network, which as of today is available in 55 cities across the country.
Tim Hardwick / MacRumors:
Apple debuts $999 6.1″ iPhone 12 Pro and $1,099 6.7″ iPhone 12 Pro Max with flat-edge design, 5G, LiDAR, three rear cameras with 5x zoom, and 128GB base storage — Apple today unveiled the new 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max at its pre-recorded “Hi, Speed” digital event.
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/10/13/apple-unveils-iphone-12-pro-and-pro-max/?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Google Pixel 4a 5G review: a strong mid-range handset with great battery, screen, and camera, but no wireless charging and mmWave 5G makes it too expensive — The 5G is nice, but the improved processor matters more — The Google Pixel 4A 5G is a good phone for reasons that have almost nothing to do with the “5G” in the name.
https://www.theverge.com/21514296/google-pixel-4a-5g-review-camera-speed-video?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Chris Velazco / Engadget:
Google Pixel 5 review: Android 11 is clean and clever, long battery life, but the Pixel line’s camera performance has stagnated and rivals offer better value
https://www.engadget.com/google-pixel-5-review-camera-performance-battery-price-150051832.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
NB-IoT and LTE-M in the context of 5G – industry white paper
https://www.ericsson.com/en/networks/trending/insights-and-reports/nb-iot-and-lte-m-in-the-context-of-5g-industry-white-paper
Highlights
The NB-IoT and LTE-M are 3GPP standardized low power, wide area (LPWA) technologies, designed for IoT applications and devices requiring low cast, long battery life, ubiquitous coverage and high system capacity.
3GPP has agreed that the NB-IoT and LTE-M technologies will continue evolving as part of the 5G specifications, meaning that mobile operators can leverage LPWA investments already today and continue as part of the 5G evolution.
NB-IoT and LTE-M will coexist in the same networks as other 5G NR components, like enhanced mobile broadband and critical communications. The long-term status of these technologies is confirmed.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cellular IoT Explained – NB-IoT vs. LTE-M vs. 5G and More
https://www.iotforall.com/cellular-iot-explained-nb-iot-vs-lte-m
There’s a lot of buzz around cellular IoT. Here are the difference between Cat-0, Cat-1, LTE-M, NB-IoT, EC-GSM, and 5G — and why you should care.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Even with 5G on the horizon, 4G LTE-M and NB-IoT devices show no signs of going obsolete
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https://www.u-blox.com/en/blogs/insights/even-5g-horizon-4g-lte-m-and-nb-iot-devices-show-no-signs-going-obsolete
Existing 4G LTE devices will continue to connect seamlessly to 4G LTE radio access networks, even as they evolve to enable the first generation of 5G networks.
When the members of the industry-led 3GPP consortium began drafting the standards that would eventually define the fifth generation of mobile communication technology, 5G, one point was clear off the bat: 5G technology would not replace 4G LTE. Instead, it would complement it, extending the potential scope of cellular technologies to a wide array of new applications targeting consumers, industrial and automotive markets, and more.
True to their commitment and wary not to stunt market growth for LTE-M and NB-IoT, 4G LTE’s two low power wide area cellular (LPWA) technologies, the 3GPP has since gone out of its way to enable the compatibility of 4G LPWA technologies with the 5G radio access networks. And with Rel 16 and Rel 17 still in the making and chipsets and devices not expected until 2023, LTE-M and NB-IoT will continue to serve their use cases well into the foreseeable future.
LTE-M and NB-IoT were defined in 3GPP Rel 13 and evolved with a handful of additional features in Rel 14. These 4G LTE air interface technologies were designed to enable an emerging class of applications that sporadically transmit small amounts of data using power constrained devices with increased coverage requirements. LTE-M and NB-IoT continue to expand their footprint, as networks around the world continue to roll out and mature.
With all the hype around the rollout of the first 5G networks, we have seen customers voice concerns over the compatibility of 4G LTE LPWA devices with this new infrastructure. Specifically, the confusion has centered on whether 3GPP Rel 13-compliant devices carry a disadvantage over those compliant with 3GPP Rel 14. Some clarification is clearly due.
Compatible with 5G radio access networks…
The first point worth making is that neither LTE-M nor NB-IoT use a 5G New Radio (NR) air interface. In fact, 5G NR, which optimizes the waveforms currently used by LTE technology, wasn’t even defined until 3GPP Rel 15, which was only frozen in 2019. Furthermore, NB-IoT and LTE-M devices that comply with 3GPP Releases 15 and 16 will continue to use a 4G LTE air interface. This is because 5G NR radio access networks offering in-band support for LTE-M and NB-IoT will only become optional (at the mobile network operator’s discretion) in 3GPP Rel 16 (expected to be completed in June 2020).
The 5G RAN can be designed to look like a 4G RAN to the LPWA devices, with 3GPP intending to make their 5G RAN compatible with legacy Rel 13-15 LPWA devices. Whether this pans out or, alternatively, the 5G RAN only works with Rel 16+ devices remains to be seen. We should have better visibility into this once 3GPP Rel 16 is frozen.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Even with 5G on the horizon, 4G LTE-M and NB-IoT devices show no signs of going obsolete
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https://www.u-blox.com/en/blogs/insights/even-5g-horizon-4g-lte-m-and-nb-iot-devices-show-no-signs-going-obsolete
Existing 4G LTE devices will continue to connect seamlessly to 4G LTE radio access networks, even as they evolve to enable the first generation of 5G networks.
