Charter: To Live & 5(G) in LA

Dan Jones
4/5/2018
50%
50%

Charter, the second-largest cable operator in the US, is undertaking more fixed 5G tests in Los Angeles, following initial tests around the country in 2017.

Charter Communications Inc. has been approved for an experimental 28GHz license for 25 antennas in Los Angeles for tests, which could start as soon as April 4 and run until October, according to documentation.

Is data center infrastructure ready for mobile edge computing, enterprise cloud, IoT, big data and 5G? Learn more about telco data center trends -- join us in Austin at the fifth annual Big Communications Event May 14-16. The event is free for communications service providers!

"The proposed operations will advance Charter's understanding of 5G technology and network potential in the millimeter wave bands and will advance the potential deployment of 5G fixed and mobile services," Charter says in its application.

The outdoor tests will utilize fixed transmitters with a 1 km or smaller effective radius, the company says. Charter held similar fixed 5G tests last year. (See Charter Reveals New Details on 4G/5G Trials.)

It is using 28GHz equipment from Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC), rather than the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea: SEC) gear used previously, in the latest round of tests.

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

(2)  | 
Comment  | 
Print  | 
Newest First  |  Oldest First  |  Threaded View        ADD A COMMENT
Clifton K Morris
50%
50%
Clifton K Morris,
 User Rank: Lightning
4/6/2018 | 2:29:17 PM
Re: Resurgence?
It seems Nokia’s RAN solutions would require their proprietary RAN Core, which adds additional cost to the overall service delivered. Deutsche Telekom in Germany recently announced “gutting” of Nokia RAN, which in the press release, was responsible for nearly 50-70% of overhead costs due to a design that seems to be non-upgradable. Likely Ericsson is using standards-based provisioning; perhaps even something similar to OpenEPC.

Added to this, it was only a few years ago did Ericsson start down the road of developing its own billing platform which allowed any carrier to move away from restrictions of Amdocs. T-Mobile USA used the billing platform to develop new services customers enjoyed in their famous “Uncarrier” series of advertisements.

See: https://www.lightreading.com/mobile/5g/dt-ditches-nokia-from-its-german-radio-access-network/d/d-id/740463
DanJones
50%
50%
DanJones,
 User Rank: Blogger
4/5/2018 | 9:30:01 PM
Resurgence?
I note Ericsson is picking up a number of these new 28GHz test deals, what's the deal?
Educational Resources
sponsor supplied content
5G Poll
Twitter Feed