Mobile World Live

Brazil offers Huawei hope

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 18:30:34 GMT

Local media reported Brazil reversed course on a plan to exclude Huawei equipment from networks in the country, with cost concerns and a lack of support for the move driving President Jair Bolsonaro to backtrack. Vice President Hamilton Mourao told newspaper Estadao all companies which comply with Brazil’s data sovereignty and privacy regulations would be allowed to offer 5G equipment. Last month, Reuters reported Bolsonaro was seeking to ban use of Huawei equipment through any legal means possible ahead of a 5G spectrum auction scheduled to take place later this year. Estadao noted government officials and the telecoms industry warned a ban would carry costs in the billions of dollars, adding Bolsonaro was also losing key support for the plan with the impending departure of US President Donald Trump. US officials pressured Brazilian operators [1] to drop Huawei equipment last year, offering to help fund the purchase of replacements from Ericsson and Nokia. The nation also joined a US-led Clean Networks campaign [2], widely regarded as targeting Huawei’s exclusion. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/us-moves-to-cut-huawei-out-of-brazilian-5g [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/brazil-backs-us-transparent-5g-networks-call

Bouygues looks to displace SFR by 2026

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:39:17 GMT

Bouygues Telecom outlined ambitions to establish itself as France’s second-largest mobile operator by 2026, as part of an aggressive growth strategy across its business over the next five years. In a plan named Ambition 2026 presented at its Capital Markets Day, Bouygues Telecom put the target on SFR, the country’s second-largest operator by mobile connections at end Q4 2020 based on GSMA Intelligence figures, stating it wanted to boost coverage from around 28,000 mobile sites in 2023, to 35,000 in 2025. Bouygues Telecom also plans to quadruple its network capacity by 2026. To achieve this, the operator will look to use a recent acquisition of EIT, an alternative provider offering internet, TV and MVNO services, which gave it an additional 2 million customers. It also said it would benefit from an extended distribution network through a long-term partnership with French bank Credit Mutuel, which will distribute the operator’s fixed and mobile products, and services in more than 4,200 bank branches. But GSMA Intelligence data showed Bouygues Telecom has something of a mountain to climb to get the coveted second spot: at end-Q4 2020, it sat in fourth place on 12.2 million mobile connections, compared with Iliad (13.5 million), SFR (17.7 million) and Orange (23.6 million). Expansion In a statement outlining its plan, Bouygues Telecom explained it believes the French market was primed for a new phase of growth between 2021 and 2026, driven by 5G, fibre and a growing need for connectivity across businesses and consumers which has been amplified by the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. “Mobile use increased 1.5-times between 2018 and 2020 and is likely to double between 2020 and 2023 and double again between 2023 and 2026. In this context, Bouygues Telecom believes it is the right time to step up its growth,” the operator stated. Other targets of its strategy include an aim to generate €7 billion in sales from services in 2026, up from around €4.9 billion in 2020. It also wants to double market share in fixed B2B and gain an additional 3 million FTTH customers.

FCC mulls 12GHz band for mobile use

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:11:37 GMT

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) weighed a move to make more spectrum available for 5G, opening a public consultation on whether to allow mobile services in the 12GHz band. In a statement, the agency explained the band is currently used by satellite service providers and sought input on whether it would be possible to share the frequency with terrestrial mobile services without causing harmful interference. The FCC also asked for comment on approaches to assigning usage rights; potential sharing mechanisms; and the public interest benefits of either keeping the existing satellite-focused framework or accommodating new services. Outgoing FCC chairman Ajit Pai stated "technical studies will undoubtedly be submitted from all sides", adding the agency will "scrutinise the arguments and data in the record and be guided by the evidence and sound engineering". Dish Network and industry group the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) backed the move. However, it faced opposition from satellite communications providers OneWeb [1] and SpaceX, which already deployed hundreds of satellites using the 12GHz frequency and was recently awarded nearly $1 billion [2] in US government funding to deliver internet connectivity. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/softbank-hughes-network-systems-fuel-oneweb-aim [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/spacex-secures-fcc-rural-broadband-funding