When the members of the industry-led 3GPP consortium began drafting the standards that would eventually define the fifth generation of mobile communication technology, 5G, one point was clear off the bat: 5G technology would not replace 4G LTE. Instead, it would complement it, extending the potential scope of cellular technologies to a wide array of new applications targeting consumers, industrial and automotive markets, and more.
True to their commitment and wary not to stunt market growth for LTE-M and NB-IoT, 4G LTE’s two low power wide area cellular (LPWA) technologies, the 3GPP has since gone out of its way to enable the compatibility of 4G LPWA technologies with the 5G radio access networks. And with Rel 16 and Rel 17 still in the making and chipsets and devices not expected until 2023, LTE-M and NB-IoT will continue to serve their use cases well into the foreseeable future.
LTE-M and NB-IoT were defined in 3GPP Rel 13 and evolved with a handful of additional features in Rel 14. These 4G LTE air interface technologies were designed to enable an emerging class of applications that sporadically transmit small amounts of data using power constrained devices with increased coverage requirements. LTE-M and NB-IoT continue to expand their footprint, as networks around the world continue to roll out and mature.
With all the hype around the rollout of the first 5G networks, we have seen customers voice concerns over the compatibility of 4G LTE LPWA devices with this new infrastructure. Specifically, the confusion has centered on whether 3GPP Rel 13-compliant devices carry a disadvantage over those compliant with 3GPP Rel 14. Some clarification is clearly due.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/test-measurement/article/21142963/contending-in-the-5g-race-requires-the-right-test-equipment?utm_source=EG+ED+Analog+%26+Power+Source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS201002053&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11277-ericsson-lapimurtoon-5g-kayttoonotossa
Ericsson on testannut omaa taajuuksien jakotekniikkaansa (Spectrum Sharing) China Mobilen kaupallisessa verkossa. Onnistuneet 5G SA -datapuhelut osoittavat, että operaattorit voivat nopeuttaa 5G-tekniikan käyttöönottoa hyödyntämällä samoja taajuuksia eri verkkogeneraatioiden kanssa.
Ericssonin mukaan 3GPP-standardissa ei ole määritelty, miten skedulointi tapahtuu 5G- ja 4G-verkkojen välillä, eli miten taajuus kulloinkin allokoidaan tiettyyn käyttöön. Tämän takia Ericsson on antanut tekniikkansa 3GPP:n käyttöön.
Yhtiö on lisäksi kehittänyt skedulointitekniikan, jolla tukiasema saadaan siirtymään LTE:stä 5G-yhteyteen yhdessä millisekunnissa.
Ericssonin taajuuksienjako on ollut kaupallisesti tarjolla operaattoreille helmikuusta lähtien. Onnistuneet SA 5G -datapuhelut China Telecomin 2,1 gigahertsin verossa osoittavat, että tekniikkaa voidaan käyttää tämän ”todellisen” 5G:n nopeampaan käyttöönottoon.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11271-nokia-niittaa-nyt-huawein-satoa
Nyt Nokia raportoi tiheään uusista sopimuksista, jotka aiemmin olisivat todennäköisesti menneet Huaweille.
Viime kuussa BT kertoi, että Nokian tukiasemia ryhdytään asentamaan Huawein laitteiden tilalle. Brittien saarella tämä nojaa suoraan hallituksen päätökseen evätä Huawein rauta 5G-verkkojen kriittisistä osista. Tmä tarkoittaa core-verkkoa kokonaan ja merkittävää osaa radioverkosta.
Belgiassa sekä Orange että Promixus ilmoittivat, että Huawein laitteita eri verkkogeneraatioissa ryhdytään korvaamaan Nokian ja Ericssonin laitteilla. Tänään Nokia ilmoitti, että se laajentaa uusiseelantilaisen Sparkin 5G-verkkoa Aucklandissa. Uusi-Seelanti kuuluu toki niihin maihin, jotka estivät Huawein käytön 5G-verkoissaan ensimmäisten joukossa.
Näyttää selvältä, että Trumpin hallinnon pyrkimys kutistaa Huawein kansainvälistä verkkoliiketoimintaa tuottaa tulosta. Huawei on edelleen suurin verkkolaitetoimittaja, mutta jatkossa tämä perustuu ennen kaikkea sen vahvaan asemaan Kiinan jättimäisillä markkinoilla.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Quest To Make 5G Systems Reliable
Experts at the Table: Where are the challenges and what can be done to solve them.
https://semiengineering.com/the-quest-to-make-5g-systems-reliable/
SE: How do we measure the reliability of 5G chips and systems, both from the base station and the receiving device side?
Lord: To make a good reliable device, whether it’s 5G or even 4G, or memory or application processors, it really comes down to the quality of the device models. Before designing any sort of IC, you need to have the building blocks. That includes a process design kit, which is made up of models and transistors, inductors, capacitors, and interconnects, but you can only do that correctly if the models for those devices are accurate. The role of the SPICE modeling lab or the device modeling team is to create those models. That requires lots of different types of measurements, whether it’s an I-V (current-voltage) curve, C-V (capacitance-voltage) curves, S- parameter (scattering parameter) measurements, local measurements. From that data they can extract the models, create databases of what a transistor looks like in that process, and then the IC designer can use them. The more accurate that model is, the more likelihood the IC is going to work the first time, or second time at least — and the more likely that it’s going to be a reliable chip when it goes into the system, whether it’s the handset or the base station, and that the whole system works. So it’s really about the basics of the transistor to make sure they’re accurate.
