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☆ China's Huawei poised to overcome US ban with return of 5G phones, research firms say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( David Kirton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Huawei should be able to procure 5G chips domestically using its own advances in semiconductor design tools along with chipmaking from Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co (SMIC), three third-party technology research firms covering China's smartphone sector told Reuters. The firms, citing industry sources including Huawei suppliers, spoke on condition of anonymity because of confidentiality agreements with clients. [1/2]A Huawei logo and a 5G sign are pictured at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai, China June 28, 2019. The second research firm said it noticed Huawei had asked SMIC to produce chip components below 14 nm this year for 5G products. The forecast yield rate of less than 50% means that 5G chips are "going to be costly", said Doug Fuller who researches chips at the Copenhagen Business School.

Persons: SMIC, Canalys, Aly, Doug Fuller, Fuller, David Kirton, Jamie Freed Organizations: Huawei, Huawei Technologies, chipmaking, Semiconductor Manufacturing International, Reuters, Apple, Samsung, China Securities Journal, Mobile World Congress, REUTERS, Copenhagen Business School, Thomson Locations: SHENZHEN, China, Shenzhen, U.S, Shanghai, Washington

☆ China's Huawei poised to overcome US ban with return of 5G phones - research firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( David Kirton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A Huawei logo and a 5G sign are pictured at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai, China June 28, 2019. Huawei should be able to procure 5G chips domestically using its own advances in semiconductor design tools along with chipmaking from Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co (SMIC), three third-party technology research firms covering China's smartphone sector told Reuters. The firms, citing industry sources including Huawei suppliers, spoke on condition of anonymity because of confidentiality agreements with clients. The second research firm said it noticed Huawei had asked SMIC to produce chip components below 14 nm this year for 5G products. The forecast yield rate of less than 50% means that 5G chips are "going to be costly", said Doug Fuller who researches chips at the Copenhagen Business School.

Persons: Aly, SMIC, Canalys, Doug Fuller, Fuller, David Kirton, Jamie Freed Organizations: Huawei, Mobile World Congress, REUTERS, Huawei Technologies, chipmaking, Semiconductor Manufacturing International, Reuters, Apple, Samsung, China Securities Journal, Copenhagen Business School, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, SHENZHEN, Shenzhen, U.S, Washington

☆ Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: The Pixel Watch has the smarts but the Sense 2 is the better fitness tracker
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Alexander Johnson | Rick Stella | Tech Updates Editorial Fellow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Despite taking over a wearable lineup that included premium smartwatch lines like the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa, Google released its own namesake wearable in 2022 called the Google Pixel Watch. Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Smartwatch performanceRick Stella/InsiderThe Pixel Watch relies on Wear OS for most day-to-day tasks, which makes it about as good of a smartwatch as you can get. Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Health and fitness trackingRick Stella/InsiderWhen it comes to health and fitness tracking, the Sense 2 is the clear winner. The Fitbit app is also available for use with the Google Pixel Watch, but functionally, the Pixel just can't beat Fitbit at its own game. Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Battery lifeThe Google Pixel Watch's battery life isn't anything special for a smartwatch, requiring a nightly recharge with regular use.

Persons: Fitbit, Rick Stella, It's Organizations: Google, Watch, Apple, Steel, Pixel Watch, Amazon Alexa, GPS, Pixel Locations: Fitbit

☆ A $12 phone is opening doors for rural India to get on the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

All that could change with a new $12 phone from Reliance Jio this week. India is already the world's second-largest smartphone market and is likely to add 300 million new internet users, making it the fastest country to provide internet services to those who remain unconnected, Mishra said. "However, screen size can limit the experience a bit, but still good for first-time internet users." Reliance Jio has rolled out 5G services in 406 cities in India. Additionally, Singh highlighted that Reliance Jio hopes first-time internet users who purchase the Jio Bharat will eventually upgrade to more advanced phones down the road.