Telefonica Deutschland outlines open RAN targets

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 11:54:34 GMT

Telefonica Deutschland reportedly plans to up its use of open RAN, outlining a goal to deploy the technology in 1,000 mobile phone sites after the start of rollout later this year. In an interview with Reuters, Mattias Sauder, director access and transport networks at Telefonica, said the operator planned to advance the conversion of its radio network to open RAN, aiming to equip the sites within 18 months of a deployment due to commence in the back half of this year. It also has designs on expanding its pilot to include all frequency ranges. Telefonica has been a vocal backer of open RAN, claiming a market first [1] at the end of 2020 with the deployment of the technology in a pilot across three sites in Bavaria. In September 2020, its Spain-based parent signed a partnership [2] with Rakuten Mobile covering ecosystem developments, and it was also one of the first members of the O-RAN Alliance. Sauder added it would look to increase its base of partners to develop open RAN, stating it would also conduct tests with Nokia this year. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/telefonica-unit-hails-open-ran-potential-launches-pilot [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/telefonica-rakuten-strike-open-ran-deal

Under-fire WhatsApp delays divisive update

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 11:36:47 GMT

WhatsApp pushed-back the imposition of a change in its terms, blaming misinformation and user confusion about what it intends to do in the controversial update. In a corporate blog, the company said an update to its privacy terms which had been scheduled to come into force on 8 February would be pushed back to 15 May. This, it added, would allow it to “do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp” and give people longer to consider the changes. Originally, those not accepting the new conditions by the February deadline would have been unable to continue messaging on the app. When WhatsApp first announced the change earlier this month, privacy organisations and vocal opponents of the company slammed a perceived attempt to increase the data shared with parent company Facebook. Pressure group Privacy International said the change and its planned implementation showed “how much Facebook values their users' data over their users. Accept our data grab or get out is pretty far from what consent should look like under laws like GDPR”. Several users also looked to alternative platforms, with app analytics company Sensor Tower reporting an upsurge in downloads of rival platforms Signal and Telegram. The change applied to a large part of the world, but not the UK and European Union due to specific privacy legislation in these regions. Just business WhatsApp maintains conversations on its platform will remain secure after the update and, rather than being about sharing sensitive personal information with other Facebook apps, the new terms are about making it easier to deal with businesses on the platform. In its blog, the company added: “We’ve heard from so many people how much confusion there is around our recent update. There's been a lot of misinformation causing concern and we want to help everyone understand our principles and the facts. “The update includes new options people will have to message a business on WhatsApp, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data. While not everyone shops with a business on WhatsApp today, we think that more people will choose to do so in the future and it’s important people are aware of these services. This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook.”

