WCA May 2019

Telecom news

Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association (GSMA) looked at Asia’s 5G economy GSMA’s Mobile Economy report has forecast Asia to become the world’s top 5G region, with more than 50 per cent of all 5G connections by 2025. The region is expecting a rush of commercial launches of the technology later this year. In January, Telecom Asia examined how the Asian market looks to be shaping up. South Korea : South Korea became the first country in Asia to launch commercial 5G services after the country’s three mobile carriers – SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus – switched on their 5G networks in December 2018. The 5G services are being delivered on the companies’ respective networks operating on the 3.5GHz spectrum, and are initially available for limited enterprise customers only. Both SKT and KT plan to offer 5G mobile services to consumers once 5G smartphones become available locally. Hyun Jin Park, senior vice president of marketing group/5G business unit at KT, told Telecom Asia : “We are providing 5G services to corporate customers that require high-speed, low-latency, and hyper-connected communication environments.” SKT will introduce new features, such as artificial intelligence, to its 5G service: “To provide the highest levels of security we are incorporating advanced technologies, like quantum cryptography, as part of the network service,” a spokesperson confirmed. Autoparts maker Myunghwa Industrial is already using SKT’s 5G-AI Machine Vision to verify product quality, and 5G self-driving cars are being test-driven on public roads. KT launched its first 5G service in Gwacheon. The Korea Herald has since reported that the operator has deployed 5G in seven metropolitan cities across the country, including Seoul. LG Uplus, meanwhile, is reported to have conducted a 5G video call in Magok, Seoul, using a laptop connected to a 5G router.

A new report from ABI Research shows the US leading in 5G implementation, over China, South Korea and Japan. There are several possible reasons for the USA’s advancement, including market size, financial health of providers and operators, and the progressive action of the US regulator – the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – to eliminate regulatory barriers to 5G deployment by capping local fees and requiring faster application reviews. “The United States has a stronghold because its carriers have an enhanced fiscal position – they will spend approximately $40 billion on network infrastructure alone during 2019,” said Emanuel Kolta, a research analyst at ABI Research, addressing telecomasia.net about the report findings. The top four mobile service providers (MSPs) plan to launch 5G services in mid-2019, but the operators are adopting different approaches. While Verizon is initially focusing on 5G home broadband, AT&T is selling a 5G hotspot that shares throughput over Wi-Fi; T-Mobile will focus on nationwide coverage in low-band, and Sprint’s efforts will go into 2.5GHz and the upgradeable massive MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) antennas. While wireless home broadband and the provision of enhanced mobile broadband will be the core proposition in early US 5G deployments, it is ultra-reliable low-latency communication and enhanced machine-type communication that will prove significant in the long run. ABI Research expects that MSPs will first deploy 5G in megacities, dense urban areas, live sharing locations (such as stadiums and concert venues), urban commuter routes, spectrum exhaust areas, and company and university campuses. 5G-capable phones will be more widespread from 2020, once all the major players have launched 5G on their flagship models. Apple, the US market leader, won’t make its 5G iPhone commercially available until 2020. Samsung, the second biggest player, is expected to have a 5G model in its Galaxy 10 range, with a launch date likely to be early in 2019, so smaller device manufacturers, such as LG, Motorola, OnePlus and HTC could increase their market share and take a bigger proportion of the three million 5G-capable devices expected to ship during 2019. US MSPs and Internet firms have spent an outstanding sum on 5G-related spectrums, deployments and tests in recent years, bringing the United States to the forefront of 5G developments. ABI Research expects that these early investments and the sheer size of the US market, tied to customer preparedness to pay for the service, will all provide a perfect environment for US-based firms to flourish. “However,” warned Mr Kolta, concluding the telecomasia article, “the long-term outcome of the 5G race is still uncertain.” Research suggests US leads in the 5G race – but will it be a photo finish?

However, there is an alternative view…

appear to admonish the industry to “step up their efforts, or get left behind.” “I want the United States to win through competition, not by blocking out currently more advanced technologies,” he added, although the “blocking” measures he referred to were unexplained and, at the time of reporting, White House staff could not be reached for comment.

Notwithstanding the ABI report, US President Donald Trump has called on US telcos to boost their work to build faster 5G wireless communications networks, accusing them of “lagging”. On 21 st February, Reuters reported a series of presidential tweets that

Illustrations: BigStockPhoto.com • Artist: Asmati

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Wire & Cable ASIA –May/June 2019

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