3GPP

5G FWA for MDUs: New Broadband Forum Spec

5G FWA for MDUs: New Broadband Forum Spec
A fresh technical report from Broadband Forum details how a single outdoor 5G Fixed Wireless Access connection can deliver gigabit broadband to multiple apartments by reusing a building’s existing wiring. The document defines an architecture where one high-capacity 5G FWA modem—preferably operating on mmWave (3GPP FR2, roughly 24–40 GHz)—is installed on the roof or exterior of a multi‑dwelling unit (MDU) and then shared across many tenants. Instead of running new fiber to every unit, the approach leverages in‑place infrastructure such as coaxial cabling, twisted pair, or legacy telephone wiring to distribute service from a centralized point (attic, basement, or telecom closet) to apartments.

Nokia and OneLayer Secure Utility Private 5G/LTE Networks

Nokia’s tie-up with OneLayer brings carrier-grade security and OT-aware visibility into one stack, addressing the core adoption barrier for private 5G/LTE in utilities: protecting highly distributed, mission-critical operations at scale. Together, the companies deliver a zero-trust model that spans radio to application: authenticated device identity, continuous posture assessment, role-based segmentation at the cellular (DNN/QoS flow) and IP layers, and orchestrated mitigation. Bottom line: With utilities accelerating private LTE/5G rollouts, Nokia and OneLayer are packaging the controls that regulators, insurers, and boards now expect—bringing OT-aware zero trust into the cellular domain without adding operational complexity.

FCC to scrap telecom cybersecurity mandate

FCC to scrap telecom cybersecurity mandate
The Federal Communications Commission plans a November vote to rescind a January ruling that tied carrier cybersecurity obligations to CALEA, resetting the regulatory posture after high-profile intrusions tied to Chinese state-linked actors. In January, the FCC interpreted the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) to require telecommunications carriers to protect their networks against unlawful access or interception, and paired that interpretation with a proposal to require written cybersecurity plans and baseline controls. The commission signals it will pivot to a more targeted, collaborative posture with carriers instead of a one-size-fits-all mandate.

Vodafone and Dell to Scale Open RAN and 5G in Europe

Vodafone and Dell to Scale Open RAN and 5G in Europe
Vodafone named Dell Technologies a strategic infrastructure provider for a five-year Open RAN buildout across Europe, signaling a move from trials to scaled, automated 5G networks. Vodafone will expand one of Europe’s largest Open RAN footprints using Dell infrastructure as part of a multi-year radio access modernization program. Dell will supply its PowerEdge XR8000 series servers, including the XR8620t and the latest XR8720t with Intel Xeon 6 SoC. Vodafone also plans to adopt the Dell Telecom Infrastructure Automation Suite (DTIAS) to provide the Infrastructure Management Service within its Open RAN architecture, designed to automate Day 0/1/2 lifecycle operations for O-Cloud infrastructure.

O2 and Starlink Direct-to-Cell Boost UK Mobile Coverage

O2 and Starlink Direct-to-Cell Boost UK Mobile Coverage
Virgin Media O2 has struck a multi‑year agreement with Starlink Direct to Cell to deliver satellite‑to‑mobile service across rural UK not‑spots, positioning O2 as the first British operator to integrate Starlink’s constellation with licensed mobile spectrum. Branded as O2 Satellite, the service will initially support messaging and basic data on existing smartphones when users move beyond terrestrial signal. O2 is targeting landmass coverage beyond 95% within a year of launch, using Starlink’s 650+ low‑Earth orbit satellites to act as “cell sites in space.” Customer rollout is planned for early 2026, with pricing to follow and an extra monthly fee anticipated.

FCC upper C-Band auctions for 5G and 6G

FCC upper C-Band auctions for 5G and 6G
The FCC is circulating a proposal to reconfigure and auction a significant slice of upper C-Band spectrum, with a vote slated for November and a public comment period to shape the details. The draft notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) seeks input on auctioning up to 180 MHz of upper C-Band in the contiguous United States for licensed mobile broadband, with a floor of at least 100 MHz mandated by Congress for auction by July 2027. Commissioner Brendan Carr frames the objective as maximizing mid-band capacity for 5G and setting the stage for 6G, while maintaining aviation safety.

