The BBC’s 5G broadcast radio trial in Stronsay, Orkney, has been extended until the end of September 2019. The trial began in February with residents in Stronsay becoming some of the first people in the world to receive live radio broadcasts over 5G mobile networks. The trial has proven extremely popular with participants, with initial […]
Vodafone’s new CEO has had to take back his promise on the dividend as the board cuts it for the first time since 1990 as international operations suffer and 5G costs mount. Previously Nick Reid had said cost cuts, like selling off its towers, would mean it could retain its dividend. But the high cost […]
Equity analysts from investment bank Exane/BNPP spent an intense week talking to industry executives as well as regulators in Washington, and taking advantage of the Satellite 2019 conflab. The result is a 15-page report which very much focuses on the prospects for the C-Band Alliance’s financially important release of some 180 MHz of C-band spectrum […]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the C-Band Alliance (of Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and Telesat) to clarify certain key points on the Alliance’s plan to reallocate 180 MHz of C-band (3.7-4.2 GHz) satellite spectrum to speed the roll-out of 5G over the US. The FCC’s request, made on the eve of the important 2019 […]
UK comms regulator Ofcom is consulting on a request from the UK’s main mobile network operators to make technical changes to their spectrum licences, to help support the rollout of ultrafast mobile services. EE, Hutchison, Telefónica and Vodafone have asked Ofcom to vary their licences in the 3.4 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 3.6 GHz bands. […]
US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States must win the race to provide 5G networks, and that American companies must lead the world in cellular technology. Addressing a White House event on 5G deployment attended by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Trump said that people were there to discuss a critical issue for […]
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the Secure Packager and Encoder Key Exchange (SPEKE), an open, extensible API specification developed to streamline integration of Digital Rights Management (DRM) with encoders, transcoders, and origin servers (encryptors). Until recently, most integrations required a custom API for each DRM solutions provider and each encryptor, which proved costly and […]
FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly has told US cable operators that their concerns over the potential reallocation of C-band satellite spectrum over the US are being listened to. However, he also warned: “The entire government oversight model for video services needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom.” O’Rielly told delegates to a cable-sponsored conference (ACA […]
There’s positive feedback from Deutsche Bank following a series on US media and broadcasting interviews over the past few days, and including a Regulatory Panel which included Andrew Lipman, a partner with major law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Deutsche Bank, in a report, says that the panel pointed to a high likelihood of […]
The potential freeing of C-band spectrum by Intelsat and SES over the US for use by 5G has been well covered in recent times. With a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) probably only weeks away, the temperature is rising amongst supporters and objectors. Some Capital Hill lawmakers are advocating the introduction of a special ‘windfall’ tax […]