2020.07.10 – Open Broadband News

All aboard the new 5G transport network!

Broadband Forum has published a new white paper that outlines the transport architecture it is developing and sets out the motivation and benefits for operators to upgrade their transport networks and ensure their legacy backhaul infrastructure meets a new suite of demands to ensure superior RAN performance and maintain low total cost of ownership for 5G.

“5G is driving mobile operators to take a holistic approach to transport network planning,” said Robin Mersh, CEO of Broadband Forum. “The technology also brings a significant increase in capacity, requires an estimated doubling of radio sites deployed, and the need for a new architecture with new RAN and Core interfaces. These new architectures and new interfaces each have specific requirements that must be met not only by the mobile equipment, but by the underlying transport network.”

The white paper – titled “5G Network Architecture Overview” – explains that the new complexities of 5G networks require intelligent, automated coordination between RAN, mobile core networks and the underlying transport network to meet the demands of 5G. Legacy transport systems need to be upgraded and backhaul systems must meet a suite of new demands to ensure superior RAN performance and maintain low total cost of ownership. 5G backhaul systems need to address increased capacity and greater interface density requirements. For example, 5G backhaul baseband interfaces will need 10 Gbps capacity and need to scale efficiently up to 100Gbps.

Edinburgh ditches the haggis in favor of a full-fiber diet

A third of Edinburgh’s homes and businesses now have access to full-fiber broadband, according to Openreach.

With the latest stage of the rollout, 80,000 premises now have access to the gigabit-capable service, which can run 15 times faster than the current UK average. The Scottish Government had originally planned to extend superfast broadband to every home and business in Scotland by 2021.

Robert Thorburn, Openreach’s partnership director for Scotland, said: “Connectivity’s been vital for city businesses, home workers and families home educating during the lockdown, with record demand across our network. Now, as the nation faces the economic fallout from the pandemic, it’s going to be even more essential. Our rollout in Edinburgh offers these 80,000 homes and businesses access to the fastest, most reliable broadband available anywhere in the UK. That gives the city an economic edge for the recovery – so I’d urge people to check if they can upgrade now.”

The Land of Smiles gains another reason to be happy

Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) has set an ambitious goal to turn 100 cities nationwide into smart cities in two years to improve the economy and quality of life in line with the 20-year national strategy plan.

Cities in six provinces plus Bangkok have begun the process of transforming into smart cities. The provinces are Phuket, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao.

“The cooperation with the DLA in driving and developing smart cities is an important step in encouraging more municipalities to get prepared and submit their smart city proposals,” Mr Nuttapon said.

5G ‘continues progress’ despite COVID-19

5G progress in connections and deployments is continuing despite the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn. So says, 5G Americas, the wireless industry trade association and voice of 5G and LTE for the Americas.

According to data from Omdia, there are now more than 63.6 million 5G connections globally as of Q1 2020, which represents 308.7% growth over Q4 2019.

Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas, said: “Globally, 5G remains the fast-growing generation of wireless cellular technology ever, even as the world is gripped with a pandemic. In North America, we are seeing consistent, strong uptake of new 5G subscribers as new devices have been released that can take advantage of low-band and millimetre wave frequencies. At the same time, new network capabilities are being added.”

New network becomes all the fad in Chad

The Chadian government has officially launched a new network modernisation programme, through which it hopes to improve accessibility to ICT services for the population and to drive socio-economic development.

The programme consists of three major components, the first of which is the construction of a national data centre in the capital. Second is the construction of 1,200km fibre-optic network connecting Doba in the south to Iriba in the east via Koumra, Sarh, Kyabe, Am-timan, Abeche, Amzoer and Guereda. Alongside the national fibre rollout, the government will also install an additional 50km of fibre in N’Djamena. Finally, the project will see the construction of 200 new GSM sites nationwide.

I come from a land down under! Where the broadband reaches every corner

New legislation has come into force in Australia, enshrining in law access to broadband services for all Australians regardless of where they live, and which the Federal Government says “guarantees” broadband access for everyone.

The Australian Government’s new Statutory Infrastructure Provider (SIP) regime, which came into force on Wednesday, underpins the Universal Service Guarantee, meaning there is now a legislated framework for access to broadband as well as voice telephone services and payphones.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher said: “These historic laws mean that all Australians can access high-speed broadband, no matter where they live or work.”