Boosting business in the era of eSIM

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 11:18:44 GMT

PARTNER INTERVIEW: Over the coming years eSIM is expected to achieve astounding growth in both the consumer and IoT sectors. It forms a central part of operator digital strategies and opens many new use cases. Here, Mobile World Live speaks to Thales’ Marketing Manager Marylene Arnoux-Roetynck about the status of the technology and operator opportunities brought about by eSIM. Mobile World Live: How would you assess the current status of the eSIM ecosystem and the main trends? [1]Marylene Arnoux-Roetynck (pictured, left): The journey to eSIM [2] started with M2M industrial applications over ten years ago and we are now seeing it widely adopted across a number of sectors, perhaps most notably automotive. The last two years, though, has been about equipping the consumer market. There had been limited activity here prior to Apple’s release of its eSIM compatible iPhones in September 2018, but this is where it really began to take-off. Other device makers have now followed and there are currently almost 70 compatible consumer devices comprising smartphones, smartwatches and other wearables, connected PCs or tablets. Going forward, we expect further drastic growth with more than 1 billion compatible consumer devices shipping annually by 2025. Globally around 215 mobile operators worldwide not only support eSIM but have launched commercial propositions around it. For telecom operators eSIM is seen as almost as important as 5G [3] compatibility in smartphones. A recent GSMA Intelligence telecom operator survey found respondents prioritised devices compatible with both eSIM and 5G technology [4]. What advantages does eSIM offer to operators, and how does the technology fit into wider digital strategies? Remote SIM provisioning contributes strongly to operator moves towards fully digitalised distribution channels, which in turn allows them to greatly improve customer experience. By allowing simple and instantaneous addition of subscriptions onto a device, users can achieve instant connectivity and service. It also contributes to reducing logistical complexity and is part of what a fully digital experience is all about. The importance of this ability was underlined during 2020, as operators embracing digital were able to launch campaigns to recruit customers amid lockdown measures imposed as the pandemic took hold. A new breed of digital communication providers (CSPs) has also emerged, which place eSIM as a vital element of their proposition. These players put extensive digital transformation into practice and redefine the B2C value proposition. For example, Telefonica Germany offers customers the ability to sign up for eSIM via the company’s mobile app called “MEIN O2 APP”. This allows the activation of a subscription from the comfort of consumers’ own homes or on the go, rather than them having to visit a physical retail store. Allowing end users to complete a greater number of enrolment steps from home using digital methods is an important and growing trend, which Thales is supporting many operators with. Using the Thales Trusted Digital Journey [5] solution linked to our eSIM Management server [6], we also can provide tools for online trusted digital identity verification (also referred to as eKYC) and payments from a tokenisation platform. What steps can operators take to encourage consumers to adopt eSIM and what potential challenges do they need to address here? Even in the context of the fast-growing eSIM market and clear advantages for all parties, achieving commercial success may not always be simple. The right strategies to persuade consumers and ensure the move to the technology is a smooth one need to be put into place. In our e-book on this subject, available here [7], we have covered this in great detail but there are several main elements to consider. Firstly, providers should aim to support as many devices as possible and make the technology available to everyone. In addition to outlining tangible benefits to consumers, such as opening access to innovative new services, free exchange from SIM to eSIM can incentivise consumer adoption. Providing a seamless experience for consumers to switch to eSIM is very important, ideally using online enrolment and ID verification (also referred to as eKYC) where local regulations allow. In terms of aftercare, operators must ensure they have easily accessible customer service channels providing simple information in place alongside support from staff familiar with the system. As with the move to any modern, digital technology there are some operational changes brought by eSIM. For CSPs without existing online processes, they will need to find ways to enrol users with eSIM. One way is to use a physical element to trigger the eSIM activation through a QR code voucher available in store or sent by mail before eventually developing fully digital facilities. But solutions to support the transformation towards a digital journey using eSIM are also available with the digital voucher or carrier app. Once launched, operators need to look at the future and anticipate how their systems will cope with a rapidly growing number of eSIMs. They need to be prepared to get scalable because traffic could get very high. Thales is here to help address these issues. We offer the infrastructure to allow high-level services and can help to manage peaks and potential incidents; we can also help maximise eSIM adoption and usage thanks to providing training, as well as marketing and consulting on use case design. As a key player in the sector could you give us some examples of how established and challenger operators have utilised eSIM to differentiate and improve their customer offering? With more than 250 platforms covering Consumer, M2M and IoT markets Thales occupies a unique position in the eSIM sector, working with both traditional operators and a growing number of CSPs, including global challenger carriers. We have seen many different ways of exploiting eSIM across these different types of providers. Established operators such as Telefonica, Three and A1 Group have launched eSIM through a group strategy. In their biggest countries they deployed solutions which allowed them to get started quickly, often this meant selling physical vouchers which had no immediate impact on their back end. Since then, many have progressed to digital sign-up methods, used their own mobile app and in some cases offered eKYC. Other large providers have offered eSIM through a multi-SIM service, like when they launch a new smartwatch, along with related price plans covering multiple devices. Zain KSA, for example, started to offer weekly and monthly unlimited eSIM packages, which are exclusively sold through digital channels. Those packages can be activated and recharged on its app. In Thailand, AIS offered the first eSIM for roaming abroad, which can be activated in many Asian countries. The advantage is that you can download a QR code sent by email and activate on entering a new country. In terms of interesting initiatives from challenger players, we have seen some global CSPs offering worldwide services using eSIM. They can allow profiles to be on-boarded very rapidly through their carrier app to connect with customers wherever they are in the world. Smaller CSPs often aim for an all-digital proposition. Here, eSIM is part of achieving that aim with several also developing new, unique use cases using the technology. How prevalent do you think eSIM will be in the long-term and what new uses do you expect to emerge? The ecosystem is entering the phase of scaling and the industry expects the transition to accelerate very fast in the next two-to-three years. The whole ecosystem has become aware of the need to go digital in mobile subscriptions distribution and, of course, this is in favour of eSIM. We have seen more and more operators launching mobile apps or using digital vouchers for eSIM activation, which shows strong interest in digital solutions. There are new use cases being introduced such as roaming and players offering connection on several devices under a single contract. The latter can be used for tariffs aimed at families, but also for enterprises. Here, thanks to Thales eSIM Generic Voucher [8], we are able to activate mobile family subscriptions. It is clear eSIM Solutions are a central component of offering a complete digital journey to obtain a subscription. However, this is not the only required step. We also need digital enrolment and authentication and digital payment methods. Providing all of the digital bricks is an area Thales is very experienced in through the complete Thales Trusted Digital Journey [5]. IoT is often discussed as a major use case for eSIM. What is the current status in this area and how do you see this market developing? The number of connected objects, and those using cellular connections, is certain to increase in the coming years. To bring solutions to the whole ecosystem and simplify management of IoT devices for manufacturing and in-field scenarios eSIM is a key element. If we look at another GSMA Intelligence survey, 80% of the companies interviewed (comprising telecom operators and industrial or services companies) considered eSIM as an important asset for IoT developments. This shows eSIM technology is well understood by stakeholders as a mature technology bringing tangible benefits. In addition to uses in traditional consumer and B2B markets, we see a new sub-category emerging here, consumer IoT. There are a range of new connected consumer devices appearing such as e-bikes, smart home devices, robotic home care devices, healthcare wearables and sleep trackers. There are all kinds of new devices being introduced across all sectors, some low power without screens or user interfaces. To better address these, there is a new GSMA group working on the evolution of the current specifications, where Thales is a strong contributor. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MaryleneA.jpg [2] https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/connectivity/esim/what-is-an-esim [3] https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/5G-challenges [4] https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/inspired/5G [5] https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/documents/trusted-digital-journey [6] https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/connectivity/esim [7] https://www.thalesgroup.com/sites/default/files/database/document/2020-06/tel-best-practices-eSIM.pdf [8] https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/connectivity/esim/esim-generic-voucher [9] https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/documents/trusted-digital-journey