Brousard: Before a chip makes it into the field, there’s still a long voyage it has to make through the production cycles. It’s paramount to get the production, the testing, and the qualification of this chip right, and to have the best starting point once out in the field. Up and coming 5G applications will not tolerate failure. This is not just purely about smart phones anymore. For instance, 5G applications in autonomous vehicles are much less failure-tolerant. Best-known practices for producing electronic devices, be it testing and qualification at the chip level, the system level, or a system-of-systems level, historically worked well enough. But once we started getting down to 7nm, 5nm, and soon-to-be 3nm technologies, we needed to rethink how we take these to the next level.
Tomi Engdahl says:
RF-Capable Packaging Verified for 5G and IoT Semiconductor Devices
https://www.mwrf.com/materials/article/21143823/rfcapable-packaging-verified-for-5g-and-iot-semiconductor-devices?utm_source=RF+MWRF+Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS201008073&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
A trio of companies characterizes open-molded plastic packaging targeted for millimeter-wave applications.
The quad flat no-leads (QFN) package is a low-cost, lead frame-based package that’s very common in the semiconductor industry. QFN packages have small footprints and adapt well to most silicon devices, so long as they’re not overly complex with hundreds or thousands of ball or wire-bond leads.
Quik-Pak wanted to take the QFN package to a new level with an air-cavity version. Think of a ceramic package with silicon within, attached to a lead frame and surrounded by air, but in a plastic version with a copper lead frame and a lid over the device. Without epoxy potting material to be stripped away, such a package lends itself to silicon debugging, as well as to high-volume production.
To that end, Quik-Pak, together with Agile Microwave Technology (AgileMwT) and OMMIC SA, has completed RF characterization of its new line of JEDEC-compliant, air-cavity QFN packages. The Quik-Pak open-molded plastic packages (OmPP) are RF-capable to frequencies of 43 GHz, which will help speed availability of semiconductor devices for 5G and internet of things (IoT) millimeter-wave applications.
Tomi Engdahl says:
UK 5G/Satellite Lab to Test Autonomous Vehicles
Supported by the European Space Agency and telecom provider O2, the Darwin SatCom Lab will leverage both 5G and satellite communications.
https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/automotive/article/21144363/uk-5gsatellite-lab-to-test-autonomous-vehicles?utm_source=EG+ED+Auto+Electronics&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS201008094&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
The Darwin SatCom Lab has become the UK’s first commercial laboratory to test driverless cars. Based at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, which is also home to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications, it will allow companies to put self-driving car theories into practice and test their ideas using connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).
Employing both 5G and satellite communications, companies can test proofs of concept using two Renault TWIZY two-seat electric cars. Telecom company O2 converted them into CAVs, fitting them with LiDAR sensors so that they can be controlled from the lab and driven around the Harwell Campus.
The laboratory for 5G and satellite communications is part of Project Darwin, supported by the ESA and O2.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Raspberry Pi: Bring 5G and GPS connectivity to the popular single-board computer with a Snapdragon X55-based HAT
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Raspberry-Pi-Bring-5G-and-GPS-connectivity-to-the-popular-single-board-computer-with-a-Snapdragon-X55-based-HAT.498311.0.html
A new HAT has brought 5G and GPS connectivity to the Raspberry Pi. Designed for any single-board computer with a 40-pin header, the Waveshare SIM8200EA-M2 5G HAT supports up to Sub-6 5G. The HAT should be compatible with Android, Linux and Windows.
The Waveshare SIM8200EA-M2 5G HAT may look unsightly, but it packs a lot of features. Waveshare advertises its SIM8200EA-M2 HAT for the Raspberry Pi, but it will work with any single-board computer (SBC) that has a 40-pin header. The company has based the HAT on the Snapdragon X55 platform, found in the Snapdragon 855, allowing it to support 5G, 4G and 3G connections.
https://www.waveshare.com/sim8200ea-m2-5g-hat.htm
Tomi Engdahl says:
EU countries sound alarm about growing anti-5G movement
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-needs-plan-to-counter-anti-5g-movement-capitals-say/
Brussels needs to send a ‘clear and loud message’ about the benefits of the technology, 15 countries tell EU chiefs.
A growing anti-5G movement is getting in the way of Europe’s digital ambitions, 15 capitals warned the EU Commission as they called for a robust strategy to counter concerns about the new technology.
“It is clear … that we are witnessing increasing activity of the anti-5G movement across the European Union,” the group said, adding that recent attacks on telecom infrastructure “are not only a threat to the economy of the affected member states but hinder also the ability for the European Union to meet its ambitious 5G goals.”
The group sent a letter to Commission vice presidents Margrethe Vestager and Věra Jourová as well as digital commissioner Thierry Breton late last week. The letter was initiated by Poland and backed by Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden.
Industry groups earlier this year warned of increasing pushback from protest groups on 5G rollout and even attacks including mast torchings and harassment of telecom engineers.
The opposition against the next-generation telecom technology has coalesced around Stop 5G groups on social media, which have successfully pushed some authorities to start investigating health effects from the technology. Groups have also spread wild — and wildly untrue — theories linking 5G to the spread of coronavirus in recent months.
Updated figures from telecom industry lobby group GSMA showed there had been 221 arson attacks across 18 countries globally so far, with the U.K. (87), France (50) and the Netherlands (30) being most heavily hit.
Of the 27 EU countries, 10 had seen arson attacks on telecom infrastructure.
