Wireless Telecommunications

Bringing rapid innovation and increased diversity and competition to mobile services is a national imperative. To accomplish this goal, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS)—the research and engineering arm of the US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)—is encouraging the evolution of open and interoperable 5G networks through the 5G Challenge. The goal of the 5G Challenge is to accelerate the development and widespread deployment of open and interoperable 5G networks with true plug-and-play operation.

The Telecommunications Workforce Interagency Group (TWIG) will hold a kickoff webcast on March 8, 2022 at 11am (eastern). The webcast will feature remarks of leaders from the Federal Communications Commission, Department of Labor, the Department of Education, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The distinguished speakers will provide remarks regarding the importance of the TWIG’s mission and formally initiate the work of the group.

"To support the next-generation of wireless connectivity, we must work together to free up more spectrum—and especially mid-band airwaves," said Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel at the Mobile World Congress of 2022 In Barcelona, Spain. "I'm excited to announce that the United States will hold another mid-band spectrum auction. This July we will kick off our auction of the 2.5 GHz band.

The ultra-compact, fully integrated Ericsson Street Radio small cell can be deployed globally by plugging into existing streetlights that utilize a National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standardized connector. And it is virtually unseen from street level. The device sits just above the streetlight shield next to the light itself allowing it to blend into the existing infrastructure. No long wires and big, bulky boxes – a true aesthetic improvement.

Dish Network has resolved its dispute with T-Mobile over the shut-down of T-Mobile’s 3G CDMA network. The parties have agreed that T-Mobile’s CDMA network will officially shut down on March 31—the same date that T-Mobile has been sticking to in the fight between the two carriers. The two carriers are working together to communicate to Boost customers who are still on the CDMA network and to help them obtain new handsets. In the short-term Dish expects some continued churn of Boost Mobile customers. 

Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen said unexpected technical issues have delayed the rollout of his company’s new fifth-generation mobile network but vowed to have basic service ready before a government-ordered coverage deadline hits in June 2022. “We’re six months behind, and it’s my fault,” Ergen said.

T-Mobile struck out again in its effort to claim America’s most reliable 5G network after an unsuccessful appeal to an advertising industry review board. T-Mobile said it will follow recommendations from the National Advertising Review Board (NARB) to stop all express and implied claims of having the most reliable 5G network based on data from network testing company umlaut.

Using terms like “predatory” and “anti-competitive,” four retail wireless dealers filed suit against T-Mobile in recent weeks, all saying they were basically run out of business since the operator's merger with Sprint. Absolute Wireless, Maycom, Solutions Center and Wireless Express each named T-Mobile in their complaints. All of them previously sold wireless services for Sprint.

Low-income households are spending too much on connectivity. Prior to the pandemic, the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program supported mainly wireless communication services for low-income households; its $9.25/month subsidy resulting in service plans that restricted voice and data usage. To address Americans’ online connectivity needs during the pandemic, Congress directed the FCC to launch the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program—a historic expansion of financial support for universal service.

UScellular lost more postpaid customers in the fourth quarter of 2021 – about 12,000 – on top of the 8,000 it lost in the third quarter of 2021. “We have to continue to do better,” said UScellular President and CEO Laurent Therivel. But the company's share of gross adds was quite strong in 2021, particularly in the fourth quarter. “It’s really a churn story,” Therivel said. “The churn dynamic is going to be affected by the upgrade promotions.