The G2 on 5G Podcast by Moor Insights & Strategy

by Anshel Sag and Will Townsend

A 5G podcast about the latest inside info on what's going on in the 5G industry by two of the 5G industry's leading analysts, Anshel Sag and Will Townsend.

Podcast episodes

  • Season 4

  • The G2 on 5G: T-Mobile's $5 Billion Fiber Investment, AST SpaceMobile's Satellites Are Ready, CrowdStrike's Outage, Apple's 5G Modem Shift, AT&T's Earnings, and T-Mobile for Business Awards

    The G2 on 5G: T-Mobile's $5 Billion Fiber Investment, AST SpaceMobile's Satellites Are Ready, CrowdStrike's Outage, Apple's 5G Modem Shift, AT&T's Earnings, and T-Mobile for Business Awards

    Welcome and Introduction - Will Townsend welcomes listeners to episode 199 of the G2 on 5G podcast. - Discussion about the upcoming milestone of episode 200 and a call for listener feedback on how to celebrate it. T-Mobile's Fiber Investment - Will Townsend discusses T-Mobile's $5 billion investment in a joint venture with KKR to purchase Metronet. - The strategic move aims to enhance T-Mobile's 5G fixed wireless access services and provide fiber backhaul for radio towers. - Anshel Sag adds insights on Metronet's regional focus, particularly in the Midwest and Texas, and the potential benefits for T-Mobile's rural coverage. AST SpaceMobile's Satellite Deployment - Anshel Sag covers AST SpaceMobile's announcement of the completion and upcoming launch of its first five commercial satellites, Bluebirds. - The satellites will enhance 5G communication capabilities and have garnered investments from major companies like AT&T, Verizon, Google, and Vodafone. - Will Townsend shares his experience visiting AST SpaceMobile's facilities and highlights the company's efficient satellite design and ambitious plans. CrowdStrike's Major Outage - Will Townsend discusses the significant outage experienced by CrowdStrike due to a flawed update, impacting various businesses including Delta and Starbucks. - The incident highlights the importance of rigorous DevOps practices and offers learning opportunities for mobile network operators. - Anshel Sag provides additional context on the technical aspects of the outage and the broader implications for the cybersecurity industry. Apple's Potential Move Away from Qualcomm Modems - Anshel Sag addresses rumors that Apple may start using its own 5G modems in lower-volume products like the iPhone SE, potentially phasing out Qualcomm modems. - The transition, if it happens, would mark a significant shift in Apple's strategy and could impact the broader 5G modem market. - Will Townsend reflects on the long timeline since Apple acquired Intel's modem business and the challenges involved in developing in-house modems. T-Mobile for Business Unconventional Awards - Will Townsend shares his experience as a judge for the T-Mobile for Business Unconventional Awards, which recognize innovative uses of 5G technology. - This year's categories include innovation in customer experience, employee enablement, industry, and community. - The event will feature Malcolm Gladwell as the master of ceremonies and introduce a new "Tipping Point" designation for transformative change. AT&T Earnings Report - Anshel Sag reviews AT&T's recent earnings report, highlighting strong postpaid net additions and low phone churn rates. - Despite slightly missing revenue targets, AT&T's focus on its core business and fiber expansion has been well-received by investors. - Will Townsend adds that AT&T's improved free cash flow and consistent fiber net adds demonstrate the company's effective execution and growth potential. Closing Remarks - Anshel Sag wraps up the episode, inviting listeners to provide feedback and suggesting topics for future podcasts. - Encourages listeners to rate, subscribe, and tune in next week.

  • The G2 on 5G Podcast: Hurricane Beryl's Connectivity Efforts, Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked Event, Germany's 5G Rip and Replace, Boost Mobile's Rebranding, Ericsson's Vonage Challenges, and Nokia's Earnings Decline

    The G2 on 5G Podcast: Hurricane Beryl's Connectivity Efforts, Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked Event, Germany's 5G Rip and Replace, Boost Mobile's Rebranding, Ericsson's Vonage Challenges, and Nokia's Earnings Decline