Persons: Mukherjee, Akash Ambani, Jio Bharat, Varun Mishra, Mishra, Navkendar Singh, Singh, Jio, Bharat, There's, Nikhil Batra, Batra, Research's Mishra Organizations: International Data Corporation, Afp, Getty, Reliance, Reliance Industries, Counterpoint Research, CNBC, Vodafone, Aditya Birla Group, Vodafone Group —, BSNL, IDC, Nurphoto, Macquarie Research, Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, Macquarie, Jio, Airtel Locations: India, Jio, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bihar, Jammu, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh

☆ India's Jio set to sign $1.7 bln deal with Nokia for 5G equipment - Economic Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, July 6 (Reuters) - India's Reliance Jio Infocomm is likely to sign a contract worth $1.7 billion with Nokia (NOKIA.HE) this week to purchase 5G network equipment, the Economic Times reported on Thursday, citing people aware of the matter. The contract could be signed as early as Thursday in Helsinki, Finland, where Nokia is headquartered, the report added. Jio and Nokia did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for a comment. Jio snapped up airwaves worth $11 billion in a 5G spectrum auction last August and had launched 5G services in several cities. Swedish telecommunication company Ericsson (ERICb.ST) had in October last year, announced a partnership with Jio to build a 5G standalone network in India.

Persons: Jio, JP Morgan, Finnvera, Varun Vyas, Rashmi Aich Organizations: Nokia, Economic Times, Reliance Industries, Google, HSBC, Citigroup, Ericsson, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Helsinki, Finland, India, Swedish, Bengaluru

☆ Apple loses London appeal in 4G patent dispute with Optis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) infringed two telecommunications patents used in devices including iPhones and iPads, London's Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday, dismissing the tech giant's appeal in a long-running dispute with a U.S. patent holder. Texas-based Optis Cellular Technology LLC sued Apple in 2019 over its use of patents which Optis says are essential to certain technological standards, such as 4G. London's High Court ruled last year that two of Optis' 4G patents were so-called standard essential patents and that Apple had infringed them. Apple appealed against that decision in May, arguing that the two patents in issue were not essential to 4G standards and that it had not infringed the patents. Apple and Optis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Colin Birss, Optis, Apple, Sam Tobin, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Apple Inc, U.S, Cellular Technology LLC, Apple, Thomson Locations: London's, Texas, Britain

☆ Billionaire Ambani's Reliance Jio renews rural India push with $12 4G phone
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 3 (Reuters) - Reliance Jio said on Monday it would launch a 4G feature phone priced at 999 rupees ($12.19), the latest attempt by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's telecom arm to grab market share in India's massive and under-penetrated hinterlands. "There are still 250 million mobile phone users in India who remain 'trapped' in the 2G era, ... at a time when the world stands at the cusp of a 5G revolution," Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio, said in a statement. Currently, 4G feature phones account for less than 1% of the feature phone sales in India, per Counterpoint Research. "Feature phone to smartphone transition has slowed down due to high learning curve for a lot of rural Indian users and Jio Bharat aims to bridge that gap," said Tarun Pathak, analyst at Counterpoint Research. Feature phones are models that have higher functionalities than basic devices but falls short of the capabilities of a smartphone.

Persons: Jio, Mukesh, Akash Ambani, Bharat, Tarun Pathak, Pathak, Ashna Teresa Britto, Indranil Sarkar, Chris Thomas, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Reliance, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, IIFL Securities, Counterpoint Research, Reliance Industries, Google, Thomson Locations: Jio, India

☆ Huawei says applying 5G technology to business was more difficult than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou reacts as she leaves her home to attend a court hearing in Vancouver, Canada, August 10, 2021. SHANGHAI — Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou said Wednesday that applying 5G technology to business was more difficult than she had expected. One of the expectations for 5G connectivity is that beyond faster mobile phone connections for individual consumers, the technology can better enable self-driving vehicles and factory automation. Meng said the challenges of bringing 5G to business was underestimated and that it's completely different than previous 2G, 3G or 4G generations. Meng was speaking at a keynote session at the Shanghai Mobile World Congress on Wednesday, where she spoke broadly about the benefits of 5G to consumption and the economy.

