Mobile Broadband Enhancements

AI‑Enhanced Baseband Intelligence to Elevate 5G Stability and Customer Experience At the centre of every mobile base station is the baseband, the processing brain responsible for orchestrating all radio functions, mobility decisions and frequency operations. Modern mobile networks operate across multiple spectrum layers, dynamically aggregating them to deliver speed, reach and capacity. But as customers move through different environments from dense metro areas, to streets, to buildings, to houses, the network must make split‑second decisions on which cell and band will maintain the most stable connection. Even small misjudgements can lead to dropouts or inconsistent performance. In an Australia‑first innovation, Optus and Ericsson have partnered to embed advanced AI algorithms directly into the network to make these decisions faster, smarter and more accurate. This AI continuously analyses how each device interacts with nearby cells, evaluates dominant and neighbouring frequency layers, and predicts the optimal handover path to maintain a stable experience as customers travel. Ericsson and Optus have jointly developed an AI model that predicts with up to 95% accuracy whether a device operating on one frequency layer is also within the coverage footprint of another layer in a 5G Standalone network. Trained on months of real‑world data from the Optus network, this model provides highly reliable, cell‑level coverage intelligence. With this predictive insight, the network can reduce unnecessary device measurements and checks, enabling: • Faster, more accurate handovers • Fewer dropped calls and data sessions • Lower system load across the network • Improved battery life for customers through reduced device processing • Smoother mobility as customers move between cells and environments This is AI functioning at the heart of the Radio Access Network combining real‑time signals with historical behaviour to anticipate the best connection path rather than react to degradation. It delivers a truly surgical level of optimisation, enhancing consistency at the very edges of coverage where customers need it most. For Optus customers, this means a more resilient, reliable and seamless 5G Standalone experience, powered by AI innovation that operates invisibly behind the scenes. This collaboration shows how AI‑native intelligence inside the baseband can materially elevate everyday connectivity bringing smarter mobility, improved efficiency and a higher‑quality experience to Australians wherever they go. Chris MeissnerKent WuMatthew BanksAnthony MathersMarcin WierzbickiAndrew MichaelVincent HochartNick BromheadLudvig LandgrenPer NarvingerBranko Banda

Super Bowl LIX wasn’t just a showcase of top-tier football—it was also a test of how well the networks could handle one of the most demanding connectivity environments in sports. As the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their victory, New Orleans’ telecommunications infrastructure quietly played a crucial role in keeping fans, media, and businesses connected across the Caesars Superdome, tailgate zones, hotels, the airport, and the French Quarter. While much of the spotlight is on game day, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T took a long-term approach, ensuring that their investments would benefit the city far beyond the Super Bowl. T-Mobile took a broad approach, focusing on both in-stadium upgrades and wider city improvements to keep fans connected wherever they were. -Upgraded its Distributed Antenna System (DAS) inside the Superdome, enabling peak speeds of 1.2 Gbps for fans in the stadium. -Enhanced macro cell sites in high-traffic areas like Champions Square, boosting speeds up to 920 Mbps. -Expanded its 5G network across New Orleans, adding permanent improvements to the French Quarter, key hotels (Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott, Roosevelt), the airport, and the Smoothie King Arena. Verizon focused on delivering high-speed connectivity in dense environments, making key enhancements to its 5G Ultra Wideband network: -Installed 509 Ultra Wideband radios and 155 C-Band radios inside the Superdome to provide consistent coverage across seating areas, suites, and concourses. -Mounted 42 MatSing Ball Antennas on the stadium’s catwalks, improving capacity in crowded sections. -Laid down 560+ miles of new fiber across New Orleans, permanently improving connectivity in areas like Bourbon Street, the airport, and other key venues. AT&T: A Critical Role as the Neutral Host Key Investments: -A significant DAS upgrade featuring 91 zones of 5G+ C-Band, 3.45 GHz, and mmWave, improving capacity across the stadium. -Outdoor antenna system enhancements, ensuring strong connectivity in tailgate areas, parking garages, and fan zones. -City-wide 5G+ expansions, with 69 small cell upgrades and C-Band overlays, particularly in high-density areas like the New Orleans Convention Center. The infrastructure investments made for Super Bowl LIX are a blueprint for how connectivity should be approached at large-scale events. Planning ahead is crucial. The carriers spent years preparing for this one-day event. At LA28, we are planning for a global audience across multiple venues for weeks at a time. Adaptability is essential. The ability to optimize networks in real time using cloud-based vRAN, C-Band, and mmWave proved valuable in managing massive data surges. Lasting impact matters. The networks deployed for the Super Bowl aren’t just for the game—they now serve as part of New Orleans’ long-term telecom infrastructure. The next step? Taking these learnings and applying them to the world’s largest sporting event. #SuperBowlLIX #topvoices