    Welcome and Introduction - Will Townsend welcomes listeners to episode 198 of the G2 on 5G podcast. - Apologies for the delay due to Will's vacation and roof construction. - Brief discussion about their Fourth of July activities. Hurricane Barrel and Disaster Communication Efforts - Will Townsend discusses Hurricane Barrel's impact on South Texas. - Highlights the efforts of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in restoring connectivity. - AT&T used drone technology for temporary connectivity. - T-Mobile utilized satellite cells on trucks. - Verizon focused on ensuring backup systems were operational. Insights on Disaster Response - Anshel Sag shares his thoughts on the preparedness of carriers for natural disasters. - Mentions his near experience with the hurricane while in New York City. - Emphasizes the increasing frequency and severity of natural storms. Galaxy Unpacked Event - Anshel Sag reports on the Galaxy Unpacked event held in New York. - Overview of new product announcements: Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Ring, and new earbuds. - Discussion on the features and improvements of the new devices. - Anshel's personal excitement about the Galaxy Ring and its features. Germany's Rip and Replace of Chinese Infrastructure - Will Townsend discusses Germany's efforts to replace Huawei infrastructure. - Germany's initial commitment to replace hardware by 2026, now focusing on management layer software by 2029. - Concerns about the potential backdoors in Chinese software. - Anshel Sag's perspective on Germany's slow progress and the challenges involved. Boost Mobile's Rebranding and New Plans - Anshel Sag talks about Boost Mobile's rebranding under Dish. - Introduction of new plans and pricing, starting at $25 per month. - Comparison with Mint Mobile and other competitors. - Anshel's anticipation to test Boost Mobile's service. Ericsson's Vonage Acquisition and API Strategy - Will Townsend discusses Ericsson's recent earnings call and the challenges with the Vonage acquisition. - Ericsson's CEO remains optimistic about the long-term potential of API strategy. - Discussion on the initial write-off and the need for significant monetization. - Anshel Sag's critical view on the acquisition and its potential for future revenue. Nokia's Earnings Report - Anshel Sag covers Nokia's recent earnings report and the significant decline in profit. - Impact of India's reduced 5G deployment on Nokia's earnings. - Discussion on Nokia's challenges and potential bright spots in private networking and security. - Will Townsend's optimistic view on Nokia's future prospects. Conclusion - Will Townsend and Anshel Sag wrap up the podcast. - Apologies for the previous week's absence due to personal and professional commitments. - Invitation for listeners to provide feedback and suggestions for future topics. - Encouragement to rate and subscribe to the podcast.

  • The G2 on 5G Podcast: Nokia's Infinera Deal, AT&T's RedCap Launch, FCC's Unlock Rule, India's Auction, Verizon's Spectrum Concerns, and Release 18

    The G2 on 5G Podcast: Nokia's Infinera Deal, AT&T's RedCap Launch, FCC's Unlock Rule, India's Auction, Verizon's Spectrum Concerns, and Release 18

    Episode 197: The G2 on 5G - Key Highlights Welcome and Introduction - Will Townsend welcomes listeners to episode 197 of the G2 on 5G podcast. - Introduction of fellow analyst Anshel Sag. Nokia's Acquisition of Infinera - Will discusses Nokia's recent announcement to acquire Infinera for over $2 billion. - The acquisition aims to strengthen Nokia's optical networking and component business. - Potential benefits include increased access to the North American market and entry into data centers. - Anshel questions whether the sale of Nokia's submarine cable business to the French government was required for the acquisition. Generative AI and Data Centers - Will highlights the relevance of the acquisition to generative AI and data centers. - Anshel notes the stability and long-term benefits of Nokia's wireline businesses. 3GPP Release 18 and 5G Advanced - Anshel discusses the finalization of 3GPP Release 18 standards, marking the 5G Advanced era. - Release 18 includes enhancements for IoT, XR, AI, and ML applications. - The importance of standalone deployment for utilizing Release 18 features. AT&T's 5G RedCap Launch - Will talks about AT&T's soft launch of 5G RedCap in the Dallas metropolitan area. - The significance of RedCap for IoT applications and AT&T's vertical market focus. - Anshel discusses the potential consumer and enterprise applications of RedCap. India's 5G Spectrum Auction - Will covers the recent 5G spectrum auction in India, which netted only $1.3 billion compared to $18 billion in 2022. - Speculation on the reasons behind the lackluster auction, including slow monetization and deployment of previously acquired spectrum. - Discussion on the potential benefits of democratizing access to licensed spectrum for private networking. FCC's Proposed Rule on Unlocking Phones - Anshel explains the FCC's proposed rule to require mobile providers to unlock phones within 60 days of activation. - Concerns about the financial risk to carriers and the practicality of unlocking postpaid devices. - Suggestion to mandate unlocking for prepaid phones and maintaining current rules for postpaid devices. Verizon's Concerns Over 4.9 GHz Spectrum for FirstNet - Anshel discusses Verizon's opposition to the FCC potentially giving 4.9 GHz spectrum to AT&T for FirstNet. - Analysis of the spectrum's value and its suitability for small cell deployments. - The potential impact on Verizon's competitiveness and the overall 5G landscape. Closing Remarks - Will and Anshel share their upcoming travel plans and wish listeners a happy 4th of July. - Encouragement for listeners to rate, subscribe, and provide feedback on future 5G topics. Contact Information - Will Townsend: @WillTownTech - Anshel Sag: @AnshelSag Next Episode - The podcast will take a break for the 4th of July and return the following week.

