Final Episode: Analyzing 5G, Verizon's Moves, and the Future of Telecom In episode 241 of the G2 on 5G podcast by More Insights and Strategy, hosts Will Townsend and Anshel Sag cover six pressing topics in the telecom industry. Will shares his news of leaving More Insights to start a new venture, marking the end of the podcast. The episode starts with a discussion on Verizon's aggressive price cuts on their plans, raising questions about potential price wars. They move on to discuss a report by Okla comparing cellular and WiFi performance at major US airports, with cellular often outperforming WiFi due to outdated infrastructure. The hosts then delve into NTT Docomo's advancements in 6G radio sensing technology and its applications, followed by Anshel's experiences with T-Mobile's expanded partnership with Formula One and their new 'un-carrier' moves to streamline carrier switching. Lastly, they review Nokia's puzzling decision to focus less on private cellular networking despite previous successes and Verizon's enhanced enterprise-class FWA solutions. The episode reflects on the journey of the podcast and hints at future individual projects in the telecom field.

Welcome and Introduction

- Will Townsend welcomes Anshel Sag to episode 240 of G2 on 5G.

- Coverage of six topics spanning 5G and 6G developments.

T-Mobile's Edge Control Solution

- Launch of Edge Control at fourth annual Innovate Awards.

- Combines 5G advanced network with local breakout for private-like cellular experience.

- Zero on-premise infrastructure requirement distinguishes this solution.

- Strategic positioning against Verizon and AT&T in enterprise cellular offerings.

Nvidia and Nokia Partnership

- Extension of aerial RAN computer announcements for 6G.

- Nvidia's billion-dollar investment in Nokia signals strategic alignment.

- Partnership includes T-Mobile and Dell Technologies for server infrastructure.

- Nokia stock surged 25% following the announcement.

All-American AI RAN Stack

- Announcement of domesticated supply chain for 6G development.

- Nvidia's aerial platform moving to open source to accelerate adoption.

- Full-stack solution involving Cisco, Mitre, and Booz Allen.

- Focus on spectrum sensing and computer vision applications.

Nvidia DGX Spark Developer Experience

- Anshel Sag shares hands-on experience with DGX Spark device.

- 200 gigabit connectivity and scalable memory capacity.

- Simplified software stack enables AI deployment without extensive coding knowledge.

Samsung Networks and SoftBank MOU

- Joint research agreement for 6G and AI-based RAN technologies.

- Four focus areas: 6G, AI for RAN, AI in RAN, and large telecom models.

- Cultural significance of Korean-Japanese partnership in telecommunications.

5G Techratory Event Insights

- Will Townsend's experience hosting panels in the Baltic region.

- "Defense of 5G" panel discussion with European experts and skeptics.

- Challenges in European 5G deployment due to fragmented regulation.

- Delayed standalone 5G rollout creating similar frustrations as experienced in U.S.

Fixed Wireless Access as Killer Use Case

- FWA success in U.S. market with T-Mobile leading adoption.

- AT&T's Internet Air product serving consumers and enterprises.

Verizon's Fiber Expansion Strategy

- New CEO driving aggressive fiber buildout through wholesale partnerships.

- Deal with Eaton Fiber for network expansion without direct capital investment.

- Following AT&T's successful fiber strategy after years of market leadership.

Competitive Fiber Market Dynamics

- AT&T's overinvestment in fiber driving strong ARPU and earnings performance.

- T-Mobile's strategic shift toward fiber for backhaul and FWA support.

- Verizon's Pac-Man approach with Frontier acquisition correcting previous divestiture.

- Competition driving price improvements and better consumer options.

Welcome and Introduction

- Will Townsend and Anshel Sag discuss the latest insights on 5G and 6G technologies.

- Episode 239 of G2 on 5G, covering six topics in about 20 minutes.

AT&T's 5G Standalone Deployment

- AT&T declares nationwide 5G standalone deployment on October 8th.

- Milestone achievement matching RAN and 5G core infrastructure.

- Predictions of innovative services, especially in network slicing.

Intel's Node Advancements

- Discussion on Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest CPU developments.

- Panther Lake running on Intel's new 18A Foundry Fab 52 in Arizona.

- Clearwater Forest's 288-core CPU targeting telecom applications.

Vodafone's Low Earth Orbit Satellite Research Hub

- Launch of the first low earth orbit satellite mobile broadband research hub.

- Partnership with AST Space Mobile for non-terrestrial network solutions.

- Streamlining testing and validation of hardware and software.

Verizon's Acquisition of Starry

- Verizon acquires fixed wireless provider Starry.

- Potential to grow fixed wireless base to 8-9 million customers.

- Leveraging Starry's architecture for cheaper and quicker deployment in urban settings.

Verizon CEO Transition

- Hans Vestberg's sudden exit as Verizon CEO.

- Discussion on the timing and potential reasons for the leadership change.

- Comparison with previous CEO transitions and industry performance.

AI Deals and Impact on 5G/6G

- Analysis of major AI deals, including OpenAI and AMD partnership.

- Potential effects on 5G and 6G network architectures and edge computing.

- T-Mobile's strategic partnership with OpenAI and implications for the industry.

Closing Remarks

- Invitation for listeners to provide topics for future podcasts.

- Contact information for hosts Will Townsend and Anshel Sag on social media.

- Request for listeners to rate and subscribe to the podcast.