The biggest mobile tech news on Twitter this week as the buzz that 5G New Radio is officially here, with the non-standalone specification being ratified by 3GPP this week in Lisbon, Portugal.

It was no surprise — the technical work was complete back in late November, giving companies like Qualcomm and Ericsson time to set up an interoperability test that would coincide with the official ratification. But nonetheless, vendors and operators are happy to end 2017 and ring in the New Year with a new standard to implement.

On to full-scale development. I’m not sure how testing can pick up any more momentum, as it seems like there are multiple announcements every week as it is.

In case you want a closer look at the spec, Qualcomm’s Sherif Hanna tells you how:

Speaking of 5G, T-Mobile US’ Neville Ray is taking over as chair of 5G Americas:

Not that he’s giving up swipes at, say, AT&T’s “5G Evolution”: 

Taking a step away from 5G to think about old devices: no, it’s not your imagination that your old iPhone is slower than it used to be. Apple got hit with a class action lawsuit this week for what critics are calling evidence of planned obscolescence and/or deliberating slowing down older devices to nudge customers to buy new ones.

Apple, however, calls it a power management technique to avoid older batteries overloading and shutting down completely.

And for a holiday Friday laugh, check out T-Mobile US’s retelling of on the classic Claymation Rudolph Christmas cartoon, including the “abominable carriers” who “only cared about silver and gold.”

“What bullshit!” digi-Claymation John Legere says, while on his way to the Island of Misfit CEOs, going on to add: “They used to laugh and call me names for not wearing a tie.”

 

The post Telecom Tweets of the Week: A 5G New Year appeared first on RCR Wireless News.

Categories 5G, 5G Americas, Apple, Featured, Opinion, Qualcomm, Sprint, T-Mobile US