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Insights Tag: Operators
Meet Counterpoint at Fyuz Summit 2023
Counterpoint Research is attending Fyuz Summit from 9th to 11th October 2023
Our Associate Director, Gareth Owen will be attending the Fyuz Summit 2023 at Madrid, Spain. You can schedule a meeting with him to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunication sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business.
When: 9th – 11th October 2023
Where: Palacio de Congresos. IFEMA, Madrid
About the event:
Discover a future of connectivity taking root, growing, and flourishing at the event held in Madrid from the 9th to 11th October 2023. Join industry enthusiasts and professionals to explore how open and disaggregated networks are reshaping the telecommunications landscape and facilitating the deployment of advanced connectivity solutions.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Open RAN
- OpenWifi
- Open Optical & Packet Transport
- TIP Academy
- Metaverse-Ready Networks
Click here (or send us an email at contact@counterpointresearch.com) to schedule a meeting with him.
NG-LLS Fronthaul Interface – A Pivotal Moment For The 5G RAN Ecosystem?
One of the major challenges to the adoption of open RAN in 5G networks in dense, urban environments is its sub-optimal support for massive MIMO radios. While there are several reasons behind this performance deficit, a key reason is that the O-RAN Alliance 7.2x open fronthaul specification was not originally designed to accommodate massive MIMO radio systems. Recently, the O-RAN Alliance announced a new fronthaul interface specification designed specifically for use with massive MIMO radio systems in dense, high-traffic environments.
This Technology Report provides an objective analysis of the O-RAN Alliance’s Next Generation Lower-Layer Split (LLS) and discusses the implications of the new interface on the adoption of open RAN massive MIMO radios.
Key Takeaway 1: Impact of Incumbents
With the availability of the new NG-LLS fronthaul split, it “appears” that the open RAN community has united around a single specification which will enable open RAN to be adopted in high-traffic urban regions. This should be welcome news as it means that operators will be able to use open RAN technology across all parts of their networks, from rural deployments to dense, high traffic urban environments. However, the NG-LLS standard has brought major incumbents such as Ericsson and Nokia into the open RAN limelight. While this brings scale and credibility to open RAN in the high-end 5G market, it also raises questions about open RAN’s goal of diversifying the radio supply chain and lowering barriers to smaller vendors.
Key Takeaway 2: Massive MIMO Use Cases Suitable for Split 7.2b
Although Split 7.2b has limitations when deployed in dense, high-traffic urban networks, Counterpoint Research believes that it will continue to be a good choice for other mMIMO use cases. For example, in uses cases with moderate traffic loads, where cell sizes are larger and where end-user mobility is low such as in Fixed Wireless Access applications. Radios based on Split 7.2b will also benefit from reduced complexity and lower costs compared to NG-LLS based radios. In future, the application of advanced AI/ML algorithms in the DU may narrow the performance differential between Split 7.2b and NG-LLS for some use cases.
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First Price Increase of iPhone 15 Pro Max Since 2019: Apple Incentivizing Older Base to Upgrade
- Apple has increased the price for its latest Pro Max model by $100 in the US.
- Apple is offering better trade-in values for N-2 or N-3 devices compared to last year to help upgrade its older-generation base.
- The Pro Max price increase to $1,199 is mostly a result of an upgrade to a titanium chassis as well as a telephoto camera.
- iPhone 15 promotions are slightly worse compared to last year, especially with the higher price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Apple has released its new iPhone 15 series, confirming the price increase for the Pro Max model by $100 in the US. This is the first time since the Pro series launched in 2019 that Apple has raised its prices. Apple’s carrier promotions have softened slightly compared to the iPhone 14 launch while trade-in values for N-1 devices (newest generation minus one, i.e. iPhone 14) have also decreased. Apple is offering better trade-in values for N-2 or N-3 devices compared to last year to help upgrade its older-generation base.
New pricing for Pro Max – Now at $1,199 for base model
The Pro Max price increase to $1,199 is mostly a result of an upgrade to a titanium chassis as well as a telephoto camera, which will allow for 5x optical zoom with a 120mm lens. The base model now also comes with 256GB of storage. This price increase may change consumer purchasing patterns and potentially have repercussions for Apple’s overall ASP as consumers may decide to purchase more affordable models this time around. It may be noted here that the 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max also retailed for $1,199.
