Page 78 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

T-Mobile US Lights Up SA 5G Using

2.5GHz

T-Mobile US has activated 5G Standalone (SA) services using
its mid-band 2.5GHz ‘Ultra Capacity’ spectrum. Neville Ray,
President of Technology at T-Mobile US, commented: ‘5G is
making a meaningful impact today – changing the way people
use their smartphones, bringing choice and competition to home
broadband, improving disaster response and so much more … but
we’re only scratching the surface on what 5G can do.’ T-Mobile US
initially switched on 5G SA in August 2020, using its ‘Extended
Range’ 600MHz spectrum. T-Mobile’s Extended Range 5G now
covers 321 million people across 1.9 million square miles, while
250 million people are covered by the cellco’s Ultra Capacity 5G
network. Going forward, T-Mobile plans to reach 300 million people
with Ultra Capacity spectrum next year.

InterDigital Scores EU Funds for 6G Research

InterDigital racked up another win around 6G research, securing “contributions to the European wireless research and innovation
European Union (EU) funding covering five of 35 projects as part of ecosystem”, referencing its work in previous 5G programs.
a €250 million initiative to advance the region’s role in the evolution
beyond 5G. The US mobile R&D company won backing to explore AI-
enabled radio access; Digital Twins; short-range communications
protocols; validation tools for potential 6G technologies; and
another verification project covering reconfigurable intelligent
surfaces and cell-free Massive MIMO. InterDigital stated the
funding is being provided by the EU’s Smart Networks and Services
Joint Undertaking, an initiative forming part of the Horizon Europe
6G Flagship project. The EU network unit is running the latest
35-project program in conjunction with the 6G-IA, an association
which describes itself as the private element in the Horizon 2020
5G Public Private Partnership. InterDigital’s selection builds on its
participation in 6G@UT, a project in the US led by the University
of Texas announced in 2021. The company’s CTO Rajesh Pankaj
stated its participation in the EU project validated its previous

Canadian Government Backs EXFO 5G Research

Canada-based testing and monitoring equipment maker EXFO accelerate development of 5G in the country by constructing a
received CAD15.9 million ($11.7 million) from the government to dedicated research facility. The company stated it would use the
capital to build a 5G Centre of Excellence in Montreal, creating 50
jobs alongside the research boost. Canada’s Ministry of Innovation,
Science and Economic Development provided the sum through a
strategic innovation funding scheme. EXFO CEO Philippe Morin
stated the financial backing would allow the company to employ
advanced cloud computing, AI and machine learning technologies
to develop systems to automatically predict and detect problems
on 5G networks. Nokia partnered with various government entities
in Canada during October to construct what it claimed would be
a world-leading R&D facility to advance AI, 5G, cybersecurity and
environmental initiatives.
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