
The G2 on 5G Podcast by Moor Insights & Strategy
A 5G podcast about the latest inside info on what's going on in the 5G industry by two of the 5G industry's leading analysts, Anshel Sag and Will Townsend.
Latest episodes

Jun 28, 2025 • 21min
The G2 on 5G: HPE's Private 5G Push, 3GPP Release 20, T-Mobile's Satellite Launch, AST's Defense Demo, EchoStar's Debt Dance, and 6G's AI Future
Welcome and Introduction- Will Townsend hosts episode 229 of GTO and 5G podcast- Anshel Sag joins as fellow analystHPE Aruba Networking's Private 5G Partner Program- HPE's acquisition of Athonet and turnkey private 5G solution- New competency program to train channel partners on cellular technology- Focus on operational technology environments3GPP Release 20 and the Path to 6G- Release 20 as a primer for 6G's first release (Release 21)- Key improvements: wireless AI, coverage, mobility, MIMO evolutions- Setting the stage for 6G technical study itemsT-Mobile's T Satellite Launch- Commercial availability set for July 23rd- Initial support for SMS, MMS, and short audio clips- Data service launch planned for October 1st- Free emergency 911 for all compatible devicesAST Space Mobile's Defense Communications Proof of Concept- Collaboration with Fairwinds Technologies- Field test including tactical assault kit connectivity and secure video calls- Demonstration of military applications for satellite-to-phone technologyEchoStar's Financial Maneuvers- $500 million debt interest payment made- 30-day grace period elected for July 1 payment- Ongoing "high-stakes game of chicken" with regulatorsCloudflare and Spectrum Discussions- Concerns about EchoStar's spectrum usage- Potential influence of political factors on regulatory decisions

Jun 20, 2025 • 28min
The G2 on 5G: Trump Mobile's Gold Service, Satellite Connectivity Tests, AST-Vodafone in India, T-Mobile's WPGA Tech, Nokia's Network Fabric, and 6G Developments
Trump Mobile's Gold 5G Service Launch- Discussion of Trump Mobile's new 5G service offering- Pricing strategy and planned device offerings- Analysis of the service as an MVNO using major carrier networks- Skepticism about the value proposition and potential legal issuesSatellite Connectivity Testing- Anshel Sag's experience testing satellite services during a camping trip- Comparison of T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T satellite offerings- Observations on indoor/outdoor functionality and ease of use- Potential applications for emergency situations and rural connectivityAST SpaceMobile and Vodafone Partnership in India- Collaboration to provide direct-to-device connectivity in rural India- Focus on bridging the digital divide in underserved areas- Integration of satellite and terrestrial infrastructureT-Mobile's WPGA Championship Technology Showcase- T-Mobile's partnership with WPGA for golf technology innovations- Autonomous driving range ball picker and real-time swing analysis- Mixed reality putting simulator and AI-powered video highlights- Enhanced broadcast capabilities with real-time stats integrationNokia's Autonomous Network Fabric Launch- Introduction of Nokia's new network automation platform- Integration of security into the networking layer- Use of agentic AI for network management and automation- Projected adoption curve and industry impact by 20266G Development and Future Implications- Recent 3GPP discussions on 6G specifications and timelines- MIT's photonics processor advancements for 6G signal processing- NIST's focus areas for 6G development- Potential military applications and security concerns for 6G technologyPodcast Evolution and Audience Engagement- Consideration of transitioning the podcast focus from 5G to 6G- Invitation for listener feedback on potential rebranding