US promotions decrease slightly
US carriers Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T generally have the same top-line promotions for the highest tiered plans on Apple’s website as last year’s iPhone 14 launch. This means that both AT&T and T-Mobile will offer up to $1,000 off on devices with a qualifying trade-in and eligible plan. Verizon remains the outlier, offering a discount of only $800. However, Verizon and T-Mobile’s lower-tiered plans have seen a decrease in value. This means that iPhone 15 promotions are slightly worse compared to last year, especially with the higher price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
This comes at a time when carriers are seeing historically low upgrade rates and smartphone purchases are being delayed as consumers continue to face economic uncertainty. Nevertheless, we believe the iPhone 15 has the potential to be another big upgrade cycle for Apple, especially for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 owners as they look to upgrade their three- to four-year-old devices.
Trade-in Values Have Decreased for N-1 Models, But Apple is Pushing its Older Base to Upgrade
Although the discounts offered have largely remained the same, the pure trade-in values of N-1 devices have fallen, again. When the iPhone 13 series launched, customers could get a maximum of $790 in trade-in value for their old iPhone 12 Pro Max. This trade-in value dropped to $720 for the iPhone 13 Pro Max when the iPhone 14 series released last year. This year’s iPhone 15 launch saw trade-in values drop to $650 for the iPhone 14 Pro Max as the highest-value trade-in device.
Compared to the years before, Apple is putting a stronger focus on offering better trade-in values for its N-2 and N-3 models such as the iPhone 13 series and iPhone 12 series. Trade-in values for N-2 models have increased 9%-28% YoY for this year’s launch. This also shows that Apple wants to incentivize customers to upgrade their older models to the latest iPhone 15 while signaling to the iPhone 14 users to hold off for now. In fact, these trade-in values could potentially be more attractive to customers than carrier deals, especially if they are not on the highest tiered plans available. This might lead to more customers purchasing an unlocked device directly from Apple rather than opting for a carrier promotion offered by Apple.
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White Paper: Digital Transformation and MVNOs
Overview:
In today’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape, the significance of digital transformation for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) cannot be overstated. As the industry witnesses a surge in technological advancements and changing consumer expectations, MVNOs face unprecedented opportunities as well as challenges. Digital transformation serves as the catalyst that empowers MVNOs to remain competitive, enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and unlock new revenue streams.
This whitepaper looks at the changing MVNO landscape and how MVNOs can go “DIGITAL” – Differentiated, Intelligent, Growing, Integrated Telco that is Agile and always Listening.
Table of Content:
- MVNO landscape
- Why should MVNOs go digital
- Challenges faced by MVNOs for digital transformation
- What can MVNOs do
- Test how DIGITAL is your MVNO
Number of Pages: 10
Authors:
Neil Shah
Research Vice President
Mohit Agrawal
Associate Director
Request access to the full white paper using the form below
Counterpoint Research – 5G SA Core Deployments Decelerate in H1 2023
- In some markets, operators await evidence of successful use cases before switching to 5G SA.
- In H1 2023, the Asia-Pacific region continued to lead in terms of 5G SA Core deployments.
- Ericsson led the overall market followed by Nokia, Huawei, ZTE, Samsung, and Mavenir.
Counterpoint Research’s recently published July update of the 5G SA Core Tracker is a culmination of an extensive study of the 5G SA market. It provides details of all operators with 5G SA cores in commercial operation at the end of H1 2023, including market share by region, vendor, and the popular frequency bands for deployments. Apart from that, it touches upon the potential monetization opportunities for telecom operators across different domains and uses cases.
Last year, there was steady growth in the commercial deployment of 5G Standalone (SA), with more than 20 operators moving to 5G standalone core. However, the pace slowed down in H1 2023 with the number of operators launching commercial 5G SA ranging in single digits. The primary reason for the slowdown in commercial deployment of 5G SA was the restraint arising from global macroeconomic factors and the lack of a clear picture of 5G monetization for operators. Although the pace of commercial deployment has slowed down in 2023, operators are working on monetization avenues, and are working on SA-specific use cases, including on-demand network slicing and FWA.