KT taps rival SK Telecom for V Coloring

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:57:46 GMT

South Korea-based SK Telecom (SKT) agreed to allow rival KT to offer its subscription-based video ring-back service V Coloring to customers and said it is working on a similar deal with LG Uplus. SKT and KT signed a deal today (18 January), with KT to introduce the app on 22 January. In addition to forging deals with rivals, SKT said in a translated statement it plans to expand the service to the B2B and content marketplace fields. The operator also plans to offer its existing customers a 50 per cent discount of KRW1,650 ($1.49) per month until 30 June, with new customers presented with a KRW100 deal for their first month. SKT launched V Coloring in late September 2020: it plays a short-form video selected or created by the party being called while a call is being connected. By late December 2020 the service had 1.15 million users and 140 million total views.

Trump takes parting shot at Huawei

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:52:56 GMT

The US government targeted Huawei with additional trade restrictions, informing component suppliers it is revoking the licences required to export to the vendor and turning down requests for permits, Reuters reported. Suppliers holding special licences which were notified of the move include Intel, with the US Department of Commerce (DoC) stating in an email it “intends to deny a significant number of licence requests for exports to Huawei and a revocation of at least one previously issued licence”, the news agency wrote. Sources told Reuters eight licences were pulled from four companies, including Japanese flash memory chip maker Kioxia. A Huawei representative declined to comment on the report, which it told Mobile World Live is yet to be confirmed. The companies notified have 20 days to respond to the DoC, which has 40 days to advise them of any change in a decision. The companies then have 45 days to appeal, Reuters said. Huawei was put on a DoC list restricting its access [1] to US suppliers due to national security concerns in May 2019. The move prevents Huawei from buying components from US companies which don’t hold a licence. Chinese media previously reported Qualcomm, Micron Technology, Samsung, SK Hynix, Macronix International and Chinese chip company Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp submitted applications [2], but only Intel publicly stated it had been approved. In the final weeks of his administration, US President Donald Trump (pictured) stepped up his aggressive campaign against China. Last week, Xiaomi [3] was added to a list of companies deemed to have links with the Chinese military, while China found itself among several countries facing restrictions on network technology purchases [4] due to supply chain security concerns. Transactions with a host of Chinese apps have also been banned, and the New York Stock Exchange delisted the nation’s big-three mobile operators [5]. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/huawei-lands-on-us-trade-blacklist [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/chipmakers-seek-huawei-waivers-as-ban-hits [3] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/xiaomi-in-us-crosshairs-over-military-links [4] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/china-hit-as-us-limits-tech-imports [5] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/nyse-forges-ahead-with-delisting-chinese-operators

US C-Band auction smashes FCC record

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 22:10:30 GMT

A US sale of C-Band spectrum (3.7GHz to 4.2GHz) closed its first phase with a staggering $80.9 billion in bids after 97 rounds, shattering the country’s previous auction record. In a statement, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai said the early results “represent a strong endorsement by the private sector of the service rules and transition plan put in place by the FCC to quickly make the C-Band a critical part of 5G rollout in the United States”. He noted bids were placed for all 5,684 available licences, adding proceeds from the initial phase of the sale crushed a previous high of $44.9 billion set by the agency’s AWS-3 auction [1], which closed in January 2015. The auction now enters an assignment phase during which winning bidders will compete for specific frequencies. Winners will be announced upon completion of this phase. In a LinkedIn post, mobile network provider BitPath’s COO Sasha Javid noted the assignment phase typically takes about a month, and reiterated earlier warnings from analysts [2] the auction’s high tally “could result in slower buildout, high prices for consumers, less stock buybacks and missed targets for debt reduction”. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/fcc-lands-record-breaking-44-9b-spectrum-auction [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/us-c-band-spectrum-sale-blasts-past-75b

