The G2 on 5G Podcast: T-Mobile's 5G Subsidy, Black Hat Vulnerability, Nokia Drones, Vodafone 5G, China's LEO

Welcome and Introduction

- Will Townsend welcomes listeners to episode 201 of the G2 on 5G podcast.

- Introduction of fellow analyst Anshel Sag.

T-Mobile's Initiative with Channel Partners

- Discussion on T-Mobile's collaboration with Ingram Micro and Tech Data Synnex.

- Introduction of the Partner Plus program to subsidize 5G connected PCs and fixed wireless access solutions.

- Subsidies include up to $400 off PCs and up to $700 off Cradlepoint's fixed wireless access CPE products.

- Potential savings for businesses up to $1,600 per router adapter and over $400 per connected PC.

- Challenges around provisioning devices and the need for a marketing campaign to raise awareness.

5G Baseband Vulnerability at Black Hat

- Anshel Sag discusses a 5G baseband vulnerability revealed at the Black Hat security conference.

- Vulnerability allows devices to be tricked into connecting to fake cell towers, enabling phishing attacks.

- Researchers created a tool called 5G Base Checker to identify vulnerabilities in various phones.

- Companies like Samsung and Google have patched these flaws, while MediaTek and Qualcomm have yet to respond.

Nokia and Swisscom's Drone Partnership

- Will Townsend talks about Nokia's partnership with Swisscom for drone emergency response and industrial use cases.

- Nokia has prepared 300 "drone in a box" units for public safety and infrastructure inspections.

- Discussion on the broader applications of drones in industries like window washing.

Vodafone UK's 5G Standalone Service

- Anshel Sag highlights Vodafone UK's launch of 5G standalone service for enterprises.

- Research indicates 39% of UK companies are ready to invest in 5G standalone.

- Vodafone's 5G Ultra service promises lower latency, more reliability, and better battery life.

- Examples of network slicing applications include ITN, UK Power Networks, and gaming.

China's Entry into the LEO Satellite Space Race

- Will Townsend discusses China's recent entry into the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite space race.

- China aims to launch 108 satellites this year and 15,000 by 2030 for global network coverage.

- Discussion on the potential impact and competitiveness of China's LEO satellite initiative.

Pentagon's 5G Applications for Defense

- Anshel Sag talks about the Pentagon's use of 5G for enhancing warfighting capabilities.

- Deployment of Anduril-made towers using tactical radios for high-resolution video security in Africa.

- Future G's role in advancing 5G and transitioning to 6G for the US Department of Defense.

Conclusion

- Will Townsend and Anshel Sag wrap up the episode.

- Invitation for listeners to provide insights on future 5G topics.

- Contact information: Will Townsend (@willtowntech) and Anshel Sag (@anshelsag).

- Encouragement to tune in next week.