Most of the 5G SA commercial deployments have been in developed economies, and Counterpoint Research expects the next bulk of network rollouts will take place in emerging markets. This will drive the continuing transition from 5G NSA to 5G SA.
Exhibit 1: 5G SA Deployments by Region, H1 2023
As shown in Exhibit 1, the Asia-Pacific region led the segment, followed by Europe and North America, with the other regions – Middle East and Africa, and Latin America – lagging.
Key Points
Key points discussed in the report include:
- Operators – 47 operators have deployed 5G SA commercially with many more in the testing and trial phase. Globally, most of the deployments are in developed economies with those in emerging economies lagging. Although the pace of deployment is steady in developed markets, it is progressing slowly in emerging markets, and in some markets, operators are biding their time and looking for evidence of successful use cases before switching from 5G NSA to SA. The ongoing economic headwinds also delayed the commercial deployment of SA, which was seen in H1 2023.
- Vendors – Ericsson and Nokia lead the 5G SA Core market globally and are benefiting from the geopolitical sanctions on Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE in some markets. South Korea’s Samsung and Japan’s NEC are mainly focused on their respective domestic markets but are expanding their reach to Tier-2 operators and emerging markets, while emerging vendors Parallel Wireless and Mavenir are working with leading operators in Europe, and Middle East and Africa.
- Spectrum – Most operators are deploying 5G in mid-band frequencies, n78, as it provides faster speeds and good coverage. Some operators have also launched commercial services in the sub-GHz n28 and mmWave wave n258 bands. FWA seems to be the most popular use case at present but there is a lot of interest in edge services and network slicing as well.
- Use Cases – Operators are looking for avenues to monetize the 5G services, as they are struggling to make the RoI from their investments in 5G. Although FWA is a promised application for 5G SA monetization, there are many other use cases that operators can look into to increase their RoI, including network slicing, live broadcasting, XR applications, and private networks. Although eMBB is the most widely used 5G use case currently, MNOs need to move to 5G SA to leverage URLLC and mMTC use cases.
Report Overview
Counterpoint Research’s 5G SA Core Tracker, July 2023 provides an overview of the 5G Standalone (SA) market, highlighting the key trends and drivers that are shaping the market, along with details of commercial launches by vendor, region, and frequency band. Additionally, the tracker provides details about the 5G SA vendor ecosystem split into two categories – public operator and private network markets.
Table of Contents:
- Overview
- Market Update
- 5G SA Market Deployments
- Commercial Deployment by Operators
- Network Engagements by Region
- Network Engagements by Deployments Status
- Leading 5G Core Vendors
- Mobile Core Vendor Ecosystem
- 5G Core Vendors Market Landscape
- Outlook
- 5G Standalone Use Cases
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
Follow Counterpoint Research
press@counterpointresearch.com
Related Reports:
- Leveraging Technology To Create Greener Networks
- Private Networks: Leveraging Millimetre Wave Spectrum for Indoor Industry 4.0 Applications
- 5G Advanced and Wireless AI Set To Transform Cellular Networks, Unlocking True Potential
- 5G Rollouts in Emerging Economies Aid Q2 Numbers of Ericsson, Nokia
- New Layer-1 Accelerator Cards Set To Boost Open RAN Market – Or Create More Lock-In?
- NVIDIA and Softbank Developing AI-Based 5G MEC Telco Network
Low Upgrade Rates, Strong Cable Performance Highlight US Q2 2023 Wireless Landscape
The Q2 2023 earnings season is in the books for the US carriers and several clear trends from the quarter have come into focus. While much of Verizon and AT&T’s earnings calls centered around “lead-sheathed cables”, creating a buzz in the media, the top trends of the quarter for US operators were the ongoing strength of Xfinity and Spectrum Mobile, prepaid to postpaid/cable migration, and record low upgrade rates at the postpaid carriers. Overall phone net additions for Q2 2023 were down slightly YoY with the prepaid market losing value-conscious consumers to Xfinity and Spectrum Mobile, and as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile migrated high-value prepaid customers onto their postpaid plans. Additionally, the prepaid market continues to face challenges brought on by recent acquisitions. Meanwhile, existing customers at the postpaid carriers held off on upgrading their devices as overall economic uncertainty resulted in customers holding off on unnecessary upgrades.