Understanding 5G Architecture: A Complete Visual Guide After explaining 5G concepts to thousands of professionals, I realized one thing: architecture diagrams either oversimplify or overwhelm. So I created this comprehensive visual that balances technical accuracy with clarity. The Foundation: User Equipment and RAN Everything starts at the User Equipment layer where your smartphones, AR headsets, connected vehicles, and industrial IoT devices connect to the network. The gNB macro base stations handle wide area coverage while small cells densify capacity in urban environments. The Xn interface enables direct communication between base stations for seamless mobility. The Intelligence: 5G Core Network The 5G Core is where the magic happens. Unlike the monolithic 4G EPC, the 5GC uses a Service Based Architecture with specialized network functions. AMF handles your mobility and connection management. SMF manages your sessions. UPF routes your actual data. PCF enforces policies. AUSF and UDM secure your identity. NSSF selects the right network slice for your service. The Differentiator: MEC and Network Slicing Multi-access Edge Computing brings processing closer to users, enabling the low latency path that makes real-time applications possible. Network Slicing creates virtual networks tailored for specific requirements, whether that is eMBB for your video streaming, URLLC for autonomous vehicles, or mMTC for massive sensor deployments. The Three Pillars of 5G Enhanced Mobile Broadband delivers gigabit speeds. Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications enables mission-critical applications. Massive Machine Type Communications connects billions of IoT devices. This single image captures what typically takes hours to explain in classroom sessions. Save this for your reference and share it with anyone starting their 5G journey. What aspect of 5G architecture would you like me to decode next? Join my Free 5G/6G Learning Free whatsapp Channel : https://lnkd.in/gerTY-kr ♻️ Repost this to help your network get started ➕ Follow Nitin Gupta for more

Ireland's mobile operators have shifted focus from rural coverage expansion to urban and suburban capacity, deploying recently released 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum. Ongoing RAN capex is deepening the LTE carrier-aggregated (CA) layer, bolstering the 4G anchor for EN-DC, as the 3.6 GHz grid is densified beyond city centres into suburbs. Analysis of Speedtest Intelligence data reveals rapid growth in coverage across these bands over the past year, scaling from initial cells on wheels (COWs) at festivals like Electric Picnic to targeted rollouts at traffic hotspots, with ~500 refreshed sites now graced with the spectrum. These deployments, particularly in the 2.6 GHz band, indicate that LTE CA remains the bottleneck for operators rather than the 5G radio. The priority is to reduce the number of locations where the LTE layer is under-provisioned for consistent 3-4 CA, a weakness for Vodafone and eir in recent years. Aggressive EN-DC with a rich LTE CA anchor has kept Three in a leadership position for speed and network consistency through the last quarter, delivering the highest #5G download median (127.31 Mbps) and 10th percentile (10.0 Mbps). This advantage is driven as much by grid density and footprint as by spectrum depth, as Three's subscribers spend more time on a wide 100 MHz n78 (3.6 GHz) carrier with strong SINR, enabled by a materially denser urban mid-band grid (~45% larger n78 site base than Vodafone by Q1 and ~74% larger than eir). Continued investment in RAN modernisation with Ericsson is driving improved spectrum diversity with more capable CA. With by far the most extensive use of the 700 MHz band (~55% more sites deployed than both Vodafone and Three by Q1), initially as a 4G (B28) coverage layer for deep rural and indoor reach to compensate for a thinner site grid, eir has begun migrating part of this spectrum to 5G (n28). This is likely to extend its lead in 5G availability, which reached 79.1% in the last quarter (compared with 68.5% on Three and 61.4% on Vodafone), and reduce its dependence on dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS). The latter, combined with thinner LTE CA combinations, narrower channelisation and fewer n78 sites, continues to limit its speed performance, which eir has sought to address with aggressive grid infill through streetworks deployments in suburban areas. Having starved its network of investment through the start of the 5G cycle, Vodafone's recent capital spending on RAN modernisation is delivering substantial improvement across all KPIs. The 3G sunset has increased time spent on 2G and no service within the Vodafone subscriber base relative to other operators, but refarming 900 MHz to 4G (B8) and activating its 2600 MHz assets have widened the 3–4CA LTE layer. It led on multi-server latency last quarter for the first time, reflecting tight backhaul/routing, a conservative 5G attachment policy (avoiding poor SINR edges) and disciplined scheduler and buffer tuning and clean RF.