Amazon opens up Alexa

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:33:15 GMT

Amazon unveiled a service allowing other companies to use the technology behind its Alexa AI to create custom digital assistants, with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) lined up as its first customer. Alexa Custom Assistant enables brands to build their own digital assistant with a unique voice, wake word and skills. These will cover specialised tasks including in-vehicle controls, while Amazon's AI will tackle general queries. In a blog, Amazon noted building an AI assistant “is complex, time-consuming, and costly”, stating its service would enable more companies to create their own “without the investment, long development cycles and resources to build it from scratch and maintain over time”. It cited vehicles, consumer electronics, mobile applications, smart buildings and video games as among the potential applications. Amazon added FCA had “already begun the planning process for the development” of a custom assistant set to be integrated into “select vehicle models”. Alexa Custom Assistant is available from today (15 January) in 15 countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain and India, with more to follow.

FCC chief Pai urges spectrum policy overhaul

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:42:55 GMT

Outgoing US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai [1] (pictured) called on Congress to reform the nation’s spectrum management framework, warning the current fragmented approach could hinder future progress. In a speech, Pai explained spectrum in the US is currently managed by two separate agencies, with the FCC governing commercial airwaves and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) those used by government bodies. He noted the US is one of the only countries to have such a split system. Pai argued the structure “doesn’t work”, pointing to efforts by federal agencies to “throw up roadblocks” [2] in recent years as the FCC worked to free additional spectrum for commercial use. He blasted the government as "arguably the biggest thing hampering efforts to use spectrum more efficiently", and insisted “we must bring an end to the practice of each agency having its own" policy. “If the FCC ultimately holds the pen on all spectrum matters, perhaps agencies will stop throwing up roadblocks by default and will recognise that the best way to preserve their interests is to persuade the Commission with sound engineering and facts.” [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/fcc-chief-pai-plans-departure [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/fcc-issues-5g-spectrum-warning

Mobile Mix: Viva Las Living Room

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:50:05 GMT

Despite his best efforts, Justin is not in Las Vegas. And he didn’t even get to watch this year’s CES from home. Diana took the reins, bringing us the action from a very different consumer electronics extravaganza. Samsung decided to host its own party, holding a separate virtual unveiling for its latest Galaxy S range, which Kavit attended. Michael rounds up the rest of the news.

SoftBank, Hughes Network Systems fuel OneWeb aim

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:32:38 GMT

Recently rescued satellite communications company OneWeb secured $400 million in additional investment from Hughes Network Systems and SoftBank Group, as it continues to target 2022 for completion of its first full commercial fleet. In a statement, OneWeb confirmed the new backing brought the total raised since entering bankruptcy protection in March 2020 [1] to $1.4 billion, putting it on track to meet its target for completion of 648 orbiting satellites. Financial Times (FT) reported SoftBank contributed $350 million of the fresh cash with the remainder coming from Hughes Network Systems. The Japan-based group was one of the early backers of the project and retained a small stake gained from its status as a creditor when OneWeb was rescued from Chapter 11 bankruptcy [2] by a consortium of the UK government and Bharti Airtel parent Bharti Enterprises. As a result of its latest investment SoftBank will gain a place on OneWeb’s board. OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson said: “We have made rapid progress to restart the business since emerging from Chapter 11 in November. We welcome the investments by SoftBank and Hughes as further proof of progress towards delivering our goal.” The company plans to provide commercial communications services [3] from a fleet of Low Earth Orbit birds in 2022: it has already launched 110 satellites and said the investments leave it “positioned” to be fully-funded to meet its aim. However, FT estimated it needed to raise a further $1 billion. OneWeb faces stiff competition in the sector from a number of other players using similar systems [4]. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/oneweb-seeks-safe-harbour-as-covid-19-halts-finance [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/oneweb-rescued-by-uk-bharti-enterprises [3] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/oneweb-rockets-towards-satellite-relaunch [4] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/intelsat-flies-high-with-gogo-commercial-unit-buy

