5G Factor Podcast

T-Mobile Starlink, New Nokia CEO & Qualcomm Results - 5G Factor

The 5G Factor, hosts Ron Westfall and OIivier Blanchard, examine the unveiling of T-Mobile Starlink to tens of millions of football fans during Super Bowl 59, which uses satellite and mobile communications technology to help keep people connected, including Verizon and AT&T customers, across the more than 500,000 square miles of the USA that's unreached by any carrier’s earth-bound cell towers. They also discuss why the move is a major step toward eliminating deadzones and represents a sales and marketing coup for the Un-carrier. They assess Nokia selecting Intel's AI and data center leader Justin Hotard as its new CEO and how his selection can spur AI-driven, portfolio-wide innovation in key areas such as network automation, AI RAN, and data center fabrics. Lastly, they review Qualcomm reporting record Q1 FY 2025 revenue, driven by strong premium-tier handset demand and continued momentum in automotive, posting its sixth consecutive quarter of record revenues and how Qualcomm's success in portfolio diversification delivers competitive advantages and expands the company's influence across the global mobile ecosystem. 

DeepSeek's Ecosystem Implications, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Debut & CSP AI Edge Readiness - 5G Factor - EP82

The 5G Factor, hosts Ron Westfall and OIivier Blanchard examine the unveiling to T-Mobile Starlink to tens of millions of football fans during Super Bowl 59, spotlighting using satellite and mobile communications technology to help keep people connected, including, Verizon and AT&T customers, across the more than 500,000 square miles of the USA unreached by any carrier’s earth-bound cell towers and why the move is a major step toward eliminating deadzones as well as the digital divide They assess . Samsung's debut of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25, at Galaxy Unpacked, aimed at setting a new standard as a true AI companion for context-aware mobile experiences and the prospects of operators, such as AT&T and Verizon, using their real estate assets, including AI infrastructure, to potentially monetize AI services and capabilities. 

Boost Mobile, Cisco, Nokia, Federated Wireless, HPE & JMA Moves - 5G Factor - EP81

On this episode of the Six Five Webcast: The 5G Factor, hosts Ron Westfall and Tom Hollingsworth focus on the key 5G ecosystem developments which helped kick off 2025, including Cisco providing an update on its strategic relation with Boost Mobile. Highlights include how Cisco's Test Automation Framework (TAF) and SDN controller, Cisco Crosswork Network Controller, were pivotal in testing new services and activating cell sites that assured Boost fulfilled its 5G deployment targets, as we also addressed prospects for Boost's parent company, Echostar/DISH Wireless through 2025 and beyond. We assess why Nokia collaborating with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) is important to 5G security, underscoring Nokia's commitment to meeting security and privacy challenges across mobile networks. We dive into the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) selecting Federated Wireless, sub-contracting JMA Wireless for RAN infrastructure and HPE for core network software, to deploy what the DoD is characterizing as its first commercial private 5G (P5G) network, providing impetus for the P5G business case across military installations.   

2025 5G Prospects: Open RAN, D2C & DOOH - 5G Factor EP80

On this episode of the Six Five Webcast: The 5G Factor, hosts Ron Westfall and Tom Hollingsworth focus on the key 5G ecosystem developments which helped kick off 2025, including Cisco providing an update on its strategic relation with Boost Mobile. Highlights include how Cisco's Test Automation Framework (TAF) and SDN controller, Cisco Crosswork Network Controller, were pivotal in testing new services and activating cell sites that assured Boost fulfilled its 5G deployment targets, as we also addressed prospects for Boost's parent company, Echostar/DISH Wireless through 2025 and beyond. We assess why Nokia collaborating with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) is important to 5G security, underscoring Nokia's commitment to meeting security and privacy challenges across mobile networks. We dive into the US Department of Defense (DoD) selecting Federated Wireless, sub-contracting JMA Wireless for RAN infrastructure and HPE for core network software, to deploy what the DoD is characterizing as its first commercial private 5G (P5G) network, providing impetus for the P5G business case across military installations. 