Pakistan plans to double spectrum, fasttrack 5G, wire federal schools by December, and train a million students in AI. On paper, these are headline worthy ambitions. But let’s cut through the press release and face the reality: our LTE infrastructure is faltering. The stats don’t lie: • Our mobile download speeds hover at just ~25 Mbps, while fixed broadband lags at ~16 Mbps putting us languishing near the bottom globally. • Opensignal’s latest February 2025 report found Zong delivers only 17.3 Mbps download on average; Jazz manages a mere 6.5 Mbps upload. • Fiber backhaul barely touches 9–11% of cellular towers, compared to a 40% global benchmark. Here’s the bitter truth: 5G is just lipstick on a broken LTE pig. If the foundation crumbles, speed upgrades are meaningless. It’s still slow, unstable, uneven, and inequitable especially in rural areas where half the population remains offline entirely. Training 1 million students in AI is bold visionary even but if they can’t load a llab instance or submit an assignment because the network drops, it’s not education; it’s a public relations stunt. Here’s what must happen NOW: Stabilize LTE. Prioritize reliability and consistency. Build fiber backhaul across every region. Enforce transparency. Operators must publish uptime and QoS metrics, made visible for public accountability. Mandate infrastructure sharing. Reduce redundancy, increase reach especially in underserved areas. Make fiber to every school the baseline not a campaign line but national infrastructure. Connectivity is not a product launch; it’s a public utility. If LTE fails to deliver today, no spectrum expansion or AI initiative will matter tomorrow. Until we fix what exists, we’re just running in place sooner or later, the nation will notice.

Regular Enhancement in 4G Network Optimization 4G LTE is still the workhorse of mobile broadband, carrying most of the data traffic in many countries. Even with 5G deployments, LTE’s role as the primary anchor layer makes it critical to keep performance at its peak. In practice, network optimization is not a one-off project — it’s an ongoing cycle. The best-performing networks I’ve seen are those where the engineering teams treat enhancement as part of their weekly routine, not just a reaction to customer complaints. Here are a few areas I focus on in my own optimization work: • Tracking KPI trends, not just daily snapshots, to spot slow degradations before they become service-affecting. • Reviewing and adjusting parameters like handover thresholds, load balancing rules, and scheduler weights to keep mobility and capacity balanced. • Optimizing Carrier Aggregation use, ensuring bands are paired in a way that matches real device capabilities in the market. • Planning for growth well in advance — adding carriers, upgrading to higher-order MIMO, or sector splitting before sites hit congestion. • Managing interference through tilt adjustments, PCI audits, and refining neighbor lists to keep cell borders clean. • Rolling out vendor features such as eICIC or CoMP in targeted hotspots to extract the last bit of capacity from the air interface. The mindset is simple: treat optimization as a living process. When you make small, regular improvements, your network avoids major disruptions and stays competitive even as traffic patterns change. #4G #LTE #NetworkOptimization #TelecomEngineering #RFPlanning #MobileNetworks #KPI

