Wireless Telecommunications

As we enter 2025, Standalone 5G (5G SA) continues to struggle to deliver on its transformative potential.

Customers of the two biggest cable mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) in the U.S.—Charter’s Spectrum Mobile and Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile—are both enjoying an impressive upward trajectory in their overall network performance. In their respective service areas over the past two years, Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile users’ download speeds increased by more than 100 Mbps.

The Federal Communications Commission heard reports on the agency’s work to create and build upon policy focused on the future of communications. One presentation summarized the FCC’s efforts to create its new Space Bureau, the future-forward policies created to fuel the New Space Age, and innovative spectrum efforts to enable the next generation of wireless technologies. These efforts included: 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo has appointed 30 outside experts to serve on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC). This important advisory group provides policy and technical advice on a range of issues related to wireless technologies and the use of spectrum. The outside experts will serve two-year terms and include 17 reappointments and 13 members who are new to the committee.

In May 2024, NTIA launched a request for comment (RFC) on how U.S. government policies can support the development of next-generation commercial wireless “6G” technology. A diverse group of stakeholders including private companies, universities, industry associations, and public interest groups responded; each focused on various aspects of the 6G ecosystem. Private companies emphasized spectrum policy, open networks, AI-driven networks, global standards leadership, and infrastructure deployment.

Several of Charter Communications’ website advertising claims of its Spectrum Mobile “Unlimited” and “Unlimited Plus” wireless data plans are being supported by BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD). NAD’s finding, which was announced today, came after an initial challenge of those claims by Verizon.

AT&T is leveling up the industry with the launch of the AT&T Guarantee on January 9: a bold promise to our consumer and small business customers that we will deliver the connectivity they can depend on, the deals they want, and the prompt, friendly service they deserve. And if we fall short of this—we're going to take action to make it right. No other carrier has offered a guarantee as comprehensive as this, spanning our network, our care and our deals. We’re the first and only carrier that offers a guarantee for wireless and fiber networks.

While communications impacts are minimal so far, the FCC will continue to monitor how these sets of wildfires are affecting residents’ ability to receive the information they need to stay safe. Should conditions change, the agency stands ready to support in any way it can, including any requests to deploy FCC staff to help with any communications network recovery.

As we move into 2025, the Trump Administration and Congress have a unique opportunity to enact infrastructure policy reforms that will serve as a springboard for finishing 5G deployment and setting the stage for all the future G’s. This is critical to America’s economic success and the safety and vitality of our communities. With a mixture of common-sense reforms and strengthening existing rules, we can build on prior successes and set the stage for continued generational investments in wireless.

On January 2, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published the Final Bead Alternative Broadband Technology Policy Notice to provide additional guidance to states and territories regarding the use of non-fiber technologies to serve unserved and underserved locations through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The BEAD Program is designed to deploy broadband service to all unserved and underserved locations