5G Network Slicing for Smart Grid

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 11:58:59 GMT

PARTNER FEATURE: Since it was launched in 2001, smart grid has been widely recognized in the industry. Governments, power enterprises, and scientific research institutions in various countries have conducted in-depth research and practical exploration based on their respective economic and social development levels, energy characteristics, and power industry development phases. Service scenarios of smart grid Smart grid covers five key links: power generation, power transmission, power transformation, power distribution, and power consumption. Dozens of smart grid communication services need to be deployed in each link, and the requirements of services for SLA, such as latency, bandwidth, and security isolation, are greatly different. In accordance with the functions of grid services and security isolation requirements, grid services are divided into two types: production control region and management information region. The production control zone is divided into Safety Zone I and Safety Zone II. The services in the Safety Zone I are directly used to monitor the power system in real time, while the services in the Safety Zone II are only used to detect the power system without controlling. The management information zones are divided into Management Zone III and Management Zone IV/V, which mainly manage the power production and power grid enterprises, such as video monitoring and information-based office. [1] 5G network slicing + smart grid The 5G+ smart grid applications involve safe and reliable operation of power grid, so it is different from the public network applications and it has strict requirements for security isolation and SLA guarantee. The smart grid services are widely used in various scenarios, including status awareness, control protection, data collection, AI assistance, and robot preventive maintenance. Various types of transmission data, including status data, control instructions, images, and videos, have different requirements for network bandwidth, latency, jitter, bit error rate, and reliability. 5G network slicing can be divided into multiple end-to-end logical networks on the basis of a unified physical network to meet the application scenarios with high bandwidth, high security, low latency, and ultra-high reliability of the grid and provide the best solution for smart grid communications. Smart grid slices can be designed based on the following dimensions or principles: Requirements for security isolation In power grid, the services between the production area and management area need to be physically isolated, and the services in the production area or management area need to be logically isolated. Physical isolation means that different services are hard isolated. For example, wireless services use PRB resources reserved or independent spectrum, transmission services use different FlexE technologies, and core network uses independent servers. Logical isolation means that soft isolation technologies such as QoS, VPN, and VM are used between services. Therefore, grid can be deployed with four types of slices to carry grid services in different areas. The slicing between the production area and the management area uses the physical isolation technology to meet the high security isolation requirements of services in production areas. In the production area, the soft isolation technology is used only when two slices are deployed to achieve logical isolation between area 1 and area 2. In the management area, the requirement for security isolation between area III, area IV and area V is not high, so you can set up only one slice for isolation through QoS + DNN. For local closed-loop services of the power grid, such as substations and small water plants, an LAN slice can be deployed. [2] Figure 1 Division of Smart Grid Slices With respect to U-plane NEs, for the slicing in the production area where U-plane NEs need physical isolation, the independent dedicated U-plane can be deployed in the core network, independent FlexE channels can be established for transmission, and isolation modes such as resource reservation can be used in wireless network. The soft slicing technology can be used for slices that need logical isolation, such as slices between production area I and production area II. Core network may use shared UPFs, such as Slice 3 and Slice 4. Independent VLANs, independent address pools, bandwidth or user quantity admission control may be used between slices. The VPN technology may be used for bearing. Wireless network may use slice + 5QI for priority scheduling. For the NEs on the C-plane, you can select whether to share or exclusively use them in accordance with the requirements of grid industry users and the operator's network construction principles. In most cases, customers require independent C-plane NEs while operators expect to share them with existing 2B NEs. According to the analysis, the grid service is mostly to isolate media plane data. Therefore, the C-plane can adopt the compromise solution. The grid exclusively occupies some C-plane NEs such as SMF, while UDM/PCF and AMF are shared with other 2B industries. Requirements for low latency and high bandwidth For the grid services with low requirements for latency, such as differential protection, UPF can also be deployed to the edge DC, load bearing uses the FlexE high-speed forwarding channel, and wireless uses the URLLC technology. For grid services with low latency requirements, such as those in the management area, the slice type is eMBB, and the UPFs are deployed in the provincial capital center or the municipal DC in a centralized manner. Requirements for operation and management With open capabilities and more efficient and flexible operation and management capabilities, 5G slicing network can achieve visible, manageable and controllable grid services. Power enterprises can use the slicing capability exposing interfaces provided by operators to implement fast online commissioning (minute-level) of slices or new services. The slicing operation monitoring capability can be used to implement real-time monitoring of network resources and fault location. Through the subscription interface, online management of terminals can be implemented, and finally the visualization, management, and control of smart grids can be provided. ZTE facilitates industry customers to construct a 5G+ smart grid ZTE has made in-depth cooperation with power enterprises to provide a complete set of products such as wireless, bearer, convergent core network (5G Common Core) and slice management (CloudStudio GSO). It constructs end-to-end 5G network slicing with high security and isolation, and provides differentiated SLA guarantee for power grid services in different security areas to meet the requirements of high security, low latency and high reliability of the power grid. Secondly, ZTE provides a variety of solutions with key technologies, such as slicing capability exposing, 5G LAN, TSN, uRLLC, mMTC, precision timing, and small-granularity FlexE, to facilitate the rapid development and deployment of new services in 5G+ smart grid. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/t1.png [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5G-slicing.png

