Carl Weinschenk

The North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), a regional fiber network, is expanding, according to MCNC, the non-profit that operates it. The network operates in southeastern North Carolina. The expansion will connect communities between Sanford and Farmville in Greene, Harnett, Johnston and Wayne counties. The Golden LEAF Foundation is contributing $1,327,130 to the project, which has an estimated total cost of $2.5 million.

T-Mobile, Qualcomm Technologies and Ericsson have completed what they say is the first 5G low-band data session on a commercial 5G modem. The 5G 600 MHz session was conducted at T-Mobile’s lab in Bellevue (WA). The 600 MHz spectrum band is what T-Mobile will use for its nationwide 5G rollout. “This is a key step toward achieving our vision of 5G for All,” said T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray. “This modem will power devices that tap into the 600 MHz low-band spectrum we’ll use to blanket the country with 5G."

In what they characterize as a successful test, Samsung, Qualcomm Technologies and Verizon said they have achieved a mobile 5G speed of 1.7 Gbps using a 400 MHz swath of millimeter wave spectrum in the 28 GHz band. The companies used 5G New Radio (5G NR) compliant equipment and Evolved-Universal Terrestrial Radio Access-New Radio Dual Connectivity (EN-DC), which takes advantage of 5G and LTE technology.

The wireless sector enjoyed its biggest quarter-over-quarter jump in service revenue in five years, according to Chetan Sharma Consulting. The good news extended to all four major carriers, with T-Mobile leading the way with 7% growth. Chetan Sharma  finds:

AT&T has expanded its fixed wireless Internet infrastructure in four states. AT&T fixed wireless is now available in 33 counties serving more than 37,000 locations in AL, 40 counties serving more than 26,000 locations in AR, 46 counties serving more than 27,000 locations in GA and 51 counties serving more than 37,000 locations in TN.

Santa Maria (CA) has chosen Wave Broadband to build a fiber ring to include city departments, businesses, schools and residents. The Wave Broadband – Santa Maria public/private partnership aims to spark economic growth and attract high technology to the coastal city, which is about 150 miles from Los Angeles. The fiber ring is expected to support an upgrade to Santa Maria’s public safety network, with the city becoming a regional emergency dispatch center.