Peplink has rolled out Firmware 8.5.3 RC1, and it’s more than just a polish pass. This release brings key enhancements for enterprise routing, cellular reliability, and remote access—plus a handful of fixes that make it a strong candidate for production environments. Why Upgrade? - Dynamic Routing Over IPsec: BGP now works over route-based IPsec tunnels, making life easier for multi-site deployments that need both encryption and dynamic routing. - Better Remote Access Management: DHCP reservations can now be tied to Remote User Access usernames, improving IP tracking and security. IPv6 for B One Series: Native IPv6 support finally lands on B One, B One Plus, and B One 5G models. - Expanded Hardware Support: Added compatibility for Fujisoft FS040W USB modems across multiple product lines. New Features: - BGP over IPsec (huge for enterprise WAN design) - DHCP reservations by username for Remote User Access - IPv6 on B One series - USB modem support for Fujisoft FS040W Critical Fixes: - Resolved OpenVPN lease issues during dropped sessions - Fixed 5GD devices failing on Optus networks - Updated CA certificates for Web Proxy, ContentHub, and OpenVPN - FusionHub OSPF page now loads correctly Highlights from the Beta Cycle - Docker Enhancements: Containers can now use /dev/net/tun for tunneling—great for edge compute scenarios. - Authentication Resilience: Secondary RADIUS servers for both Web Admin and wired 802.1X. - Security: Added DH Group 16 for IPsec and patched CVE-2025-26466. - Network Control: PVID support on LAN ports, Virtual WAN on VLAN for OSPF/RIPv2. - Monitoring: Multiple NTP servers, SNMP linkUp/linkDown traps, and expanded DPI signatures. - Cellular Improvements: Better 5G Cell ID handling, site survey tools, and eSIM workflow fixes. - Wi-Fi WAN Stability: Smarter roaming and reconnection logic. Known Issues to Watch - Changing IP Passthrough to VLAN may fail in the Web UI. - Docker containers require an active DHCP server. - YouTube blocking may not work if traffic uses QUIC. - Switch Controller PVID changes may not apply properly. Before You Upgrade - Update SIM Injectors to firmware 1.2.5 if you use FusionSIM or RemoteSIM. - Enable InControl on PrimeCare devices for SpeedFusion features. - Check hardware lifecycle—some older models move to maintenance-only status. - Pilot the upgrade in a non-critical environment, especially if you rely on Docker or passthrough modes. Final Thoughts If you’ve been holding off on 8.5.3, RC1 is the most stable and feature-complete build yet. The combination of BGP over IPsec, IPv6 for B One, and cellular reliability fixes makes this release a strong candidate for production rollouts—especially for distributed enterprises and mobile deployments.

Did you know that traditional handover procedures can lead to connection interruptions of up to 90 ms? That’s a long time in the fast-paced world of mobile communication! ❗ The newly introduced L1/L2 Triggered Mobility (LTM) in 5G Advanced significantly reduces this interruption time to just 20-30 ms! This innovative approach not only enhances user experience but also supports the growing demand for high-speed data services. 📶 LTM operates by leveraging lower-layer signaling, allowing mobile devices to maintain a connection with the source cell while preparing to switch to a target cell. This method optimizes the handover process, ensuring that services remain uninterrupted even as users move between different coverage areas. In fact, the first version of LTM, released in December 2023, is set to revolutionize mobility management by allowing for high bitrate services that demand low latency. How do you see this advancement impacting industries that rely on real-time mobile connectivity, like autonomous vehicles or smart cities? #Connectivity #5G #Innovation #SmartMobility

