Introduction and Welcome

Will Townsend: Welcome to episode 193 of the G2 on 5G, it’s the latest insight scoop on everything 5G. We cover six topics in about 20 minutes, and it’s brought to you by More Insights and Strategy. I’m Will Townsend, and joining me again this week is FAL analyst Anshel Sag. We’re both traveling this week. We’re recording on a Sunday night. Anshel is at Microsoft Build, and I’m at Dell Tech World. I just landed in Vegas a few hours ago, but you’re going to be joining me soon, right?

Anshel Sag: Yeah, we’ll see if that works out. I realize I didn’t bring my tripod, so we’ll have to figure out a way to prop up my camera and get a good angle. If it doesn’t work out, we can always go back to our default at-home setups.

AT&T and AST Space Mobile Agreement

Will Townsend: Let’s get started with my first topic. I want to talk about AT&T and AST Space Mobile. Last week on May 15, both companies signed a definitive commercial agreement, formalizing what was previously a memo of understanding. From my perspective, this could greatly accelerate their collaboration. They’ll be launching five or six production satellites into AT&T’s network to provide gap coverage. Additionally, Chris Sambar, head of networks, will be accepting a position on AST Space Mobile‘s board of directors. What’s your take on this?

Anshel Sag: I think it’s a natural evolution of their partnership. AT&T’s commitment is evident, and getting a seat on the board shows they want to control their destiny. They’ve raised money and are deepening their partnership. It’s interesting to see satellite startups aligning with different carriers in the US.

Dish Network’s DoD Deal

Anshel Sag: My first topic is about Dish Network and their new deal with the Department of Defense, which might save them from bankruptcy. They signed a ten-year deal to provide 5G wireless services and devices to support DoD usage in all 50 states and US territories. This $2.7 billion deal is significant revenue for them. What’s your take?

Will Townsend: Charlie Ergen is like the Energizer Bunny. It’s interesting to see if this ensures there’s no anti-competitive concern. The government might earmark funds to ensure a competitive fourth carrier in the US. It’s fascinating to follow this as it unfolds.

T-Mobile’s Private 5G Network for PGA Championship

Will Townsend: The PGA of America leaned into T-Mobile for a private 5G network for the big tournament this weekend. They deployed the network for broadcasting and fan activations. What’s cool is the network slice dedicated to critical business operations like ticketing and point of sale. What’s your take?

Anshel Sag: I think T-Mobile did a good job communicating this. They could have done a better job inviting people to check it out. It’s interesting that T-Mobile is focusing on sporting events and venues with its private 5G network. It’s a great use case showcasing 5G’s power.

Germany’s Potential Ban on Chinese Equipment

Anshel Sag: Germany is close to banning Huawei and ZTE equipment from their public networks by 2026. There’s a proposal to rip and replace this equipment. This aligns with the Western world’s stance on security risks associated with Chinese infrastructure. What do you think?

Will Townsend: I agree. Most of the world is following the US lead on this. Huawei is diversifying its focus, moving towards enterprise networking and infrastructure for local carriers. It’s a significant shift in the global telecom landscape.

China Mobile’s Investment in AI Compute Infrastructure

Will Townsend: China Mobile is investing heavily in AI compute infrastructure, ordering up to 265,000 servers. However, there’s not much detail on what they’ll do with this. AI can do a lot for telecom networks, like self-healing and supporting customer service. What’s your take?

Anshel Sag: Anything from China Mobile should be taken with a grain of salt. They don’t release detailed information. Huawei continues to supply developing nations and politically aligned countries. Transparency is an issue with China Mobile.

Microsoft Build and AI’s Impact on 5G PCs

Anshel Sag: I’m at Microsoft Build, and there will be many announcements about AI and hybrid AI experiences. These use cases will combine on-device and cloud processing. Hybrid AI requires 5G connectivity for full potential. AI could drive 5G PC adoption, but activation experiences need improvement. What do you think?

Will Townsend: Activation experience is key. Manufacturers need to work with carriers to address friction in the process. T-Mobile’s 90-day free trial with Surface Pro 9 5G was a good start. It’s encouraging to see more mobile network operators pre-loaded into the Windows ecosystem.

Conclusion and Wrap-Up

Anshel Sag: We hope our viewers and listeners found this week’s topics interesting. If anyone out there would like to provide insights for a specific 5G topic for a future podcast, please reach out to us on social media—Will is @WillTownTech and I’m @AnshelSag. We hope you have a great week, and please tune in again for the next episode later this week. Don’t forget to rate and subscribe.