Little evidence exists linking cell phone radiation to health problems, the World Health Organization underlines in its evaluation.
“To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies,” it said, adding that “so far, only a few studies have been carried out at the frequencies to be used by 5G.”
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, which sets global health standards on telecom technology, in March updated its guidelines to cover many 5G applications, hoping it “will help put people at ease,” its Chairman Eric van Rongen then said.
But the movement which demands further research on the issue has gained traction with politicians
“We should be able not only to provide EU citizens and local authorities with scientific research but, also, with [a] clear and loud message coming from a trusted sources,” they wrote, adding “a broad and inclusive debate will ultimately contribute to creating trust.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2020/10/16/nokian-sisatukiasemiin-qualcommin-5g-ran-tekniikkaa/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ruotsi kieltää Huawein laitteiden käytön 5G-verkossa – ”Kiina yksi suurimmista Ruotsiin kohdistuvista uhkista”
https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/937cfc29-cc04-49d5-a233-18a0982d659d
Ruotsi liittyi keskiviikkona niiden maiden joukkoon, jotka kieltävät kiinalaisyritys Huawein laitteiden käytön 5G-verkon rakentamisessa. Myös toisen kiinalaisyrityksen, ZTE:n, teknologia kielletään. Asiasta kertoo Dagens Nyheter.
Asiasta päätti Ruotsin posti- ja tietoliikennevirasto hyväksyessään osallistujia ensi kuussa alkavaan tarjouskilpailuun.
– 5G-verkon rakentaminen tavalla, joka suojaa Ruotsin turvallisuutta, edistää myös yhteiskunnan digitalisoitumista entisestään. Läheinen yhteistyömme puolustusvoimien ja turvallisuuspoliisin kanssa auttaa varmistamaan tämän, viraston johtaja Dan Sjöblom sanoo tiedotteessa.
Eurooppalaiset maat ovat arvioineet uudelleen kiinalaisyritysten roolia tietoverkoissa sen jälkeen, kun Yhdysvallat on painostanut siihen. USA:n mukaan kiinalaisyritykset vaarantavat kansallisen turvallisuuden muun muassa siksi, että Kiinan lakien mukaan yritysten ja yksityishenkilöiden tulee auttaa Kiinaa tiedustelutiedon hankinnassa. Asiasta kertoo Reuters.
Ruotsin turvallisuuspalvelu Säpo on kutsunut Kiinaa ”yhdeksi suurimmista Ruotsiin kohdistuvista uhkista”.
5G-laitteita valmistavat suomalainen Nokia ja ruotsalainen Ericsson todennäköisesti hyötyvät päätöksestä.
Tomi Engdahl says:
O-RAN is transforming #5G network design and bringing new challenges for test #engineers Keysight
O-RAN is transforming 5G network design and component interoperability
https://www.edn.com/o-ran-is-transforming-5g-network-design-and-component-interoperability/?utm_content=buffer087f3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=edn_facebook&utm_campaign=buffer
Open radio access network (O-RAN) enables the transformation and virtualization of the RAN for 5G. It brings significant opportunities to network operators, but also spurs new challenges for test engineers. There are many questions about O-RAN in the minds of wireless engineers. This article will explain why the wireless communications industry needs O-RAN, how it works, and what challenges lie ahead.
What’s O-RAN?
First off, let’s define O-RAN. It is not a technology per se, but an operator-led alliance formed in February 2018 by five global operators with the desire to migrate away from physical purpose-built hardware to virtual cloud-based software implementations. By specifying discrete components and standardizing interfaces, the alliance enables hosting on white-box hardware and opens the door for operators to work with a plethora of vendors.
They can work directly with RF contract manufacturers, companies that specialize in graphics processing units (GPUs) and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and even virtual cloud infrastructure providers. With O-RAN, operators can mix and match components and work with specialists to create unique solutions.
The O-RAN Alliance provides the specifications, reference architecture, and interfaces between the RAN components that include the radio unit (O-RU), the distributed unit (O-DU), and the centralized unit (O-CU).
5G needs O-RAN
Now that we’ve defined O-RAN, let’s dive a bit deeper into why the industry needs it. The answer is simple: more data is coming with 5G, which will place significant demands on the front-haul portion of the RAN infrastructure.
In 4G LTE, a centralized baseband unit (BBU) is connected to a remote radio head (RRH) through a common public radio interface (CPRI). The data rate between the BBU and the RRH was sufficient because of the total bandwidth requirements and few antennas. However, in 5G, a lot more data needs to go back and forth.
Two solutions have emerged to address the 5G front-haul challenge: high-level split (HLS) and low-level split (LLS). O-RAN involves both HLS and LLS and the interfaces are standardized. Operators can use different vendors for the CUs, DUs, or RUs. The components are much more interoperable and the protocols are clearly defined.
Still, 5G will drive a bandwidth explosion in the front-haul. The LTE channels typically only have 10 or 20 MHz of bandwidth. The CPRI between the BBU and the RRH means line rates ranging from 600 to 10 Mbps, depending on the bandwidth and the number of MIMO channels. A single 10-MHz bandwidth channel translates into a line rate of 614 Mbps, eight 10-MHz channels mean about 5 Gbps, and 10 20-MHz channels slightly more than 10 Gbps. CPRI can easily address these requirements, which is why this interface is prominent between the BBU and the RRH in LTE networks.