Huawei loses latest Swedish ban appeal

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 11:43:06 GMT

Sweden’s Supreme Administrative Court dismissed Huawei's latest attempt to overturn a ban on operators using its equipment from participating in the country's 5G auction, clearing the way for sale to resume. In a brief statement the court threw the case out, stating the appeal against the original decision made under the Electronic Communications Act was inadmissible. The decision looks to have brought an end to Huawei’s legal fight [1] against Sweden’s 5G auction terms, which prohibits bidders [2] from using equipment made by either it or ZTE on security grounds. Regulator the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) had planned to start its 5G auction in November 2020, but was forced to postpone following a court decision to suspend application of some of the terms pending a hearing into them [3]. Huawei made several statements denying its equipment constituted a security risk. It also found a perhaps unlikely backer against the ban in Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm, who lobbied a Swedish minister [4] in an attempt to get the divisive auction condition overturned. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/huawei-escalates-sweden-5g-ban-battle [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/sweden-bans-huawei-zte-from-5g [3] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/sweden-postpones-5g-auction-following-huawei-row [4] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/ericsson-chief-takes-huawei-fight-to-swedish-minister

CAT Telecom loses compensation claim against AIS

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 11:30:33 GMT

AIS emerged victorious in a long-running dispute after an arbitration panel dismissed a compensation claim relating to an expired concession agreement between its Digital Phone subsidiary and rival CAT Telecom. The Arbitration Committee ruled in AIS' favour in a case initiated in January 2018, when CAT Telecom took legal action demanding Digital Phone transfer the ownership of equipment including 4,657 towers and a call centre system. CAT Telecom sought compensation totalling THB13.4 billion ($445.9 million), along with an additional THB116 million per month to cover opportunity loss and interest. In a statement, AIS said the decision means Digital Phone is not obliged to transfer the equipment or make payment for the claims. But the ruling may yet be challenged: CAT Telecom can file a petition to revoke it within 90 days. The operators settled a long-running tower dispute [1] in August 2020: shortly after, CAT Telecom and True called a truce [2] after almost a decade of legal squabbling over a range of network-related matters. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/asia/asia-news/ais-cat-telecom-resolve-tower-dispute [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/asia/asia-news/cat-telecom-settles-another-legal-spat

Malaysia amends national connectivity plan

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:52:16 GMT

Malaysia’s telecoms regulator revised the scope of a universal service project covering the deployment of public equipment, to speed implementation of the first phase of its National Digital Infrastructure Plan (Jendela). In a statement, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said a revised invitation aims to allow more operators to participate in the project, which covers 1,661 locations nationwide. The move replaces a call originally issued in November 2020. The revision divides the project into two parts, one covering installation of passive infrastructure, the second deployment of active infrastructure and public mobile services. Interested operators can participate in either part. The closing date for registering interest is 2 February and the deadline for submitting drafts is 31 March. Malaysia's government announced the Jendela plan in August 2020, seeking to first lay a foundation for nationwide broadband coverage and improve LTE service, with a second phase targeting 5G launches.

China hit as US limits tech imports

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:25:16 GMT

China again found itself in US crosshairs after Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross issued an interim rule restricting purchases of network technology and software from five different countries, citing concerns about supply chain security. The rule is set to take effect in 60 days and will limit ICT transactions with "adversaries" including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela while it remains under the control of Nicolas Maduro. A licensing process to authorise deals will be implemented within 120 days. Ross stated the move would “protect American citizens and businesses from vulnerabilities that could undermine the confidentiality, integrity and availability of their personal information or sensitive data". In May 2019, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring threats to the country’s ICT supply chain a national emergency and granting the Secretary of Commerce authority to prohibit certain transactions [1] on security grounds. Procedures the Secretary would use to identify threats [2] were later detailed by the Department of Commerce. The latest move continues a US campaign against China: earlier this month, the Trump administration issued an order banning transactions [3] with eight Chinese apps, and the New York Stock Exchange delisted [4] China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/huawei-lands-on-us-trade-blacklist [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/us-presses-on-with-tech-import-restriction-plan [3] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/apps/news-apps/trump-targets-chinese-payment-apps [4] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/nyse-forges-ahead-with-delisting-chinese-operators

