The G2 on 5G: T-Mobile's $5 Billion Fiber Investment, AST SpaceMobile's Satellites Are Ready, CrowdStrike's Outage, Apple's 5G Modem Shift, AT&T's Earnings, and T-Mobile for Business Awards

Welcome and Introduction

- Will Townsend welcomes listeners to episode 199 of the G2 on 5G podcast.

- Discussion about the upcoming milestone of episode 200 and a call for listener feedback on how to celebrate it.

T-Mobile's Fiber Investment

- Will Townsend discusses T-Mobile's $5 billion investment in a joint venture with KKR to purchase Metronet.

- The strategic move aims to enhance T-Mobile's 5G fixed wireless access services and provide fiber backhaul for radio towers.

- Anshel Sag adds insights on Metronet's regional focus, particularly in the Midwest and Texas, and the potential benefits for T-Mobile's rural coverage.

AST SpaceMobile's Satellite Deployment

- Anshel Sag covers AST SpaceMobile's announcement of the completion and upcoming launch of its first five commercial satellites, Bluebirds.

- The satellites will enhance 5G communication capabilities and have garnered investments from major companies like AT&T, Verizon, Google, and Vodafone.

- Will Townsend shares his experience visiting AST SpaceMobile's facilities and highlights the company's efficient satellite design and ambitious plans.

CrowdStrike's Major Outage

- Will Townsend discusses the significant outage experienced by CrowdStrike due to a flawed update, impacting various businesses including Delta and Starbucks.

- The incident highlights the importance of rigorous DevOps practices and offers learning opportunities for mobile network operators.

- Anshel Sag provides additional context on the technical aspects of the outage and the broader implications for the cybersecurity industry.

Apple's Potential Move Away from Qualcomm Modems

- Anshel Sag addresses rumors that Apple may start using its own 5G modems in lower-volume products like the iPhone SE, potentially phasing out Qualcomm modems.

- The transition, if it happens, would mark a significant shift in Apple's strategy and could impact the broader 5G modem market.

- Will Townsend reflects on the long timeline since Apple acquired Intel's modem business and the challenges involved in developing in-house modems.

T-Mobile for Business Unconventional Awards

- Will Townsend shares his experience as a judge for the T-Mobile for Business Unconventional Awards, which recognize innovative uses of 5G technology.

- This year's categories include innovation in customer experience, employee enablement, industry, and community.

- The event will feature Malcolm Gladwell as the master of ceremonies and introduce a new "Tipping Point" designation for transformative change.

AT&T Earnings Report

- Anshel Sag reviews AT&T's recent earnings report, highlighting strong postpaid net additions and low phone churn rates.

- Despite slightly missing revenue targets, AT&T's focus on its core business and fiber expansion has been well-received by investors.

- Will Townsend adds that AT&T's improved free cash flow and consistent fiber net adds demonstrate the company's effective execution and growth potential.

Closing Remarks

- Anshel Sag wraps up the episode, inviting listeners to provide feedback and suggesting topics for future podcasts.

- Encourages listeners to rate, subscribe, and tune in next week.