Cable Players Continue to Win Subscribers
While each of the postpaid carriers posted positive net phone additions in the quarter, their share of net additions was decisively lower than last year. Verizon continues to lag AT&T and T-Mobile by a significant margin in new customer acquisition, but AT&T and T-Mobile are losing steam as the cable players snag a higher share of net additions. In Q1 2023, Xfinity and Spectrum claimed 53% of total net phone additions. In Q2 2023, the figure dropped to 44% but grew significantly from the previous year’s 29% share.
The prepaid segment saw its third consecutive quarter of overall subscriber losses. The segment is seeing value-driven customers opt for competitively priced plans at Xfinity and Spectrum, while the postpaid carriers continue to migrate high-value prepaid customers onto postpaid plans. Verizon continues to see significant subscriber losses as it is still migrating the customers it obtained through the Tracfone acquisition onto its network and off AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks. Verizon has now lost about 1 million of the subscribers it gained from Tracfone. Similarly, Dish continues to see subscriber losses as it struggles to keep the Boost Mobile brand competitive with Metro and Cricket. Dish is also banking on strong performance from its new postpaid Boost Infinite services to keep the brand afloat, although delays in the launch of Boost Infinite and Dish’s slow network buildout have inspired skepticism.
Low Upgrade Rates in Postpaid
Device sales were minimal at the postpaid carriers through Q2 2023 as upgrade rates reached record lows and churn remained minimal. Consequently, equipment revenues were down significantly across the postpaid carriers. As our recent PR noted, smartphone shipments into the US were down 24% YoY, in large part driven by customers holding onto their devices for longer amid economic uncertainty, lower levels of innovation in the smartphone market, and ongoing improvements in device durability. Upgrade rates are likely to remain below last year’s levels through the end of the year and into 2024 constrained by macroeconomic headwinds, but upgrade rates should spike towards the end of Q3 2023 with the launch of the iPhone 15 and through the holiday shopping season in Q4 2023.
In Q2 2023, the carriers offered strong promotions for upgraders on flagship devices, keeping upgrade rates and device sales from falling further during the quarter. The carriers generally lose money on device sales and make up for it from service revenues. However, as the cable players snare a higher share of customer additions, the growth potential from subscriber growth and consequent service revenues is limited. To combat this situation, the carriers are looking to increase ARPU by offering higher value plans, but also by offering plans on discount to better compete with the cable players. We have also seen AT&T and Verizon increase prices on old plans to raise ARPU or encourage subscribers to adopt new service plans. Verizon and T-Mobile both restructured their service plans during Q2 2023, simplifying their menu of services and improving the value offered to customers. Meanwhile, AT&T stood pat with its slate of service plans but announced that later this year it would reduce its autopay discount to $5/month from $10/month, which will improve ARPU.
What to Expect in H2 2023
As 2023 marches on, we expect to see the carriers become even more competitive with their service promotions as the cable players continue to win in customer acquisition. Additionally, we see the carriers offering even more “bundling” opportunities, as they aggregate streaming services, internet service, and cellular service to improve their overall value offer. Meanwhile, prepaid will continue to struggle, as customers in this segment have been the worst hit by inflation. The second half of the year will see an uptick in device sales, as usual, with the launch of the Apple iPhone 15 in September and as the holiday shopping season sets in. However, we expect overall smartphone sales to remain down YoY.
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US Feature Phone Market Stages Comeback as Gen Z, Millennials Advocate Digital Detox
- The US feature phone market is more crowded and competitive now as OEMs enter agreements with carriers.
- Feature phone sales are forecast to reach 2.8 million in 2023 with stable sales continuing in the near term.
- New hardware configurations like eSIM or NFC can make devices more relevant for today’s consumers.
Feature phones have made a resurgence due to digital detox and Gen Z/millennials
Feature phones in the US market have made a resurgence as Gen Z and millennials are advocating for digital detoxes due to the mental health concerns brought on by smartphones and social media. Hashtags like #bringbackfliphones on TikTok have garnered millions of views leading to the increased adoption of feature phones by younger consumers looking to adhere to movements like digital detoxing, minimalist lifestyles and unplugging. Given the relatively cheap price point of feature phones ($20-$50 with a prepaid carrier and $50-$100 unlocked), more people are trying out these devices and sharing their experiences on social media.