Xiaomi in US crosshairs over military links

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:05:22 GMT

Smartphone maker Xiaomi became the latest industry player to face increased restrictions from the US government, being added to a list of companies deemed to have links with the Chinese military. In a statement, the US Department of Defence (DoD) said it had nine additional “Communist Chinese military companies” operating directly or indirectly in the US, including Xiaomi. The vendor surpassed Apple [1] as a top three global smartphone maker in Q3 2020 in terms of shipments. Xiaomi joins Huawei, chipmaker SMIC, and China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom on the US list. Huawei, notably, is also on a Department of Commerce list, which restricts its access to US suppliers over national security concerns. The DoD list aims to comply with an executive order [2] signed by Trump in November 2020, and restricts domestic investment in companies the department claims are owned or controlled by the Chinese military. This month, the New York Stock Exchange delisted [3] the three Chinese operators to comply with the order. The move against Xiaomi came just hours after the US moved to restrict purchases of network technology from five difference countries, including China, citing concerns about supply chain security. Impact In response, Xiaomi said it complies with the laws and regulations where it does business, and provides products and services for civilian and commercial use. “The company confirms that it is not owned, controlled or affiliated with the Chinese military and is not a communist military company". It added it was reviewing potential consequences to understand the impact of the move. Xiaomi is listed in Hong Kong and the restrictions could mean US investors are forced to divest their holdings in the company. [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/xiaomi-grabs-share-from-huawei-outsells-apple-in-q3 [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/us-blocks-capital-flows-to-chinese-companies [3] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/nyse-forges-ahead-with-delisting-chinese-operators

Samsung zooms-in on camera USPs in latest flagship

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 17:45:05 GMT

Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S21 flagship series, handsets the company claimed introduce a number of ground-breaking features including a range of enhancements to its camera, display, AI software and chipsets. The company’s new top end device series comes in three variants: the Galaxy S21 5G; Galaxy S21+ 5G; and S21 Ultra 5G, with sales beginning on 29 January. As with its, and rival flagship launches in recent years, Samsung chose to focus on developments in display technology and improvements to camera software and hardware. Among the new elements include AI camera compatibility with third party apps and the ability to take "professional standard" stills from 8k video. Its highest-spec version also features multi-angle video software the company claims is at a high-enough grade for editing professionals. Samsung's top-end Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G has a 6.8-inch display, 40MP front camera, quad rear camera set-up with a 108MP wide angle main lens, and 5000mAh battery. It is also compatible with its S-Pen, which is generally used alongside its Note series and some of its tablets. The standard S21 5G offers a 6.2-inch display, 4000mAh battery, 10MP front camera, and triple main camera set-up comprising 12MP wide and ultra-wide angle lenses, and 64MP telephoto unit. Samsung’s S21+ 5G version carries most of the same specs as its lower-end sibling but with a 6.7-inch screen and 4800mAh battery. The vendor's official global spec sheet shows all three devices run its Exynos 2100 octa-core processor, announced earlier this week, which incorporates technology from Arm. In a statement released to coincide with Samsung's launch, Qualcomm announced its Snapdragon 888 was powering the series “in some regions”. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is expected to retail at just below $2,000, with the S21+ 5G at almost $1,000 and S21 5G at around $800. The devices supersede the S20 series, which launched alongside its foldable Galaxy Z Flip in February 2020 [1]. Alongside the smartphones, it announced the Galaxy Smart Tag, a tracking device priced at just under $40 (available in February) and a Pro version of its ear buds for $199, available tomorrow (15 January). Timing CCS Insight chief of research Ben Wood pointed to the timing of the launch, three months after [2] Apple’s latest iPhone announcement, as being key for giving Samsung something capable of quickly competing with offers from its US-based rival. “The new Galaxy S21 range follows the formulaic approach to annual upgrades that all phone makers are now locked into,” he added. “In a cut-throat smartphone market featuring a buoyant Apple, I think the biggest differentiator is the decision to announce these products earlier than usual rather than the incremental improvements to the camera, display and design." “Samsung’s decision to announce its latest flagship Galaxy smartphones early is a sensible move given the market turmoil created by the global pandemic and the postponement of the annual MWC event, which usually provides a showcase for Samsung’s latest new devices.” [1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/samsung-flips-the-fold-expands-5g-range [2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/videos/features/feature-video-the-big-apple-5g-iphone-launch