NVIDIA and Nokia Launch AI-RAN Platform for 6G

NVIDIA and Nokia Launch AI-RAN Platform for 6G
NVIDIA and Nokia unveiled a strategic partnership to deliver commercial AI-RAN products built on NVIDIA’s Aerial RAN Computer Pro (ARC-Pro) platform and Nokia’s RAN software portfolio, with NVIDIA committing a $1 billion equity investment in Nokia at approximately $6.01 per share, subject to customary closing conditions. The companies are targeting an AI-native RAN that runs both radio workloads and AI inference on a software-defined, accelerated platform, with a cumulative AI-RAN market opportunity that Omdia estimates will exceed $200 billion by 2030. ARC-Pro is positioned as a 6G-ready accelerated computing platform that couples connectivity, compute, and sensing, enabling upgrades from 5G-Advanced to 6G largely via software.

SoftBank and NVIDIA AI-RAN: 16-Layer MU-MIMO on GPUs

SoftBank AI-RAN Realizes - Software-only Massive MIMO on GPU
SoftBank and NVIDIA have validated a fully software-defined, GPU-accelerated AI-RAN that delivers 16-layer massive MU-MIMO outdoors—an inflection point for vRAN performance, Open RAN scalability, and AI-native RAN design. SoftBank’s AI-RAN product, AITRAS, executed the entire 5G physical layer on NVIDIA GPUs at the Distributed Unit and demonstrated stable 16-layer multi-user MIMO downlink in an outdoor trial at NVIDIA’s Santa Clara campus. The system connected to O-RAN-compliant radios via Split 7.2x and achieved roughly three times the spectral efficiency and throughput of a conventional 4-layer setup while maintaining per-user rates under high load. The field results show that software-only massive MIMO on GPUs can meet macro-radio conditions without bespoke silicon.

Ericsson and SAR bring 5G FRMCS to Saudi Rail

Ericsson and SAR bring 5G FRMCS to Saudi Rail
The partnership targets two fronts: mission-critical rail communications for operations and high-speed broadband for passengers. The scope includes deploying advanced 5G infrastructure, testing FRMCS-based use cases, and running a real-world trial on an existing SAR line to validate performance, integration, and safety requirements. An innovation and test lab will be established to accelerate solution validation, and SAR teams will be trained on FRMCS/5G rail technologies to build in-house capability. The partners will explore 5G Standalone capabilities for operational communications, including quality-of-service guarantees, redundancy, and resilience needed for rail. FRMCS-aligned services such as mission-critical push-to-talk/data/video (MCX), Railway Emergency Call, and secure staff communications will be validated for integration with signaling and control systems.

6G Video Coding: Ericsson, Nokia and Fraunhofer HHI Lead Next Standard

6G Video Coding: Ericsson, Nokia and Fraunhofer HHI Lead Next Standard
Ericsson, Nokia, and Fraunhofer HHI jointly demonstrated a proof‑of‑concept codec that delivers meaningfully higher compression than today’s widely deployed standards—H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, and H.266/VVC—without a notable rise in complexity. The partners emphasize energy efficiency and scalability, which are critical for battery‑powered devices, edge compute, and large streaming workloads. Their submission was positively received by the ITU‑T Video Coding Experts Group and ISO/IEC MPEG, the bodies that jointly steward the H.26x/MPEG lineage. The work is positioned as an on‑ramp to the next standardization phase, targeting readiness to support commercial deployment around 2029–2030, in step with 6G timelines.

Palantir and Lumen $200M Enterprise AI Partnership at the Edge

Palantir and Lumen $200M Enterprise AI Partnership at the Edge
A new partnership between Palantir and Lumen Technologies signals a shift from internal AI pilots to packaged enterprise services delivered over a telecom-grade edge and network footprint. Palantir will provide its Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) as the data and decisioning layer for Lumen’s enterprise AI offerings, which Lumen plans to deliver on top of its edge computing nodes, broadband infrastructure, and managed digital services. The companies position this as a multi-year, strategic collaboration focused on operational AI use cases, not just experimentation. While exact terms were not disclosed, multiple reports indicate Lumen’s total spend could exceed $200 million over several years.

Ubiik Earns Anterix 900 MHz Certification for Private LTE

Ubiik Earns Anterix 900 MHz Certification for Private LTE
Ubiik has secured Anterix certifications for its router and base station, signaling readiness for private LTE deployments on Anterix’s 900 MHz Band 106 spectrum. Anterix awarded Anterix Active badges to Ubiik’s Pyxis 5G LPWA RA810 router and its goRAN+ base station, confirming they meet Anterix operating criteria for 900 MHz private LTE. In addition, the high-power Pyxis RA320X variant received an Anterix Capable badge, validating a 28 dBm transmit option that extends reach compared to standard 23 dBm LTE modules. Together, the router and RAN designations give utilities and critical infrastructure providers a tested, end-to-end path to deploy pLTE on B106. Band 106 is licensed 900 MHz spectrum aligned with 3GPP LTE that Anterix has aggregated across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii.
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