The market is more crowded now, TCL and HMD are leading but competition from Schok, Sonim, and white-label makers like Tinno are entering agreements with carriers
Smartphones were widely adopted almost instantly when they arrived. Due to this, the US feature phone market shrank significantly over the past 10 years. Currently, the feature phone market contributes to only a little more than a 2% share of overall handset sales in the US. Among the players catering to this segment of the market, TCL, which manufactures feature phones for major carriers in both branded and white-label capacities, leads the pack with a 43% share due to its strong presence on carrier channels. HMD ranks second with a 26% share, while other smaller players make up for the rest of the market.
Additionally, carrier and OEM tie-ups play an important role in the dynamics. The big three US carriers – AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile – are exploring different feature phone OEM options due to which the US feature phone market has grown more crowded lately, especially with carriers moving away from TCL devices and trying out smaller OEMs instead, like Tinno and FIH which have manufactured devices for AT&T’s white-labeled feature phones. Sonim and Kyocera, which provide ruggedized devices, are Verizon’s feature phone brands, while Schok and hot pepper are T-Mobile’s. 
Feature phone sales are forecast to reach 2.8 million in 2023 with continued stable sales in the near term as niche demand drivers maintain sales
Feature phones still hold their place in the market and are likely to see consistent shipments, helped by their affordability and durability to suit specific use cases. Although the growth in numbers may not be huge, the demand from consumers looking for a feature phone as a digital detox mechanism will continue. Additionally, B2B sales may drive some demand as feature phones simplify costs for businesses. Furthermore, tourists and other consumers needing a cheap disposable feature phone will also continue to keep sales stable.
New hardware configurations like eSIM or NFC can make devices more relevant for modern consumers wishing to simplify their tech gadgets but still interact seamlessly in the digital world
There is a consumer base looking for devices that are minimalistic but also have features that are relevant to staying connected in today’s world. The design and specifications of feature phones have not changed much over the last few years. This is one of the factors that keep consumers from purchasing a feature phone. The addition of some new hardware configurations and features that are abreast with the current trends while still maintaining the simplicity of usage may open more gates for the growth of feature phones. NFC is one such feature. NFC can enable payments, home automation, quick pairing, and make public transport access more convenient for users. Similarly, eSIMs may also be a great hardware integration as it may attract consumers to adopt a feature phone as a companion device that they can easily switch to from their main device in situations where they do not want to bring out their expensive smartphone. Adding these attributes would help make feature phones more relevant for day-to-day use.
See the full report below for more information:
US Feature Phone Trends and Outlook in the Age of Smartphones
The US feature phone market has seen a recent resurgence with Gen Z/Millennials advocating for digital detoxes due to mental health concerns. While TCL and HMD remain the dominant OEMs in the US, challenger brands are making the market more crowded. Feature phones will remain an important part of the US handset market for years to come as they continue to solve for niche needs that smartphones cannot address.
Number of Pages: 18
- Key Takeaways
- Current Market Dynamics
- Feature Phone Volumes by Year
- Current Market Drivers
- Market Share by OEM
- Postpaid and Prepaid Market Share by OEM
- Specification Analysis
- Current Feature Phone Specifications and Market Innovations
- Feature Phone Outlook
- Market Forecast until 2027
- Future Trends and Specifications
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5G Advanced and Wireless AI Set To Transform Cellular Networks, Unlocking True Potential
The recent surge in interest in generative AI highlights the critical role that AI will play in future wireless systems. With the transition to 5G, wireless systems have become increasingly complex and more challenging to manage, forcing the wireless industry to think beyond traditional rules-based design methods.
5G Advanced will expand the role of wireless AI across 5G networks introducing new, innovative AI applications that will enhance the design and operation of networks and devices over the next three to five years. Indeed, wireless AI is set to become a key pillar of 5G Advanced and will play a critical role in the end-to-end (E2E) design and optimization of wireless systems. In the case of 6G, wireless AI will become native and all-pervasive, operating autonomously between devices and networks and across all protocols and network layers.
