Open radio access networks signal “increased competition,” NTIA said in an FCC filing Friday on the March ORAN notice of inquiry (see 2103170049). “The Executive Branch recognizes that many [wireless] network operators, both domestically and abroad, face limited options when selecting vendors,” said the filing in docket 21-63: “Limited competition in the telecommunications infrastructure market can reduce supply chain resilience and security and contribute to higher prices for operators and consumers in the long run.” ORAN “holds the potential to lower operators’ network costs and generate savings that could, in turn, be passed to consumers through lower relative pricing.” It will spur AI and machine learning "without needing additional standards or application programming interfaces,” the agency said. NTIA cautioned that ORAN can help with supply chain security and resilience, but “it is not a replacement for governments taking action in collaboration with industry to protect critical infrastructure … from a full range of security threats, including those posed by untrusted, high-risk vendors.”

Rakuten met with acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to tout the company’s 5G platform as lower cost and more secure than other systems, said a filing posted Wednesday in FCC docket 21-63. Participants included Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani, his North America counterpart Amit Patel and Salt Point Strategies' David Redl, an ex-NTIA head. Rakuten reported similar meetings with Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington (see here and here).

Open radio access network vendors seek an FCC policy statement and other actions supporting open networks. Call for carriers to “adopt Open RAN principles not only for the replacement of Huawei and ZTE networks, but for all 5G/LTE and commercial radio access networks in the U.S.,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-63 signed by Airspan, Altiostar, DeepSig, Mavenir, NewEdge Signal Solutions and Parallel Wireless.

Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will start the FCC open radio access network solutions showcase, the agency said Monday. Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington, and Amit Mital, National Security Council senior director-cyber & emerging technology, also speak Wednesday. Acting NTIA Administrator Evelyn Remaley opens Thursday.

Incompas and the Computer & Communications Industry Association urged the FCC to “follow the robust record” and open 12 GHz for terrestrial mobile. This "would accelerate mobile market competition" and "strengthen America’s 5G edge,” they said. “This action would in no way undermine the utilization of the 12 GHz spectrum band for satellite services and would protect incumbents from interference.” Replies were due later Wednesday in docket 20-443.

CTIA and other commenters urged the FCC to use caution as it considers adopting out-of-band emissions in the 24 GHz band aligned with limits adopted at the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference, in filings posted Tuesday in docket 21-186. NTIA supports adoption of the WRC limits (see 2106280039). Comments were due Monday (see 2105260023). WRC-19 adopted emission limits not at the edge of the 24 GHz band, “but rather, as a limit on the total radiated power” wireless base and mobile stations can radiate into any 200 megahertz of the 23.6-24.0 GHz passive Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) band,” CTIA said. WRC recommended two sets of limits for base stations and user equipment, one that applies now, and another set of limits for equipment brought into use after Sept. 1, CTIA noted. “As CTIA and other commenters have explained throughout this proceeding, the Commission’s existing OOBE limits are sufficient to protect EESS operations from interference,” the group said: The part used for wireless is separated by 250 MHz from “EESS passive sensing operations in the 23.6-24.0 GHz band.” The limits approved by the WRC “will provide even greater protection to passive EESS operations than is necessary, while still allowing for robust 5G deployment in the band," CTIA said. Nokia said its 24 GHz equipment can meet the initial limit of -33 dBW/200MHz before a Sept. 1, 2027, deadline and is working on the Phase 2 limit of -39 dBW/200MHz. “This effort requires close cooperation with radio frequency integrated circuit vendors to develop next generation of chipsets that can offer improved Power Amplifier linearity for the restrictive emission limit by the 2027 deadline,” Nokia said. The FCC’s current -13 dBm/MHz unwanted emissions limit below the lower 24.25 GHz edge of the band “should be maintained for mobile operations in the 24 GHz band because that limit provides adequate interference protection” of EESS passive systems, Qualcomm said. If the FCC adopts “substantially more stringent unwanted emissions limits” approved by the WRC “they should only be applied to mobile service base stations and handsets -- and not to any of the other operations” FCC rules allow, Qualcomm said. The FCC should be “cautious when it modifies its rules governing spectrum that has already been auctioned so as not to disrupt ongoing planning and deployment activities,” T-Mobile commented. The WRC limits “should apply only to mobile … and are not applicable to fixed operations permitted in the same band,” the carrier said. Opening the 26 GHz band for licensed use should be an FCC priority, CTIA said: “Because the Commission has already made spectrum in the 24 GHz and 28 GHz bands available for 5G, moving forward with the 26 GHz band is a rare opportunity to make a wide, contiguous swath of spectrum available for already globally harmonized, licensed use.”

Global 5G connections reached 298 million in Q1, adding 79 million sequentially, said 5G Americas. It cited Omdia, which previously reported global 5G connections reached 401 million at Dec. 31 but revised that due to “specific improved clarity from one large country in the Asia-Pacific.” The association didn’t comment Thursday. 5G connections added this year are triple the year-ago period, said 5G Americas. Uptake is “progressing everywhere as deployments, connections, coverage and the number of devices continue to grow,” said President Chris Pearson, saying estimates “are being adjusted based on new information,” as 5G builds through new applications and uses. Nine 5G networks went live worldwide in Q1, bringing the total to 172, 5G Americas said, citing TeleGeography. That's expected to reach 273 by year-end, 313 by 2023. Availability of 5G devices is growing, with 511 5G devices available this month, said the Global Mobile Suppliers Association. North America had 28.6 million 5G connections and 502 million LTE connections. The U.S. is driving 5G growth in North America, said Omdia analyst Kristin Paulin: “The major operators have blanketed the US with coverage and are now offering device incentives to further drive growth.” C-band deployments are set to further strengthen 5G offerings early next year, she said.

Qualcomm will partner with Mavenir to develop indoor and outdoor 4G and 5G solutions for private and public network deployments, aiming to “broaden the choices” for open radio network access customers, they said Thursday. Rising “capacity and coverage demands” of 5G are creating “a growing need for network densification that harnesses all available spectrum based on flexible and cost-effective radio solutions,” they said: The collaboration will result in a “suite of radio solutions” based on ORAN architecture.

Qualcomm captured 70% unit share of the global 5G cellular baseband market in Q1, reported Strategy Analytics Wednesday: That market grew 27% from last year to $7.4 billion in Q1, with Qualcomm capturing 53% share to MediaTek’s 25% and Samsung’s 10%. Design wins for the iPhone 12 and across Android 5G smartphone OEMs drove Qualcomm’s baseband share dominance, said SA.

Nokia will develop 5G base station radios, Ligado said Tuesday. Ligado says it's the first deal in North America to develop a commercial L-band offering. Ligado announced Monday the 3rd Generation Partnership Project OK'd related technical specifications (see 2106210006).