Persons: Meng Wanzhou, SHANGHAI —, Meng Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Shanghai Mobile Locations: Vancouver, Canada, SHANGHAI

☆ Telecoms firm Veon to invest $600 mln in mobile unit Kyivstar
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) - Telecoms company Veon (VON.AS) said on Wednesday it would invest $600 million in the infrastructure of its Ukrainian subsidiary Kyivstar, the war-ravaged country's largest mobile network. The Amsterdam-listed company said the funds would help upgrade the mobile operator's infrastructure, including improving connectivity and 4G services throughout Ukraine. The country has seen much of its mobile infrastructure hit by Russian rocket attacks. Kyivstar's technical teams have performed nearly 150,000 repairs since Russia invaded last year, Veon said, adding it ensured that 93% of the network is operational. Kyivstar has lost around 7% of its active customer base - or roughly 1.7 million subscribers - since the war started last February.

Persons: Veon, Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar, Komarov, Aleksander Torbakhov, Olivier Sorgho, Clarence Fernandez, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, London

☆ Australia's competition tribunal blocks Telstra-TPG Telecom network deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Harish Sridharan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

2 wireless internet provider owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI). TPG said it would review the tribunal's decision before considering its options for further appeal, including a judicial review in the Federal Court. Telstra shares were up 0.7% in early trade, while TPG's shares fell as much as 10.8%, the biggest intraday decline since August 2022. Optus, which had previously opposed the deal on the grounds it would build Telstra's market dominance, said it welcomed the tribunal's decision. "The tribunal's decision was a decisive move for competition in the sector," Commpete Chair Michelle Lim said.

Persons: Vicki Brady, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Commpete, Michelle Lim, Harish Sridharan, Subhranshu Sahu, Jamie Freed, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Companies Telecom, Optus, TPG Telecom, TPG, Telstra, Australian Competition Tribunal, Telstra Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Singapore Telecommunications, ACCC, ACT, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Analysts are super bearish on these 13 global stocks and expect them to sink
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Then, UBS said in a report titled "Don't be fooled by the latest Tech rally" on June 6 that hedge funds have already begun selling $20 billion to $30 billion worth of global stocks. To that end, CNBC Pro screened over 3,330 large and mid-cap global equities that are part of the FTSE All-World ex-U.S. Index and identified the 13 stocks that analysts are most bearish toward. The table below shows global stocks, covered by at least 10 analysts, with no buy, overweight, or outperform ratings. Vodafone Idea India-listed Vodafone Idea is the most unloved stock in the above table. However, unlike Vodafone Idea, the downside risk is mainly given the stock's recent rally toward its all-time high.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo's, Ankur Rudra, Rudra, it's, Morgan, Howard Kao, Kao, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: UBS, Tech, CNBC Pro, FTSE, Vodafone Idea, Vodafone, Reliance Jio, IDEA, Acer, FactSet Locations: Acer Taiwan

☆ India cabinet approves $11 bln revival plan for state-owned BSNL
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Rama Venkat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A man speaks on his mobile phone as he walks past a Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) advertisement painted on a wall outside its office in Kolkata, India, August 24, 2017. REUTERS/Rupak De ChowdhuriBENGALURU, June 7 (Reuters) - India's cabinet on Wednesday approved an 890.47 billion rupee ($10.79 billion) revival package for loss-making Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to help the state-owned telecom operator deploy 4G and 5G services in a market dominated by private players. "With this revival package, BSNL will emerge as a stable telecom service provider focused on providing connectivity to remotest parts of India," the cabinet said in a statement. Debt-laden BSNL, grappling with poor infrastructure, has been posting losses for the past 12 years. The losses narrowed to 69.82 billion rupees in the year ended March 2022 from 74.41 billion rupees a year ago.