E2E Systems Optimization
AI has already been used in smartphones and other devices for several years and is now increasingly being used in the network. However, AI is currently implemented independently, i.e. either on the device or in the network. As a result, E2E systems performance optimization across devices and network has not been fully realized yet. One of the reasons for this is that on-device AI training has not been possible until recently.
On-device AI will play a key role in improving the E2E optimization of 5G networks, bringing important benefits for operators and users, as well as overcoming key challenges. Firstly, on-device AI enables processing to be distributed over millions of devices thus harnessing the aggregated computational power of all these devices. Secondly, it enables AI model learning to be customized to a particular user’s personalized data. Finally, this personalized data stays local on the device and is not shared with the cloud. This improves reliability and alleviates data sovereignty concerns. On-device AI will not be limited to just smartphones but will be implemented across all kinds of devices from consumer devices to sensors and a plethora of industrial equipment.
New AI-native processors are being developed to implement on-device AI and other AI-based applications. A good example is Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X75 5G modem-RF chip, which has a dedicated hardware tensor accelerator. Using Qualcomm’s own AI implementation, this Gen 2 AI processor boosts the X75’s AI performance more than 2.5 times compared to the previous Gen 1 design.
While on-device AI will play a key role in improving the E2E performance of 5G networks, overall systems optimization is limited when AI is implemented independently. To enable true E2E performance optimization, AI training and inference needs to be done on a systems-wide basis, i.e. collaboratively across both the network and the devices. Making this a reality in wireless system design requires not only AI know-how but also deep wireless domain knowledge. This so-called cross-node AI is a key focus of 5G Advanced with a number of use cases being defined in 3GPP’s Release 18 specification and further use cases expected to be added in later releases.
Wireless AI: 5G Advanced Release 18 Use Cases
3GPP’s Release 18 is the starting point for more extensive use of wireless AI expected in 6G. Three use cases have been prioritized for study in this release:
- Use of cross-node Machine Learning (ML) to dynamically adapt the Channel State Information (CSI) feedback mechanism between a base station and a device, thus enabling coordinated performance optimization between networks and devices.
- Use of ML to enable intelligent beam management at both the base station and device, thus improving usable network capacity and device battery life.
- Use of ML to enhance positioning accuracy of devices in both indoor and outdoor environments, including both direct and ML-assisted positioning.
Channel State Feedback:
CSI is used to determine the propagation characteristics of the communication link between a base station and a user device and describes how this propagation is affected by the local radio environment. Accurate CSI data is essential to provide reliable communications. With traditional model-based CSI, the user device compresses the downlink CSI data and feeds the compressed data back to the base station. Despite this compression, the signalling overhead can still be significant, particularly in the case of massive MIMO radios, reducing the device’s uplink capacity and adversely affecting its battery life.
An alternative approach is to use AI to track the various parameters of the communications link. In contrast to model-based CSI, a data driven air interface can dynamically learn from its environment to improve performance and efficiency. AI-based channel estimation thus overcomes many of the limitations of model-based CSI feedback techniques resulting in higher accuracy and hence an improved link performance. The is particularly effective at the edges of a cell.
Implementing ML-based CSI feedback, however, can be challenging in a system with multiple vendors. To overcome this, Qualcomm has developed a sequential training technique which avoids the need to share data across vendors. With this approach, the user device is firstly trained using its own data. Then, the same data is used to train the network. This eliminates the need to share proprietary, neural network models across vendors. Qualcomm has successfully demonstrated sequential training on massive MIMO radios at its 3.5GHz test network in San Diego (Exhibit 1).
Exhibit 1: Realizing system capacity gain even in challenging non-LOS communication
AI-based Millimetre Wave Beam Management:
The second use case involves the use of ML to improve beam prediction on millimetre wave radios. Rather than continuously measuring all beams, ML is used to intelligently select the most appropriate beams to be measured – as and when needed. A ML algorithm is then used to predict future beams by interpolating between the beams selected – i.e. without the need to measure the beams all the time. This is done at both the device and the base station. As with CSI feedback, this improves network throughput and reduces power consumption.