The situation is drastically different with 5G. Bandwidth increases to 100 MHz or more and the number of antennas grows to eight in many cases, which translates into line rates in the 28 Gbps range between the RU and the BU. Greater bandwidths such as 500 MHz means more than 140 Gbps. At such bandwidth, massive MIMO increases the line rate to 2 Tbps, which is simply untenable over CPRI. Functional splits address this challenge.
How functional splits work
How do the functional splits address this problem in practice? Typically, the distance between the RUs and the DUs is about 10 km, based on very low latency requirements for transporting packets back and forth between the two. An enhanced CPRI (eCPRI) interface reduces the bandwidth requirements by moving all the physical layer functionality to the RUs.
RU complexity increases drastically, though. Option 8 is a split option that provides an alternative by putting all the physical layer (PHY) functionality into the DUs, only keeping the antennas at the edge. This is like the LTE architecture with connectivity through a CPRI interface.
As mentioned earlier, the bandwidth requirements increase significantly with 5G. Even a nominal scenario requiring 200 or 300 Gb of transport between the DUs and RUs is untenable. That’s where Option 7.2 comes in. This split option provides an optimal split between the DUs and RUs. The PHY is broken into low-PHY and high-PHY; low-PHY stays in the RUs and high-PHY in the DUs. As a result, the bandwidth required on the front-haul interface is about 20 Gb for 100 MHz bandwidth with some MIMO capabilities.
Moving from the DUs to the CU typically means an upper layer split or HLS—Option 2. Processor-intensive functionality moves to the CU while the remaining part of the stack, such as the media access control (MAC) and radio link control (RLC) layers, along with the high-PHY, stay in the DU. You can split at the control level with an interface between the DU and the CU. The data requirements are about 100 Gb between the DU and CU and there is a slightly higher latency requirement in the milli-second range. The distance requirement between the CU and the DU is about 80 km.
Other implementation challenges
Let’s not forget about the backhaul interface, the connection point for the CU to either the 4G network in the case of non-standalone (NSA) deployments or the 5G core network in standalone (SA) implementations. This interface has a much higher distance requirement—about 200 km—and less stringent latency needs—40 ms.
What does this all mean from a test perspective? In short, it means that interoperability will be a significant challenge as O-RAN moves from specifications to implementation and deployment. The components not only need to interoperate, but also conform to the specifications.
Currently, many engineers are struggling with the device under test (DUT). Very few are adept at both RF and Ethernet, and they are interpreting the specifications differently, leading to different implementations.
Engineers working on O-RUs are dealing with timing issues and often bypass the M-plane. They are also facing clocking and synchronization challenges between the O-RU and the O-DU.
The O-CU challenges, meanwhile, revolve around scalability, such as how many DUs or UEs can each CU support and at how much throughput. In addition, the separation of the control and user planes of the central unit—Cu-UP and Cu-CP—requires coordination over the E1 interface.
While these challenges can be qualified as early teething problems that will be solved over time, they can have severe consequences. The DU will not proceed if certain protocol options are missing or M-plane parameters are not met, even if they are optional. DUs are also designed to work with specific RU capabilities. A DU typically supports a certain RU category, beamforming model, and compression rate and will stop operating if there is a mismatch.
O-RAN is complex, but it is here to stay.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ruotsi rajaa kiinalaisyhtiöiden tekniikan pois 5G-verkostaan
turvallisuuspoliisin ja puolustusvoimien suosituksesta
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11603515
Ruotsi on päättänyt estää Huawein ja ZTE:n tekniikan käyttämisen maan
5G-verkkoa rakennettaessa. Kyseessä ovat kiinalaiset yhtiöt.. katso
myös https://www.is.fi/digitoday/mobiili/art-2000006675870.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Telia valitsi Nokian 5G-verkot Suomeen
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2020/10/21/telia-valitsi-nokian-5g-verkot-suomeen/
Telia ja Nokia ovat tehneet viisivuotisen sopimuksen, jolla Telia päivittää Suomen 4G-tekniikat ja rakentaa uudet 5G-verkkonsa Nokian tekniikan pohjalta. Samalla Telia ottaa käyttöön Nokian SA 5G core-verkkotekniikat käyttöön myös kaikilla markkinoillaan Pohjolassa ja Baltiassa.
Nokia toimittaa radioverkon (RAN) Telian tukiasemille 4G-verkon modernisoimiseksi ja päivittämiseksi 5G:hen.
Telia ottaa myös kaikilla markkinoillaan käyttöön Nokian uuden stand-alone 5G core-ratkaisun – 5G-verkon itsenäisen toiminnan mahdollistavat ”mobiiliverkon aivot” – joka tuottaa asiakkaille jatkossa aivan uudenlaisia mahdollisuuksia.
’’Nokia on ainoa 5G SA core- verkon toimittajamme kaikilla markkinoilla ja koko radioverkon toimittaja Suomessa’’,
TAUSTAA: Telia avasi ensimmäiset esikaupalliset 5G-verkot yhdessä Nokian kanssa Helsingissä, Vantaalla ja Oulussa syyskuussa 2018. Verkko avautui kaupalliseen käyttöön vuoden 2019 alussa. Nykyisin Telian 5G-verkko toimii Suomessa 43 paikkakunnalla.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11296-taas-uusi-5g-ennatys-5-06-gigabittia-sekunnissa
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11298-qualcomm-haluaa-vallata-5g-tukiasemat
San Diegossa päämajaansa pitävä Qualcomm dominoi Android-puhelinten piirisarjojen markkinoita, mutta nyt yhtiö haluaa laajentaa myös tukiasemiin. Virtuaalisessa 5G Summit -tapahtumassa se esitteli koko joukon uusia piirialustoja, joilla voidaan rakentaa tukiasemia.