  • The G2 on 5G Podcast: Microsoft's 5G Strategy Shift, Orange's Olympic Network, Global Telco AI Alliance, T-Mobile's Enterprise Wins, Telia's Forestry Drones, and Samsung's Redcap Innovations

    The G2 on 5G Podcast: Microsoft's 5G Strategy Shift, Orange's Olympic Network, Global Telco AI Alliance, T-Mobile's Enterprise Wins, Telia's Forestry Drones, and Samsung's Redcap Innovations

    Show Notes for Episode 196 of The G2 on 5G Welcome and Introduction - Hosts Will Townsend and Anshel Sag kick off the episode. - Anshel shares his recent experience at a Padres game and the Augmented World Expo conference. Microsoft's Shift in Telecom Strategy - Will discusses Microsoft's decision to exit the 5G application space on Azure for operators. - The focus shifts to infrastructure, similar to AWS's approach. - Analysis of the impact on AT&T and the broader telecom ecosystem. Orange's 5G Network for the Olympics - Anshel highlights Orange's deployment of a private 5G network for the upcoming Olympics in France. - Samsung's involvement with 200 Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones for unique athlete perspectives. - The network will cover 120 venues, including athlete training grounds. Global Telco AI Alliance Formation - Will introduces the new alliance between Singtel, Deutsche Telekom, SK Telecom, and SoftBank. - The alliance aims to develop generative AI applications tailored for mobile operators. - Focus on multilingual large language models and potential security challenges. T-Mobile's Enterprise Expansion - Anshel discusses T-Mobile's recent wins, including the Spiral Four contract for the Department of Defense. - T-Mobile's involvement in Sail GP in New York and the Women's PGA Championship. - The company's growing presence in enterprise and sports venue support. Telia's 5G-Enabled Remote Forestry Control - Will shares an innovative use case from Telia in Sweden. - Drones and portable mobile base stations enable remote control of forestry machinery. - Highlights the importance of 5G's ultra-low latency for safe and efficient operations. Samsung and MediaTek's RedCap Testing - Anshel covers the collaboration between Samsung and MediaTek on RedCap testing over Vran. - Focus on power-saving features and the path to commercial viability by the second half of 2024. - Potential applications in IoT and beyond. Augmented World Expo Insights - Anshel provides a brief overview of his experience at the Augmented World Expo. - Highlights include Haptex's robotic gloves and Siteful's 5G-connected AR PC. Closing Remarks - Will and Anshel wrap up the episode, encouraging listeners to provide feedback and subscribe. - Both hosts express excitement for future 5G developments and applications. Contact Information - Will Townsend: @WilltonTech - Anshel Sag: @anshelsag Call to Action - Don't forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast for more insights on the latest in 5G technology.

  • The G2 on 5G Podcast: T-Mobile's US Cellular Acquisition, Nvidia's Private 5G Network, Apple's WWDC Updates, China's 5G Claims, and Link 5G Towers Controversy

    The G2 on 5G Podcast: T-Mobile's US Cellular Acquisition, Nvidia's Private 5G Network, Apple's WWDC Updates, China's 5G Claims, and Link 5G Towers Controversy

    In episode 195 of The G2 on 5G, hosts Will Townsend and Anshel Sag delve into six key topics shaping the 5G landscape: 1. AST SpaceMobile and Verizon Collaboration: Highlighting the extensive coverage and potential future partnerships, validating AST SpaceMobile's efforts. 2. Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference: Discussing updates on RCS, satellite messaging, iPhone mirroring, and Apple's new AI branding, Apple Intelligence. 3. T-Mobile's Acquisition of US Cellular's Assets: Debating the potential regulatory scrutiny and the implications for rural connectivity. 4. Nvidia's Involvement in 5G: Examining Nvidia's testing of Open RAN in private 5G networks, showcasing their ambition to influence the telecom sector. 5. China's 5G Deployment Claims: Questioning the reported $800 billion economic impact and the feasibility of their adoption rates. 6. Link5G's Tower Infrastructure in New York City: Addressing the controversy surrounding the aesthetic concerns and the necessity of such infrastructure for improved connectivity. Tune in for an insightful discussion on these pivotal 5G topics, offering expert perspectives and in-depth analysis.