Mobile & Wireless Roundup #99

Welcome to the 99th edition of this newsletter. We often read about how organisations were infiltrated by hackers but this remained undiscovered for months or years. In the end, no one was sure who did it and what information was compromised. SecureWorld has a good list here for those who would like to research further.

This made me wonder how smart cities can be a playground for hackers. Due to a myriad of IoT and other smart devices and multiple platforms supplied by different suppliers, it might be challenging to ensure all software is patched-up and up-to-date.

There have also been cases reported on how hackers have disrupted critical infrastructure and services that residents rely on daily. These include hackers gaining control of the city's traffic management system and manipulating traffic lights, causing gridlock, accidents, and emergency response delays. Disruption of public transportation systems, such as buses and trains which can lead to widespread commuter frustration and economic loss due to delayed or missed work. Tampering with power grids or water supply systems which can result in blackouts, water shortages, and compromised public safety.

In addition, highly interconnected systems could probably increase the risk of cascading failures, where compromising of one system can lead to access to multiple others. It is possible that these smart cities end up as ‘stalking cities’, tracking all our activities and selling to anyone willing to pay for that information.

While I am aware of many different initiatives, led by governments (UK Government example ) as well as other organisations, I believe more needs to be done, sooner rather than later.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a technologist with over 25 years’ experience in mobile wireless technology, currently working as an independent advisor, analyst, consultant and a trainer. This newsletter is a summary of my posts and other news that caught my attention since the last newsletter.

⦿ 6G

• one6G Open Lecture 7 – In-Network Computing and Intelligent User Plane for 6G (link )

• eeNews: ITRI and partners showcase advanced 6G innovations (link )
• RCR Wireless: The outlines of the 6G network architecture are starting to take shape (Analyst Angle) (link )
• Nvidia Technical Blog: Boosting AI-Driven Innovation in 6G with the AI-RAN Alliance, 3GPP, and O-RAN (link )
• 6G World - 6G and Integrated Sensing & Communications: The Essentials (link )

⦿ 5G

• Ookla: Faster Speeds and the Promise of New Use Cases is Driving 5G SA Adoption (link )
• Developing Telecoms: CelcomDigi, U Mobile, ZTE to demo 5G-A broadcast at Sukma Games (link )
• Michael Thelander on LinkedIn: "I’ve got good news and bad news … when it comes to several 5G uplink features, which are designed to improve coverage / capacity / spectral efficiency…" (link )

⦿ 2G/3G

• Sam Jackman on LinkedIn: We have heard a lot about the 3G switch off’s, but what about 2G? (link )
• 3G networks to be decommissioned in Vietnam by 2028 (link ) - Over 10 million 2G phone users in Vietnam must switch by September 2024 (link )
• Odido (formerly T-Mobile and Tele2) in The Netherlands is planning to switch off 3G after 1 August 2026 but will give 6 months’ notice (link ) - It shutdown 2G in June 2021 (link )

⦿ Open & Disaggregated Networks (including Open RAN, vRAN, etc.)

• ODIN: Will Open RAN Politics Solve Open RAN Economics? (link )
• O-RAN next Generation Research Group (nGRG) Contributed Research Report: Research Report on Digital Twin RAN Use Cases (link )

⦿ Spectrum

• The Hindu, India: Airtel starts reallocating 4G bands to accommodate demand for 5G (link )
• MWL: Korea cancels Stage X mobile licence (link ) – MSIT press release here .
• Dean Bubley on LinkedIn: "I've had an article published on RCR Wireless News about ongoing developments with #CBRS, as well as #spectrumsharing in the US more generally. It discusses the enhancements made recently in CBRS regulations and access, new use-cases - and how the lessons and processes can be applied to other bands, such as the US lower 3GHz range…" (link )

⦿ Private Networks

• Private Networks Technology Blog: Private 5G Supporting the Broadcast of the Coronation of HM King Charles III (link )
• Private Networks eBook (link )

⦿ Telecoms Infrastructure, Small Cells, Antennas & others

• Dell’Oro Group: FDD Sub-3 GHz 5G Is on the Rise (link )

⦿ IoT / M2M / Smart Homes

• IoT for All: What Are the Benefits of Integrating Nanotechnology into IoT? (link )
• RCR Wireless: Vodafone turns on LTE-M in the UK, claims a full house of IoT tech (link )

⦿ Virtualization, Cloud & Edge

• Telefonica: How 5G connectivity is evolving with Edge Computing technology (link )

⦿ Security & Privacy

• SecurityGen: VoLTE a history of disregard (link )
• SBA Research on LinkedIn: Austrian Security Researchers Uncover Multiple Critical Vulnerabilities in VoWiFi - Affecting Austrian Mobile Operator! (link ) – Silke Holtmanns on this article on LinkedIn here .
• 5G security provides compatibility with zero trust principles (link )

⦿ AI, ML & Automation

• Free 6G Training: 6G and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) (link )
• Operator Watch Blog: GenAI at Telus (link )

⦿ Metaverse & Extended Reality (XR)

• Rethink Research: Headsets behind mobile on XR, reveals Faultline panel (link )

⦿ Other News and Technology Stuff

• Opensignal: The mobile network experience along the Tokaido Shinkansen line in Japan (link )

⦿ Picture of the week: Mike Thelander’s LinkedIn post reminded me of the fun time when T-Mobile USA held a 5G bake off to not just promote the superiority of their 5G network, but also have educate about their multi-layer strategy . Many people (mostly T-Mobile employees and/or their families) made the “Layer Cake” as can be seen in the pictures. There are a lot more pictures on X (f.k.a. Twitter) under #5GBakeOff . Do we need a new bake off to include NTN as well 🤔?

Happy to hear your thoughts. Feel free let me know what worked, what didn’t, how I can make this better, etc. Get in touch over LinkedIn!

PDF version of this and previous newsletters are available here .