Precise Positioning:
The third use case involves the use of ML to enable precise positioning. Qualcomm has demonstrated the use of multi-cell roundtrip (RTT) and angle-of-arrival (AoA)-based positioning in an outdoor network in San Diego. The vendor also demonstrated how ML-based positioning with RF finger printing can be used to overcome challenging non-line of sight channel conditions in indoor industrial private networks.
An AI-Native 6G Air Interface
6G will need to deliver a significant leap in performance and spectrum efficiency compared to 5G if it is to deliver even faster data rates and more capacity while enabling new 6G use cases. To do this, the 6G air interface will need to accommodate higher-order Giga MIMO radios capable of operating in the upper mid-band spectrum (7-16GHz), support wider bandwidths in new sub-THz 6G bands (100GHz+) as well as on existing 5G bands. In addition, 6G will need to accommodate a far broader range of devices and services plus support continuous innovation in air interface design.
To meet these requirements, the 6G air interface must be designed to be AI native from the outset, i.e. 6G will largely move away from the traditional, model-driven approach of designing communications networks and transition toward a data-driven design, in which ML is integrated across all protocols and layers with distributed learning and inference implemented across devices and networks.
This will be a truly disruptive change to the way communication systems have been designed in the past but will offer many benefits. For example, through self-learning, an AI-native air interface design will be able to support continuous performance improvements, where both sides of the air interface — the network and device — can dynamically adapt to their surroundings and optimize operations based on local conditions.
5G Advanced wireless AI/ML will be the foundation for much more AI innovation in 6G and will result in many new network capabilities. For instance, the ability of the 6G AI native air interface to refine existing communication protocols and learn new protocols coupled with the ability to offer E2E network optimization will result in wireless networks that can be dynamically customized to suit specific deployment scenarios, radio environments and use cases. This will a boon for operators, enabling them to automatically adapt their networks to target a range of applications, including various niche and vertical-specific markets.
Related Posts:
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- 5G Advanced – Benefits and Opportunities for Operators
- 5G SA Core Tracker
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- Cloud RAN Platforms – Why Are Vendors Adopting Different Layer-1 Acceleration Strategies?
- Fixed Wireless Access and Consumer Premise Equipment Ecosystem and Forecast Update, April 2023
- Nvidia and Softbank Join Forces To Deploy AI-Based 5G MEC Telco Network Across Japan
5G Rollouts in Emerging Economies Aid Q2 Numbers of Ericsson, Nokia
- Ericsson and Nokia’s Q2 2023 results are in line with their revised expectations.
- The telecom gear manufacturers are convinced that a few short-term hurdles can be managed to drive growth.
- The mobile network segment, the largest contributor to both firms’ revenues, witnessed some slowdown in Q2 2023 due to decreased demand from capex-saturated regions.
Nordic telecom giants Ericsson and Nokia announced their Q2 2023 results last week, which were in line with their revised expectations despite lower revenues. The overall market condition remains challenging due to macro uncertainty, but the telecom gear manufacturers are convinced that a few short-term hurdles can be managed to drive growth both in the short term and long term.
Fast 5G rollouts in emerging nations such as India were highlights for both the vendors as revenue growth in these regions was able to offset the sales decline in North America and North-East Asia where operators slowed down their network expenditures after several quarters of high investment.
Swedish giant Ericsson generated net sales of $5.9 billion for the quarter, reporting a 9% YoY decline in organic sales. Ericsson’s Finnish counterpart Nokia generated $6.2 billion in revenue for the quarter, which was flat YoY on a constant currency basis.
Mobile network segment
This segment is based on the core competence of these organizations and is also the largest contributor to both firms’ revenues. It witnessed some slowdown for the two companies in Q2 2023 on the back of decreased demand from capex-saturated regions. Operators in these regions continue to be selective in spending and are depleting their inventories that have been running high after the 2021-2022 boom.
- Revenue from Ericsson’s Networks division stood at $3.9 billion. It doubled for emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia but plummeted for regions like North America. India is now Ericsson’s second-biggest market. During the quarter, the company also marked the shipping of 10 million 5G-ready radios.
- Revenue from Nokia’s Mobile Networks division stood at $2.85 billion, a slight growth YoY. The increase in revenue due to faster 5G rollouts in India and Europe was able to offset the decline in North America.