Qualcommilla on aiemminkin ollut radioverkkojen piirejä, mutta tähän asti se on keskittynyt pieniin soluihin. Esimerkiksi Nokia ilmoitti vastikään valinneensa Qualcommin modeemit ja RF-piirit seuraavan polven pienten solujen tukiasemiinsa.
Eilen lanseeratut kolme uutta 5G RAN -alustaa ovat kuitenkin Qualcommille iso liike. Se haluaa 5G-makrotukiasemiin ja haluaa pääjohtaja Christiano Amonin eilisen puheen perusteella kaapata oman osansa noin 8 miljardin dollarin 5G-radiolaitemarkkinasta.
Tomi Engdahl says:
O-RAN is transforming #5G network design and bringing new challenges for test #engineers Keysight
https://buff.ly/3kgs93R
Tomi Engdahl says:
Autonomous vehicles, robots, and virtual reality will all benefit from 1-millisecond latencies. But to get there requires reengineering communications networks end-to-end.
Breaking the Latency Barrier
https://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom/wireless/breaking-the-latency-barrier
Recently, though, high bandwidth has begun to share the spotlight with a different metric of merit: low latency. The amount of latency varies drastically depending on how far in a network a signal travels, how many routers it passes through, whether it uses a wired or wireless connection, and so on. The typical latency in a 4G network, for example, is 50 milliseconds. Reducing latency to 10 milliseconds, as 5G and Wi-Fi are currently doing, opens the door to a whole slew of applications that high bandwidth alone cannot. With virtual-reality headsets, for example, a delay of more than about 10 milliseconds in rendering and displaying images in response to head movement is very perceptible, and it leads to a disorienting experience that is for some akin to seasickness.
Multiplayer games, autonomous vehicles, and factory robots also need extremely low latencies. Even as 5G and Wi-Fi make 10 milliseconds the new standard for latency, researchers, like my group at New York University’s NYU Wireless research center, are already working hard on another order-of-magnitude reduction, to about 1 millisecond or less.
Pushing latencies down to 1 millisecond will require reengineering every step of the communications process. In the past, engineers have ignored sources of minuscule delay because they were inconsequential to the overall latency. Now, researchers will have to develop new methods for encoding, transmitting, and routing data to shave off even the smallest sources of delay. And immutable laws of physics—specifically the speed of light—will dictate firm restrictions on what networks with 1-millisecond latencies will look like. There’s no one-size-fits-all technique that will enable these extremely low-latency networks. Only by combining solutions to all these sources of latency will it be possible to build networks where time is never wasted.
Even today, phone calls need to have an end-to-end delay of less than 150 milliseconds, or it’s difficult to converse comfortably.
Using the technology available in the 1980s, delays routinely exceeded 100 milliseconds, with the worst delays well over 1 second.
Eventually, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology supplanted circuit-switched networks, and now the last circuit switches are being phased out by providers. Since VoIP’s triumph, there have been further reductions in latency to get us into the range of tens of milliseconds.
Latencies below 1 millisecond would open up new categories of applications that have long been sought.
Robots that aren’t human controlled would also benefit from 1-millisecond latencies. Just like a person, a robot can avoid falling over or dropping something only if it reacts within a millisecond
The first issue is frame duration. A wireless access link—the link that connects a device to the larger, wired network—schedules transmissions within periodic intervals called frames. For a 4G link, the typical frame duration is 1 millisecond, so you could potentially lose that much time just waiting for your turn to transmit. But 5G has shrunk frame durations, lessening their contribution to delay.
Wi-Fi functions differently. Rather than using frames, Wi-Fi networks use random access, where a device transmits immediately and reschedules the transmission if it collides with another device’s transmission in the link. The upside is that this method has shorter delays if there is no congestion, but the delays build up quickly as more device transmissions compete for the same channel.
The latest version of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Certified 6 (based on the draft standard IEEE P802.11ax) addresses the congestion problem by introducing scheduled transmissions, just as 4G and 5G networks do.
But 5G is now tapping into millimeter waves—the frequencies above 20 gigahertz—which bring unprecedented hurdles. These frequency bands have not been used before because they typically don’t propagate as far as lower frequencies, a shortcoming that has only recently been addressed with technologies like beamforming.
There’s one final source of latency that can no longer be ignored, and it’s immutable: the speed of light. Because light travels so quickly, it used to be possible to ignore it in the presence of other, larger sources of delay. It cannot be disregarded any longer.
Moving at the speed of light, wireless communications travel about 300 kilometers per millisecond. Signals in optical fiber are even slower, at about 200 km/ms. Finally, considering that the robot would need round-trip communications below 1 millisecond, the maximum possible distance between the robot and its brain is about 100 km. And that’s ignoring every other source of possible delay.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sweden bans Huawei, ZTE from upcoming 5G networks
https://cybernews.com/news/sweden-bans-huawei-zte-from-upcoming-5g-networks/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=rm&utm_content=sweden_bans_huawei_zte&fbclid=IwAR2sr3RYllafyJRt3Gx7U319nVziW1U9v7z1-UhvVb2bFzrkPs-J8fTae0w
Swedish regulators on Tuesday banned the use of telecom equipment from China’s Huawei and ZTE in its 5G network ahead of the spectrum auction scheduled for next month.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2020/10/22/qualcomm-demosi-nopeampaa-5g-siirtoa/
Uusi maailmanluokan 5,06 Gbps:n nopeus saavutettiin käyttämällä 800 MHz:n taajuuskaistaa 28 GHz:n taajuusalueella.