📢 𝟯𝗚𝗣𝗣 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝟮𝟬: 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟱𝗚-𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟲𝗚 Last week, 3GPP formally approved the scope of Release 20—a pivotal moment marking Release 20 as both the capstone for 5G-Advanced & a clear bridge toward 6G! The article "A Tale of Two Mobile Generations: 5G-Advanced and 6G in 3GPP Release 20" offered timely insights on how Release 20 is shaping the future of mobile connectivity. 🚀 𝗗𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝟮𝟬 🟩 Release 20 acts as both the final major step for 5G-Advanced & the launchpad for 6G research 🟩 Selective enhancements address real-world 5G deployment needs while foundational studies for 6G begin 📶 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟱𝗚 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🟩 Massive MIMO: Sixth phase of MIMO evolution, optimizing performance and reducing overhead for large antenna arrays 🟩 Mobility: Advanced Layer-1/Layer-2 triggered mobility for faster, more seamless handovers & reduced interruptions 🟩 Coverage: Expanded uplink coverage, improved random access, higher data rates with extended modulation schemes 🌐 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟱𝗚 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 🟩 Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN): Standardized NB-IoT voice over GEO satellites for global voice & emergency services 🟩 Integrated Sensing & Communication (ISAC): Introduction of sensing capabilities within mobile networks 🟩 Ambient IoT: Support for battery-free, wirelessly powered IoT devices indoors & outdoors 🟩 XR and Mobile AI: Enhancements for extended reality and AI-driven mobile applications 🤖 𝗔𝗜/𝗠𝗟 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🟩 AI/ML-driven optimizations for air interface, channel state compression, and mobility management 🟩 AI-based network management and self-optimization to reduce operational costs & improve efficiency 🔮 𝟲𝗚 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🟩 Initiation of 6G studies focusing on scenarios, requirements, enabling technologies 🟩 Early work on 6G radio access network (RAN) design, aiming for unified terrestrial/non-terrestrial networks & native AI/ML 🟩 Alignment with ITU-R’s IMT-2030 framework, which defines six usage scenarios for 6G 🤝 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 🟩 3GPP’s efforts are closely coordinated with ITU-R & global spectrum harmonization activities 🟩 Release 20 ensures the continued relevance of 5G-Advanced while laying the groundwork for 6G standardization and deployment Source: Xingqin Lin ✅ Subscribe to #global5gevolution newsletter (https://lnkd.in/ge9gsyjE) & tune in “Vehicle Connectivity" ✅ Or subscribe #global5gevolution YouTube (https://lnkd.in/g8M7YvKq) & tune in “Vehicle Connectivity”; click comment box ✅ Follow us on Kaneshwaran Govindasamy & Global 5G Evolution #3GPP #Release20 #5GAdvanced #6G #MobileNetworks #IoT #AI #WirelessInnovation #Telecom #MIMO #Mobility #Coverage #AIRAN #NonTerrestrialNetworks #ISAC #AmbientIoT #XR #MobileAI #AIRAN #NetworkEvolution #FutureOfConnectivity #Telecommunications #6GR #Standardization #TechLeadership #6G #20 #5G #MIMO

5G's momentum is accelerating globally, with subscriptions set to reach 2.9 billion by the end of 2025 and networks forecast to handle 80% of mobile traffic by 2030. In Europe, we've reached a significant milestone with 5G mid-band coverage topping 50% population coverage, creating the foundation for transformative connectivity experiences across our region. Our latest Mobility Report features an inspiring story from BT Group about their pioneering approach to 5G Standalone deployment across the UK. Rather than treating this as a network upgrade, BT has demonstrated how experience-centric thinking can unlock 5G's true potential. By the end of March 2025, their 5G SA network reached over 28 million people across 50 major towns and cities - covering more than 40% of the UK population. Their different approach included a commitment to delivering 95% outdoor coverage in every location before announcing the launch, ensuring customers experience meaningful improvements from day one. The real-world results speak for themselves, as shown at Wembley Stadium during the cup final weekend in May. 5G traffic increased by 31% compared to 2024, reaching over 2.3TB of data, with uplink traffic growing by 46%. This demonstrates how enhanced connectivity doesn't just improve user experience, it's changing how people enjoy and engage with live events. BT's SA network is also solving practical business challenges through network slicing. At the Belfast Christmas Market, which saw 1.2 million visitors last year, Lavery's pub relied on a dedicated network slice for fast, reliable mobile payments, ensuring smooth transactions even during the busiest periods. In BT’s words, SA is not just about faster speeds; it's about building the foundation for AI-powered applications, next-generation devices, and programmable networks that can adapt to emerging needs in real-time. Read more about BT's 5G SA journey and their experience-first approach in the full article: https://lnkd.in/egYyQsEU Thank you Howard Watson, Greg Mccall, Reza Rahnama MBE, Mark Seguna and all the teams across BT and Ericsson. #MobilityReport #5G #Technology #Innovation #Connectivity #DigitalTransformation