Persons: Vivekanand Subbaraman, Sakshi Dayal, Rama Venkat, Krishna N, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Nigam Ltd, REUTERS, Sanchar Nigam Ltd, BSNL, Tata Consultancy Services, 5G, Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Das, Thomson Locations: Kolkata, India, Chowdhuri BENGALURU, New Delhi, Bengaluru

☆ Portugal moves closer to banning Chinese suppliers from 5G
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, May 26 (Reuters) - Portugal's cybersecurity council CSSC has issued a resolution that could formally bar telecom operators from using Chinese equipment in their high-speed 5G mobile networks as well 4G platforms on which the new technology is based. The CSSC is the prime minister's consultative body and its document, dated May 23, is another blow to efforts by Chinese technology giant Huawei (HWT.UL) to enter the 5G market in Portugal and possibly extend existing contracts. Portugal's existing 5G networks are not standalone and still largely based on 4G technology and equipment. Its opinion is based on an undisclosed report that evaluated the safety of equipment in public electronic communications networks involving 5G technology. Reporting by Sergio Goncalves Editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ India's TCS receives $1.83 bln-worth advance purchase order from BSNL
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] A private security guard stands at the exit gate of the headquarters of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Mumbai, India October 13, 2016. REUTERS/Shailesh AndradeBENGALURU, May 22 (Reuters) - Tata Consultancy Services (TCS.NS) on Monday said it received an advance purchase order valued over 150 billion rupees ($1.83 billion) to deploy a 4G network across the country from Indian state-run telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL.NS). ($1 = 81.7800 Indian rupees)Reporting by Navamya Ganesh Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukrainian troops used 'wedding drones' and Google Maps to batter Russian forces during the war's chaotic early days, commanders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the days after Russia's invasion last year, Ukrainian forces need help targeting Russian troops. One Ukrainian artillery unit relied on help from Ukrainian civilians to guide their strikes. Ukrainian and Russian drones prowl the skies constantly, looking for enemy positions and movements, as well as for artillery batteries, supply depots, and command posts. SERGEY SHESTAK/AFP via Getty ImagesSometimes Ukrainian forces would get indications that Russian troops were in a village, but not their precise location. Ukrainian troops fire an 2S7 Pion howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut in March.

☆ Qualcomm's disappointing guidance on slow China recovery will force our hand on the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Revenue in the quarter fell about 17% year-over-year to $9.27 billion, beating analysts' forecasts of $9.1 billion, according to Refinitiv. In the quarter, Qualcomm won 12 new designs across its Snapdragon Cockpit and Snapdragon Connectivity 5G platforms with automakers. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade.

☆ Opinion: Six experts imagine an internet that women actually want
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Cnn Opinion | As Equals | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Women still have less access to the internet, with men being 21% more likely to be online than women globally. One reason for this is because being a girl, teenager, woman, trans or non-binary person makes us victims of digital violence. An internet women want is one where there is no fear to comment, to express an opinion, or publish photos of our bodies -- and where there are no limits simply because you are a woman on the internet. Women stood together internationally when Iranian women cut their hair , showing how the internet politicises women, sparks debates and builds international solidarity. Therefore, an internet that women want -- and that works for women -- needs to start by being affordable for women.

☆ SpaceX, Rogers to connect mobiles phones to satellites in remote Canadian areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 26 (Reuters) - Rogers Communications (RCIb.TO) and Elon Musk's SpaceX plan to connect mobile phones to satellite-based services aiming to expand coverage to remote areas in Canada, the companies said on Wednesday. The service, which will be delivered via the space company's Starlink satellite network, will cover 4G and 5G phones starting with SMS text and will eventually expand to voice and data service in Canadian areas without networks. "In the future, these investments will deliver wireless connectivity, including access to 911, to even the most remote areas," said Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri. T-Mobile US (TMUS.O) and SpaceX announced a similar partnership in the United States last year. Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ White House begins early planning for 6G development
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The White House plans to meet on Friday with government officials, business leaders and members of the academic community to discuss strategies for building out next-generation 6G wireless technology and lessons learned from the rollout of 5G. “It’s imperative that we start to look at these issues early,” a security official for the Biden administration said during a press call on Thursday evening. The more limited 5G adoption in the US can also be attributed to the fact that 5G network infrastructure developed slower than expected, Gergs said. As a result, 5G networks are less potent and consumers may see less incentive to pay a premium for 5G connectivity. But the government’s early focus on 6G also risks hyping that future technology and making it even harder for carriers to convince today’s consumers to pay to upgrade to existing 5G subscriptions, Gergs said.