Koeratkaisussa käytettiin Ericsson 5G-tukiasematekniikkaa sekä erikoisrakenteista 5G-tilaajalaitetta, joka oli varustettu Qualcommin QTM535 mmWave-antennimoduulilla ja Snapdragon X60 5G Modem-RF -piiriratkaisulla
Qualcomm aikoo jatkaa edelleen nopeuskokeilujaan. Tavoite on päästä jopa 10 gigabitin sekuntinopeuteen ja alle viiden millisekunnin vasteaikaan.
Tomi Engdahl says:
5G War: Rigging the Game
https://www.eetimes.com/5g-war-rigging-the-game/
Recently, I have been looking at the emergence of Department of Defense’ funding programs that were directed at advanced packaging for heterogeneous integration. As Intel was a major recipient, the idea of using Intel digital processing power makes sense, especially when it’s coupled with their packaging innovations to integrate peripheral chiplets for unexamined functions.
If we consider one of the hottest technology trends, 5G connectivity is a logical add-on to the back-end processing when offered by the advanced system-in-package concept. What about the military? There are certainly opportunities to leverage both technologies. Alas intelligent sensors on 5G meshes needs more thought than a Friday afternoon can afford.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Open RAN Capex Forecasts Soar
https://www.eetimes.com/open-ran-capex-forecasts-soar/
The Open RAN bandwagon becomes more crowded by the week.
As reported, Mavenir, the Texas-based radio access networking vendor, has filed for an IPO after reporting record revenues.
On the strength of these and other 5G-related moves, market trackers are throwing out some mighty big numbers in their Open RAN capex forecasts. The latest comes from U.K.-based Rethink Technology Research, which predicts Open RAN deployments will account for 58 percent of radio access network capital spending. That works out to $32.3 billion in investments by 2026.
“Despite overhype and uncertainty over which [5G] standards will prevail,” the market tracker continues, Open RAN will make its way into 65 percent of all radio access sites during the same period.
Small cell installations, especially “greenfield” rollouts are expected to accelerate fastest, Rethink said, reinforcing what colleague John Walko reports from other market analysts. Mavenir is a supplier to two early 5G greenfield deployments, Japanese operator Rakuten Mobile and Dish Network in the U.S.
Walko also reported that ABI research pegs capex for Open RAN radio installations at $40.7 billion by 2026. Perhaps the final number will be somewhere in between the ABI and Rethink forecasts.
For its part, Rethink said a worst case for scenario for Open RAN installations would still total 24 million cell sites through the forecast period. The analyst’s best-case forecast is 44 million units.
“Most operators will introduce open interfaces initially to secondary or small cell networks, or to their front-haul links only,” said Caroline Gabriel, Rethink’s research director. “Alternatively, they will specify open RAN support in [solicitations] but choose a single vendor in the first instance at least.”
As for the jockeying among proposed 5G radio access standards, Gabriel cites growing opposition to Nokia-backed O-RAN spec. Chief competitors include the SD-RAN project launched in August by the Open Networking Foundation.
Either way, nearly all observers agree the stakes are growing as the deployment of 5G wireless networks accelerates.
“There will be increasing cellular network roll-out[s] by non-traditional parties such as enterprises themselves, private network operators, neutral hosts [and] cloud providers,” a Rethink study notes.
Indeed, private 5G networks are likely to emerge as part of industrial IoT deployments. Meanwhile, data center operations will tap into low-latency, high-bandwidth connections to handle huge data volumes needed to train machine learning models—fast becoming the dominant workload in enterprise data centers.
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT Nordic: 5G leikkaa kaapelit tehtaista
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11305-iot-nordic-5g-leikkaa-kaapelit-tehtaista
IoT Nordic -tapahtuma on aiemmin kerännyt bisnespäättäjiä Helsingin Suvilahteen, mutta tänä vuonna tapahtuma järjestettiin nykytyylin mukaisesti virtuaalisena. Esillä oli esimerkiksi Teollisuus 4.0, jossa 5G-yhteydet tulevat leikkaamaan miljoonat ja miljoonat kaapelit tuotantolinjoilta.
Ericssonin teollisuusprojekteista vastaava Erik Josefsson muistutti, että 95 prosenttia kaikista tehtaiden liitännöistä on edelleen langallisia. – Kun antureita tulee kymmeniä tai satoja yhdelle neliömetrille, langallinen liitäntä ei ole enää vakaa eikä käytännöllinen.
Anturi voidaan yhdistää verkkoon langattomasti monella tapaa. Tarjolla on esimerkiksi lisensoimattomilla taajuuksilla toimivat wifi, lora, zigbee ja bluetooth, mutta niillä on rasituksenaan omat rajoituksensa. – Lisensoimattomilla taajuuksilla liikenne tukkii verkot aina nopeasti. Lisensoiduilla mobiilitaajuuksilla yhteys voidaan taata.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Josefsson muistutti, että 5G on erittäin vakaa: vaikka verkkoon lisää laitteita, yhteys ei petä. Kyse on myös täysin turvallisesta linkistä, jossa on SIM-tason salaus. Parhaimmillaan latenssi putoaa tehtaan 5G-verkossa lähelle millisekuntia, mikä vastaa kaikkiin teollisuuden vaatimuksiin.
