AT&T

Verizon and AT&T; at center of 5G standards fight – Carrier Wrap Ep. 50

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• published: 26 Oct 2016
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With “4G” networks using LTE-Advanced enhancements rolling out rapidly across parts of the developed world, the mobile telecom market’s interest has turned its gaze towards “5G” technology. While most deployment forecasts of networks using standardized 5G technology are currently focused post-2020, industry carriers and vendors are looking to lock up at least a start on those standards within the next 12 to 18 months. On this week’s carrier wrap we speak with Michael Thelander, founder and president of Signals Research Group, to get an update from the latest 3rd Generation Partnership Project meeting looking at 5G standards, which included a standoff between Verizon Communications and AT&T; over the timing on the release of standards. According to Thelander an AT&T-led; group wanting to get some form of 5G standards on the books by the end of 2017, which was well ahead of 3GPP’s initial timeline of mid-2018, incited the disagreement. The move was explained by the carrier as it needing more time for testing some of the standards to be ready for mid-2018. Verizon, which itself is seen by some as aggressively pushing its own 5G agenda tied to plans for network trials beginning in 2017, produced a counter proposal stating it would like to keep the schedule as is. Thelander reasoned Verizon was perhaps looking to stall AT&T;’s advancement in terms of 5G work in favor of its own plans for fixed broadband service trials that have already garnered a number of industry partners, while AT&T; on the other hand was making Verizon look overly aggressive. “Verizon Wireless wants to show early leadership, so they can’t accelerate their deployments any faster, but what you can do is essentially delay or prolong the ability of others to deploy something,” Thelander explained. “Although Verizon’s public statement of why they want to not accelerate things is somewhat valid, I think the real reason is different.” Somewhat connected with the timing issue surrounding 5G standards, Thelander noted plans for the initial Release 15 specification, which was to be 5G focused, was now looking to be lighter on what’s expected from 5G and instead a greater reliance would be pushed off until Release 16. The move would seem to place a greater emphasis on the current LTE-based Release 13 and upcoming Release 14 specifications to provide a more solid base for what’s expected from 5G.