BROWSING: Policy

FCC proposes to fine carriers $200m over wireless location data misuse

All four national carriers face fines over selling unauthorized access to customer location data The Federal Communications Commission is planning to fine the four national carriers up to $200 million over the unauthorized release and sale of wireless customers' location data, around two years after...

Broadband Forum adds to the ‘5G jigsaw’ with new standards

The Broadband Forum CEO: 'We are still working to define the jigsaw pieces of 5G' As part of its work to “provide a practical roadmap to deliver 5G,” the Broadband Forum has finalized two new 5G standards, which will help operators leverage their fixed networks...

“Humans should be arbiters of AI decisions” – Bosch sets down ‘red lines’ on industrial AI

Germany industrialist Bosch has set out a ‘code of ethics’ around the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in its connected products, which says humans should be the arbiter of any AI-based decisions. The firm has issued a set of guidelines, a number of ‘red lines’,...

Ofcom tests 5G radiation at 16 UK sites, identifies no health risk

Those who oppose 5G networks cite radiation concerns In its latest round of spectrum testing, the U.K.'s Office of Communications, or Ofcom, measured electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions at 16 5G sites in 10 cities across the U.K., concluding that 5G networks do not pose a...

Thailand raises $3.2 billion in 5G spectrum auctions, 48 licenses sold

NBTC Secretary-General: 'Overall 5G network investment in Thailand could reach more than $4 billion this year' Thailand's telecoms regulator The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) held the country’s 5G spectrum auction over the weekend, raising 100.52 billion baht ($3.2 billion) as operators grabbed 48...

Lack of 5G clarity brings Switzerland’s rollout to a halt

Switzerland's environmental agency will examine 5G antennas 'in depth, in real-world operational conditions' In January, roughly 2,000 people turned out across Switzerland to protest the spread of 5G technology, and now, as the rest of the world pushes onward with rollouts, the country has placed...

Should the US invest in open RAN or just buy Nokia or Ericsson?

AG Barr calls open RAN “pie in the sky,” suggests coordinated investment to counter Huawei Two things are clear: The U.S. views Huawei’s 5G market share as a cybersecurity threat both domestically and internationally, particularly in nations that share intelligence with America. And national leaders...

FTC vs. Qualcomm – The meaning and relevance of FRAND commitment

As promised in my previous article, here is a detailed discussion on FTC’s FRAND (Fair Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory) argument in its antitrust case against Qualcomm. FTC argues that Qualcomm agreeing to the FRAND (Fair and Reasonable Anti Discriminatory) requirements of Standards Setting Organizations (SSO)...

5G should cover 70% of industrial sites by 2025, tech sector tells EU leaders

By 2025, 5G connections should cover 40 per cent of Europe’s workforce, 70 per cent of its industrial sites, and 80 per cent of its main logistics routes. This was the message from DigitalEurope, the trade association for the European tech industry, at the...

CTIA urges more licensed mid-band spectrum, calls for 350 megahertz in 2020

  A new report from CTIA says that the United States is a global outlier in its approach to and amount of available mid-band spectrum for 5G, although it is a leader in high-band and low-band spectrum availability. Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA president and CEO, said...

Three LTE ‘campus’ networks – DT debuts public-private LTE in Austria, Czech, Hungary

Deutsche Telekom has public-private ‘campus’ networking setups with various customers, offering a kind of proto-slicing, as a precursor to industrial 5G. It has so far announced deals with German lighting company OSRAM, German car parts maker ZF Group, and the RWTH research institute at...

Pai: Carriers misused subscribers’ real-time location data

At least one wireless carrier broke federal law by selling wireless subscribers' real-time location data, the Federal Communications Commission has confirmed, and the agency plans to take action on the violations. "The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has completed its extensive investigation and that it has concluded...

FCC proposes $12.9 million fine for spoofed robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a $12.9 million fine for a robocall operator whose spoofed calls allegedly included conspiracy theories, attempts to influence a jury and racist and anti-Semitic elements. The FCC accused Scott Rhodes (also known as Scott Platek) of sending thousands of...

In Brazil, 5G on hold as spectrum auction is delayed

The delay in the 5G spectrum auction could cost Brazil billions Brazil is proving to be a popular destination for 5G equipment vendors. Both Ericsson and Nokia have demonstrated significant interest in the South American country, with the former announcing plans to invest $238.3 million...

New UK player seeks to broker shared and private networking for enterprises, cities

The Freshwave Group, a new UK network provider, is seeking to combine telecoms expertise and real-estate savvy to plug coverage gaps in public mobile coverage with shared and private networking. It is targeting enterprises and cities, as they seek to leverage new data traffic...

FCC gives CBRS the nod for full commercial deployment

PAL auction scheduled to begin in June The Federal Communications Commission officially gave the nod yesterday for full commercial deployment in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service shared spectrum, certifying CommScope, Federated Wireless, Google and Sony as Spectrum Access System administrators for a five-year period. The FCC...

Decision on Sidewalk Labs delayed as Toronto seeks public review

Waterfront Toronto, in charge of the $1 billion redevelopment of Toronto’s waterfront neighbourhood, has extended the deadline on whether to move forward with Google sister company Sidewalk Labs’ proposal for the smart city enclave. The board of Waterfront Toronto has extended the consultantion period from...

UK to release 6 GHz and 100 GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi in smart homes, offices, factories

UK regulator Ofcom is proposing to make 500MHz of contiguous spectrum in the lower 6 GHz band available for unlicensed indoor Wi-Fi and low-power outdoor Wi-Fi usage. It has also revealed plans to release an additional 18GHz of Extremely High Frequency (EHF) spectrum, above...

FTC vs. Qualcomm–FTC’s changed tactic undermines its confidence in the case (Analyst Angle)

The stage is set for Feb 13th, 2020, hearing of FTC vs. Qualcomm antitrust case at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit). In preparation, FTC, Qualcomm, and many interested parties have filed their briefs in support and against...

mmWave auction activity surges as FCC pushes toward conclusion

Auction total hits $7.5 billion, as bidders scoop up licenses in smaller and rural markets A nudge from the Federal Communications Commission has prompted a surge in bidding activity in the ongoing millimeter wave spectrum auction, with bidders broadening their interest to include licenses in...

Does AI need to be regulated? Views from the World Economic Forum

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used in a variety of applications, including automated analysis of video captured by security cameras or to assess the quality of items moving down a manufacturing line, for instance. But with converging technological trends, particularly 5G and pervasive...

Brits back drones for emergency services, environmental monitoring, says Vodafone

Most people in Britain would support regulated usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, for critical services and industrial enterprises, according to a report by Vodafone. Eighty per cent of the British public would support their adoption if better safety, security and monitoring measures...

Davos calls for Reskilling Revolution, as 75% of manufacturers can’t fill roles

The World Economic Forum has zeroed-in on skills and training as it seeks to put the world right in Davos this week. It has launched a programmer, Reskilling Revolution, to provide one billion people with better education, skills and jobs in the face of...

Will 5G change the world? Views from the World Economic Forum

Titans of global government and industry are descending on Davos, Switzerland, this week for the World Economic Forum to explore the 2020 theme, "Stakeholders for a cohesive and sustainable world." And, as has increasingly been the case in recent years, leaders from the technology...