Alianza Expands, Ericsson Antennas Wax, Nokia 5G Advanced Moves - 5G Factor EP 79

Alianza, Ericsson, and Nokia all made moves to strengthen their competitive prospects across the 5G ecosystem in 2025, assessing the overall ecosystem implications. Alianza signed a definitive agreement to acquire Metaswitch from Microsoft, aimed at advancing the path for communications service providers to enter the cloud native and AI services economy. The acquisition will give Alianza a combined customer base of more than 1,000 communications service providers, including 19 of the top 20 global operators with clear 5G factors in play. We evaluate how Ericsson Antenna System is driving the antenna evolution that is having a significant impact on networks through advances in design engineering, and why antennas are key for maximizing network impact including across North America deployments. We look at Nokia's goals in supporting 3GPP Release 20 and how it will deliver several important 5G-Advanced enhancements including preparation for 6G with official approval of detailed work items expected in 2025. Release 20 will focus on system-wide themes, including network energy efficiency, which is a critical consideration from a sustainability standpoint.

5G Factor: Qualcomm, Ericsson, AT&T Moves Shine Spotlight on IoT - 5G Factor EP78

Qualcomm, Ericsson and AT&T all made moves that put the spotlight on driving and scaling IoT across the 5G ecosystem. We examine the ecosystem and competitive landscape implications. At Qualcomm Investor Day, Qualcomm promoted its new IoT strategy, which involves creating scalable blueprints, leveraging the Qualcomm IQ Series and 5G Redcap support, using similarities across industries for different solutions and creating tailored, bespoke solutions according to need. Ericsson is promoting private 5G specifically, due in good part to Wi-Fi limitations, for meeting the demands of the Oil and Gas segment, including IoT connectivity. AT&T indicated it will decommission its narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network in 2025, while Verizon and T-Mobile are moving ahead with their NB-IoT offerings. Why is AT&T making the move and how does it impact prospects for alternatives to NB-IoT such as 5G Redcap, LTE-M, and LoRa.

T-Mobile, AT&T, Ericsson & Wilson Connectivity New Moves - 5G Factor EP77

he White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released the National Spectrum Research and Development (R&D) Plan to serve as a tool to guide government decisions on spectrum-related research, shape private sector efforts, and help inform the National Spectrum Strategy. At the 5G Americas Analyst Forum, T-Mobile and AT&T advocated for adressing the spectrum shortages that mobile operators are expected to face in the coming years. They argued that a national spectrum policy should include studies on the lower 3 GHz and 7 GHz bands, with potential repurposing for full-power licensed use. Ericsson unveiled seven new 5G Advanced software products for high-performing programmable networks that can increase revenue, augment user experience, and improve operational efficiency. Wilson Connectivity introduced Private 5G, which includes an integration of Hybrid and Active Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) with new capabilities, security, and control. We assess the impact of these developments on the competitive landscape of the 5G mobile ecosystem. 

5G Factor: AI Rules at 5G Americas; T-Mobile, Verizon, Nokia Make Key Moves - 5G Factor EP76

AI was the dominant theme at 5G Americas, as shown by T-Mobile's use of AI technology and billions of data points to determine exactly how to upgrade and expand its network. Key Verizon executives unveiled plans to capitalize on computing infrastructure sales for AI operations, although specifics are pending. GenAI-enabled platforms, such as Nokia Network Service Platform, are closer to acting as the natural language assistant to the network designers, planners and operations staff by correlating data streams in new ways that help the platform understand what it sees, discover new relations across networks, and identify root causes of events. 

T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon Vital to Hurricane First Responders - 5G Factor EP75

U.S. CSPs demonstrated their indispensable role in public safety, including providing first response support during hurricane emergencies. Verizon and its public safety arm, Verizon Frontline, have made tremendous strides in repairing cell sites damaged by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Tennessee. T-Mobile and Starlink requested and received a second Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC to operate their T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service in the path of Hurricane Milton in Florida. The FirstNet, Built with AT&T, team supported first responders across the U.S. Southeast by responding to various emergency support requests from public safety officials on FirstNet. The FirstNet Response Operations Group deployed dedicated assets and other solutions to further support critical communications. Additionally, at Embedded World North America, Qualcomm and Honeywell announced a collaboration to transform the energy sector with new 5G, low-power wireless, and AI-enabled solutions. 

Qualcomm, Nokia, and Vodafone: AI’s Impact on 5G Security - Six Five Podcast: The 5G Factor - 5G Factor - EP74

Nokia's new Threat Intelligence Report shows cyberattacks on telecom infrastructure are accelerating as cybercriminals increasingly use GenAI and automation to increase the speed, volume, and sophistication of their attacks. Next, Qualcomm's AI Orchestrator aims to harmonize all AI functionalities to provide a meaningful interaction experience and improve security. Lastly, Vodafone highlights the use of data-driven APIs, such as its Scam Signal, to provide the mobile intelligence needed to push back on fraud across the telecom sector.