OAKLAND, California, April 19 (Reuters) - Silicon Valley 5G chip startup EdgeQ Inc said on Wednesday it raised $75 million to help fund a ramp up in production as the company starts selling its technology to customers, including telecom operators. EdgeQ makes semiconductors that power base stations for 5G telecom towers and for 5G access points that can be installed inside places like factories to run robots and autonomous vehicles wirelessly, said Vinay Ravuri, CEO and co-founder of EdgeQ. The fundraising shows that companies viewed as promising by investors are able to secure financing even though funding has dried up for many startups following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the ensuing banking sector turmoil in March. EdgeQ has a valuation of "hundreds of millions of dollars", said Ravuri, adding it was "definitely less than" $1 billion. The recent advent of a new open standard chip architecture called RISC-V has made it possible to design its new 5G chip more cost effectively, he said.

☆ Here's when millions of UK phones will sound an emergency test alarm
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

All smartphones in the UK will sound an alarm later this month in emergency test. Most U.K. cell phones will sound an alarm for 10 seconds later this month as the government tests a new emergency alert system. A siren will go off at 3 p.m. local time on April 23 and last approximately 10 seconds on all 4G and 5G mobile phones. The system is designed to broadcast urgent messages to areas that are in danger, for example if there is severe flooding or a wildfire. "It could be the sound that saves your life," Oliver Dowden, a British government minister said in a press release.

☆ Nokia will launch 4G internet on the moon later this year to help expand lunar exploration
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Aidan Pollard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Nokia plans to put a 4G/LTE network on the moon later this year, CNBC reported. The network will help potential lunar explorations, including plans to look for ice on the moon. Nokia is set to launch 4G internet on the moon later this year, CNBC reported, part of the company's ongoing relationship with NASA. The Finnish telecommunication company intends to launch the network on a SpaceX rocket later this year, CNBC reported. Nokia's plan to introduce 4G to the moon includes an antenna-equipped base station on the moon and a solar-powered rover.

☆ Exclusive: EU patent body to be involved in tech-standard patent royalties -EU draft rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Standard-essential patents cover technology that devices must include to comply with international standards like 4G, Wi-Fi and USB. Some standards entail thousands of essential patents, and their owners are required to offer licenses on fair and reasonable terms. "The FRAND determination procedure should simplify and speed up negotiations concerning FRAND terms and reduce costs. FRAND (fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory) terms are often used in relation to technical standards that are developed through an industry-led standardisation process. "This is necessary because disagreements about the FRAND terms are the main reason to seek recourse in courts," the document said.

☆ Exclusive: EU patent body to oversee tech-standard patent royalties -EU draft rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Some standards entail thousands of essential patents, and their owners are required to offer licenses on fair and reasonable terms. The EUIPO should administer the procedure," said the European Commission document seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The draft regulation requires EUIPO to set up a register of standard essential patents (SEP) and companies to sign up if they want to charge patent fees or take legal action. European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager is scheduled to announce the draft regulation on April 26, according to a Commission agenda. The draft rules need to be agreed with EU countries and the European Parliament before they can become law.

☆ 4G internet is set to arrive on the moon later this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Nokia hopes to install a data network on the moon sometime in 2023, an executive told reporters. Nokia is preparing to launch a 4G mobile network on the moon later this year, in the hopes of enhancing lunar discoveries — and eventually paving the path for human presence on the satellite planet. The network will be powered by an antenna-equipped base station stored in a Nova-C lunar lander designed by U.S. space firm Intuitive Machines, as well as by an accompanying solar-powered rover. The infrastructure will land on the Shackleton crater, which lies along the southern limb of the moon. Nokia says the technology is designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space.

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