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11305-iot-nordic-5g-leikkaa-kaapelit-tehtaista
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia toimittaa toisen polven 5G-verkon saksalaisyliopistolle
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11302-nokia-toimittaa-toisen-polven-5g-verkon-saksalaisyliopistolle
Nokia kertoi tänään, että se toimittaa yhdessä Smart Mobile Labs AG:n kanssa 5G SA- eli toisen polven itsenäisen 5G-verkon Kaiserslauternin teknisen yliopiston (TUK) kampukselle. Verkko tulee tutkimuskäyttöön.
Saksan liikenneministeriö on valinnut Smart Mobile Labsin toteuttamaan 5G-verkot kaikkiaan viiteen saksalaisyliopistoon. TUK-hanke on osa 5G-Kaiserslautern -tutkimusprojektia.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ruotsin päätös voi merkitä ongelmia Ericssonille
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11300-ruotsin-paatos-voi-merkita-ongelmia-ericssonille
Ruotsi posti- ja televiranomainen PTS ilmoitti eilen, että maan 5G-verkkojen midband-taajuuskisaan voivat osallistua vain sellaiset operaattorit, jotka eivät käytä kiinalaisia laitteita verkoissaan. Päätöksellä voi olla arvaamattomia vaikutuksia Ericssonin kannalta
Huawei kommentoi tänään itse Ruotsin päätöstä. Huawei Suomen viestintä- ja yhteiskuntasuhdejohtaja Hennariikka Andersson huomauttaa, että teleliikenneliiketoiminnassa on myös hyvä muistaa se, että operaattorit ja digitaaliset palveluntarjoajat keräävät, hallitsevat, säilyttävät ja analysoivat dataa. Sen sijaan 5G-verkkolaitevalmistajilla, esimerkiksi Huaweilla, ei ole pääsyä näihin datavarastoihin. Huawei ei omista 5G-verkkojen tai palveluiden kryptausavaimia. Kiinan lainsäädäntö ei myöskään velvoita laitevalmistajia auttamaan Kiinan valtiota tiedustelutiedon hankinnassa.
Kiinan ulkoministeriö on jo vaatinut Ruotsia perumaan eilisen päätöksensä.
Mikäli näin ei tehdä, päätöksellä on negatiivisia seurauksia ruotsalaisten yritysten liiketoiminnalle Kiinassa.
Tämä on merkittävä uhkaus. Kiina on maailman suurin mobiilimarkkina ja tällä hetkellä selvästi suurin 5G-markkina maailmassa.
Tänään Ericsson ilmoitti kolmannen neljänneksen tuloslukunsa. Liikevaihto kasvoi seitsemän prosenttia 57,5 miljardiin kruunuun. Kasvu perustui käytännössä kokonaan hyvään kehitykseen Kiinan markkinoilla.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Harakka: Suomi ei ole kieltämässä Huawein tuotteita tietoverkoista – “Uusi 5G-laki maailman tiukin ilman laitetoimittajien nimeämistäkin”
Ruotsi on päättänyt estää Huawein tekniikan käyttämisen maan 5G-verkon rakentamisessa.
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11607121
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2020/10/23/qualcommilta-kolme-5g-ran-tukiasemapiiria/
Tomi Engdahl says:
China reveals audit of 320,000 local apps, with 34 booted from app stores and hundreds of devs warned they could suffer same fate
Privacy crackdown in the land of ubiquitous surveillance, where 5G now blankets all cities
https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/23/china_app_privacy_review/
The press conference also revealed that China has installed 690,000 5G base stations, which in a complete surprise is well ahead of national targets that called for 500,000 such installations this year.
That number of base stations means that officials declared China’s prefectures and cities are now covered by 5G.
The ministry also said that 108 million 5G handsets shipped in China between January and September, and that the nation now has 160 million devices on 5G networks. Those numbers seem plausible, as the nation’s largest carrier, China Mobile, earlier this week told the Hong Kong Stock Exchange [PDF] that it has secured 114 million 5G subscribers (and has another 770 million 4G customers).
Officials also hailed the performance of China’s internet during lockdown, noting that even as traffic surged by 70 percent in the city of Wuhan local ISPs did not need to restrict access to high definition video as happened in many western nations.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kiina uhkaa kostaa ruotsalaisyrityksille, ellei Ruotsi peru 5g-päätöstään
Kiinan ulkoministeriön mukaan ruotsalaisille yrityksille Kiinassa voi tulla vaikeuksia, jos Ruotsi ei peru päätöstä kieltää ZTE:n ja Huawein laitteiden käyttö 5g-verkoissa.
https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000006677285.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bulgaria, Kosovo, North Macedonia Join U.S. Initiative To Block Chinese Equipment In 5G Network
https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-kosovo-north-macedonia-join-us-initiative-to-block-chinese-equipment-in-5g-network/30909512.html
Bulgaria, Kosovo, and North Macedonia have signed declarations with the United States on the security of 5G wireless communications networks under which they committed to protect their networks from “untrusted” Chinese tech companies such as Huawei.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took part in separate signing ceremonies on October 23 by videoconference from the State Department. The move makes Bulgaria, Kosovo, and North Macedonia members of Washington’s so-called Clean Network initiative aimed at ensuring trustworthy companies build 5G networks
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bulgaria signs 5G deal with US excluding Chinese firms
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/bulgaria-signs-5g-deal-with-us-excluding-chinese-firms/