Gross margin was impacted for both operators as the sales mix changed drastically. Adapting to changing demand and expecting a recovery in the North American region, both manufacturing firms are looking forward to an improved gross margin by the end of this year.
Cloud software services
Telecom service providers too have been hit by cloud disruption as network evolution has witnessed operators migrating to the cloud. The two Nordic vendors have been at the forefront in assisting operators in transitioning to cloud-native operations, which helps in future-proofing and improving network performance and efficiency.
- Ericsson’s revenues from its Cloud and Software Services division stood at $1.39 billion, a marginal increase over the previous year. The sales, for a change, were driven by 5G in the North American region. Ericsson currently leads the global market for 5G Standalone Core deployments with a majority of operators choosing the Swedish company for their cloud-native 5G SA Core. Ericsson’s managed services, however, took a hit.
- Nokia registered $806 million in net sales for its Cloud and Network Services division. Unlike its Swedish counterpart, Nokia’s growth came from the Europe and Middle-East and Africa (MEA) regions, while it faced a decline in the North American region. Nokia too has been actively helping operators worldwide to deploy 5G Standalone Core (just behind Ericsson in the number of deployments), which alongside Enterprise Solutions helped boost its revenues in this segment, marginally offset by declines in the Cloud Services and Business Applications.
Ericsson’s enterprise segment, network APIs and IPR licensing
- Last year, Ericsson acquired Vonage, which contributed revenues of nearly $390 million during the quarter, a 12% increase YoY. The company strongly believes that the enterprise segment will continue to grow as it redefines how the capabilities of 5G networks are utilized and paid for by the customers.
- Ericsson will also continue to digitize the ecosystem for CSPs by maintaining its investments to build the Global Network Platform (network Application Program Interfaces or APIs). With time, a variety of global network APIs will complement the existing communication APIs like video, voice and SMS to help CSPs better monetize their 5G networks, accelerate 5G network rollout and improve network capex.
- The company also signed a 5G IPR licensing agreement during this quarter to help validate its IPR portfolio strength.
Nokia’s diverse portfolio – Networks infrastructure and enterprise
- Despite facing some short-term challenges and macroeconomic uncertainty, which resulted in a YoY revenue decline, Nokia’s Network Infrastructure segment generated $2.15 billion in revenues and continued to gain market share across the globe.
- The IP networks grew in Europe with increasing sales to enterprise customers.
- The optical networks unit registered a double-digit growth driven by increasing broadband penetration in India.
- The fixed networks unit witnessed a decline on the back of slowing FWA deployments in North America.
- Nokia’s revenue from its enterprise customers grew by almost 30% YoY. The company added 90 new enterprise customers this quarter. Its private wireless business reached more than 635 customers.
- Nokia also signed a long-term patent license agreement with Apple. Multi-year revenue recognition might start in January 2024.
- Nokia also struck an important deal with Red Hat this quarter, where the latter will serve as the primary reference platform to develop, test and deliver core network applications in an attempt to rebalance Nokia’s portfolio.
Analyst outlook
Network equipment vendors and software providers are looking to transform obstacles into opportunities. Both Ericsson and Nokia are expecting their business performance to improve towards Q4 2023 and to continue improving in the coming years. Inventory correction by operators has been the prime reason for the revenue decline this quarter. But network sales have been able to weather the slowdown as operators need to increase the capacity of their networks.
Counterpoint Research believes that 5G investment has not yet peaked. Over the next few years, the industry will witness the advent of 5G Advanced starting with 3GPP Release 18, operators transitioning to 5G SA, an increase in the number of monetizable 5G use cases, FWA going global, and increased 5G investments in mid-band and mmWave bands. The entire mobile industry is bullish about private networks, which present a significant opportunity for operators and vendors alike. Amid the growing geopolitical turbulence, with the West hardening its stand on the “rip and replace” of Chinese networking equipment, Nokia and Ericsson might even see other markets opening up for them. Reducing internal costs and streamlining internal operations remains a challenge for both suppliers. The two should benefit from growing confidence in the enterprise segment. Nokia expects to leverage its leadership in the network infrastructure business and attain market leadership in the fixed-broadband space with its wide variety of ONTs, OLTs and FWA CPEs.
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