Nokia and AT&T Mexico said Monday they’re working together on a potential 5G deployment in Mexico. Nokia will provide gear from its 5G AirScale radio access network portfolio plus “connectivity for 3G and 4G LTE services using the same hardware while offering a seamless upgrade path to 5G,” Nokia said. “As we move forward with the deployment of our 5G network, we need the latest technology and the most reliable support services,” said Nicole Rodriguez, AT&T Mexico chief technology officer.

Ericsson, Qualcomm and Thales will join on testing and validation of satellite-delivered 5G networks, Qualcomm said Monday. The testing goal will be validation of technology components needed to enable 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN), including a 5G smartphone, satellite payload and 5G network pieces on the ground, it said. Ericsson plans to verify a 5G virtual radio access network stack modified to handle radio signals propagating via low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, it said. Thales said it plans to verify a 5G radio satellite payload suitable for deployment on LEO satellites. Qualcomm said it will test phones verifying that 5G NTN can be accessed by future 5G smartphones.

The Asia-Pacific region faces a wireless usage gap, said a Thursday GSMA report. Mobile broadband networks cover about 96% of POPs in the region, “a testament to operators’ investment in 3G, 4G and, increasingly, 5G infrastructure,” but just 44% are using mobile internet services, GSMA said. “This means that more than half of the population live in areas covered by a mobile broadband network but do not yet subscribe to a mobile internet service,” the report said: “The main reasons for the usage gap include the lack of digital skills (especially among older populations), lack of affordability among low-income households and online safety concerns among minority and vulnerable population groups.”

Policymakers should “reject the spectrum nihilism” that says there’s no spectrum left that could be cleared for licensed use, said a Tuesday paper by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. “Advances in compression technologies have enabled the clearing of bands that have now become valuable tent poles of the wireless marketplace,” the paper said: “Both private and government spectrum users should therefore invest in compression technologies. This can be incentivized by making clear that licensees that manage to clear a currently encumbered band would be able to reap the profits of selling or using its capacity.” Federal networks should be examined to see if they could operate more efficiently using commercial spectrum, ITIF said: “Current efforts to evaluate DOD uses of the lower 3 GHz band should not simply find ways to squeeze in 5G networks around current DOD services. The department should also try to migrate services onto those 5G networks that can provide the same reliability and security while internalizing interference externalities that would otherwise cause clashing protocols to diminish the overall capacity and efficiency of the band.” Joe Kane, director-broadband and spectrum policy, wrote the paper.

Nokia won a five-year deal with Norwegian carrier Ice to upgrade and expand its 5G network, Nokia said Tuesday. Nokia said deployment has started and will run through 2026. Ice has more than 700,000 customers and its network covers 95% of the population in Norway.

Carriers worldwide will need an average of 2 GHz of mid-band and 5 GHz of high-band spectrum for 5G by 2030, GSMA said in reports released Thursday. In low bands “spectrum needs for 5G are higher than the amount of capacity that naturally exists below 1 GHz,” but “ensuring the availability of the 600 MHz band will raise rural broadband speeds by 30-50%,” GSMA said. “The speed and availability of 5G services depend on mobile network operators having access to spectrum in low, mid- and high bands to build out cost-effective networks,” the group said: “Robust licensing and timely availability of spectrum is also central to the success of 5G deployment.” GSMA called sub-1 GHz spectrum "the cornerstone of digital equality and a driver of broad and affordable connectivity."

Competitive Carriers Association representatives raised concerns about “the potential for a serious ‘5G Gap’ that may disproportionately harm rural wireless carriers and consumers,” in a call with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The risk of a 5G Gap is growing due to the confluence of developments such as underfunding for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program and the heavy fiber focus of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-476. CCA urged the FCC to emphasize the importance of 5G in an upcoming report to Congress on the USF. “Many parts of the United States, especially rural America, are at risk of being left behind,” the group said.

The DOJ approved an amended master network services agreement between Dish Network and T-Mobile, T-Mobile said in an SEC filing Thursday. The agreement gives Dish’s retail wireless brands, including Boost Mobile, continued access to T-Mobile's 5G network (see 2206210049). “While we are surprised at the DOJ’s newfound timeliness on the issue -- given that it never got around to approving the earlier version of the new [mobile virtual network operator] terms that Dish and T-Mobile signed in late February -- the approval now is nonetheless a positive for Dish,” New Street’s Philip Burnett told investors.

Dish Network and T-Mobile agreed to an amendment to their 2020 master network services agreement, offering Dish’s retail wireless brands, including Boost Mobile, continued access to T-Mobile's 5G network. DOJ must clear the amendment. It “incorporates financial and operational changes, including improved pricing and enhanced roaming solutions for DISH 5G customers in consideration of an annual minimum revenue commitment through the remaining term,” the companies said Tuesday. "We are pleased to have reached new terms with T-Mobile that provide DISH with the ability to be more competitive and to meet our customers' evolving needs," said John Swieringa, Dish Wireless president. "While DISH customers will benefit from our network, this deal also locks in a multi-billion dollar revenue commitment for our business,” said Mike Katz, T-Mobile chief marketing officer. New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin said details are still sketchy. “What we know: 1) the mobile virtual network operator "rate is lowered, with the new rate applied retroactively to January 2022. 2) Dish has a minimum purchase commitment of $3.3BN over the remaining 5 years of the deal. 3) Dish gets in-market roaming, and the elimination of some restrictions on roaming. 4) Dish gets help on subs migrated off the CDMA network, including the provision of handsets. 5) Dish gets another 100k subs that were previously Boost branded, but remained with T-Mobile post deal.”

Dish Network said Wednesday it’s now offering 5G broadband service to more than 20% of U.S. POPs. Dish faced a Tuesday deadline to satisfy an FCC requirement tied to the company’s AWS-4, PCS H-block and 700 MHz-E block licenses. Chairman Charlie Ergen said last month Dish would hit the target and wouldn’t need an extension from the FCC (see 2205060036). “This marks a major milestone in building the world's most advanced cloud-native 5G Open [radio access] network,” said a news release. Dish said the Samsung Galaxy S22 and NetGear 5G hot spots are being offered to early subscribers. The network launched in Las Vegas in May (see 2205040057). “DISH already offers the Motorola Edge+ for purchase in Las Vegas and will expand the sale of this device to more markets in the coming months,” the company said. “Additional compatible devices will become available throughout the year." New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin told investors Tuesday the only market where Dish has formally launched is Las Vegas. “They announced 26 other major metro markets and another 110 smaller cities and towns that they would cover ahead of the 20% deadline,” he said: “Assuming they cover the urban and suburban region of each [partial economic area], the 27 metro markets capture about 17% of national POPs and the remaining 110 markets should easily cover the 3% required to get to the 20% target.”