Jun 13, 2025 • 22min
The G2 on 5G Podcast: Nokia's Drone Consortium, T-Mobile's Sail GP Innovation, AT&T's Fiber Milestone, Nvidia's European AI Push, New Zealand's Private 5G, and Spectrum Bill Debate
Welcome and 5th Anniversary Celebration- Will Townsend and Anshel Sag mark the 5th anniversary of their podcast- Discussion on the podcast's evolution alongside 5G and 6G technologiesNokia's Leadership in Drone and Robotics Consortium- Nokia spearheads a new European Union initiative named Proactive- Project aims to redefine emergency management and critical infrastructure- Projected revenue of 90 million euros by 2035- Involvement of 40+ European tech companies from 13 countriesT-Mobile's Partnership with Sail GP- T-Mobile's 5G network enhancing sailing competition broadcasts- Implementation of AI-enabled autonomous buoys and IoT sensors- Significant improvement in broadcast capabilities, from 10-30 Mbps to 16 simultaneous HD streamsAT&T's Fiber Network Milestone- AT&T reaches 30 million locations with fiber connectivity- Company on track to meet 60 million location goal by 2030- Discussion on the impact on bridging the digital divide and mobile network backhaulNvidia's European AI and 6G Initiatives- Partnerships with European operators for AI cloud development- Focus on sovereign AI and privacy-centric solutions- Collaboration with over 200 companies and universities for 6G research- Emphasis on AI-native wireless networks for 6GNew Zealand's First Private 5G Network- Collaboration between Spark and Air New Zealand at Auckland airport- Focus on logistics management using drones and robots- Implementation of digital twin and computer vision applicationsSpectrum Allocation in U.S. Politics- Discussion of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" and its spectrum allocation provisions- Shift from 600 MHz sub-3 GHz to 800 MHz above 3 GHz- Debate on the merits of bundling spectrum allocation with other political issuesClosing Thoughts- Invitation for listener engagement and topic suggestions- Reminder of hosts' social media handles for further interaction

Jun 6, 2025 • 25min
G2 on 5G Podcast Episode 226 - Standalone Edition - NTT DATA's Shahid Ahmed - Private 5G And More
Welcome and Introduction- Will Townsend welcomes Shahid Ahmed, who leads NTT DATA's private 5G initiatives- Discussion of Shahid's role in New Ventures and Innovation at NTT DATAPrivate 5G Momentum in 2025- Identification of 2025 as a pivotal year for private cellular and 5G adoption- Three major forces driving demand: device availability, spectrum allocation, and improved economicsDevice Ecosystem Development- Progress in natively supported 5G devices for enterprises- Impact on deployment timelines and customer readinessSpectrum Availability Challenges- Regulatory hurdles in spectrum allocation across different geographies- Recent improvements in spectrum accessibility for enterprisesEconomics of Private 5G- Shift towards "Wi-Fi economics" for private 5G deployments- Cost comparisons between Wi-Fi and 5G implementations in large-scale environmentsEdge AI and Agentic AI in 5G Networks- Distinction between Edge AI and large language models- Applications of Edge AI in manufacturing and autonomous systems- Role of Agentic AI in business process workflowsFactory of the Future Concept- NTT DATA's focus on enabling advanced manufacturing environments- Integration of robotics, automation, and connectivity in dark factoriesConvergence of Wireless Technologies- Emerging integration of 5G and Wi-Fi on single radio platforms- Implications for seamless connectivity in various settingsSecurity Challenges in Network Transformation- Increased security concerns with automation and IP network integration- Ongoing nature of security challenges in modernized infrastructuresNTT DATA's Comprehensive Service Offerings- NTT DATA's position as a major data center service provider- Private 5G as an entry point for broader network architecture transformationPartnership Highlights- Collaboration with Cisco, including ESIM integration in Meraki and Catalyst products- Simplification of device provisioning and configuration processes

May 25, 2025 • 20min
The G2 on 5G Podcast: AT&T's Fiber Expansion, Trump's Spectrum Push, Apple's 6G Plans, AWS Exits Private 5G, Upper 12 GHz for Satellites, and Xiaomi's New SoC
Welcome and Milestone- Will Townsend and Anshel Sag discuss the upcoming 5-year anniversary of their podcast.- Reflection on the longevity of their roles as analysts.AT&T's Fiber Expansion- AT&T acquires Lumen's fiber portion for nearly $6 billion.- Expansion adds over 4 million consumer locations, primarily on the West Coast.- AT&T's goal to reach 60 million locations by 2030.Spectrum Auctions and Political Involvement- Discussion of President Trump's tweet about auctioning 600 MHz spectrum.- Analysis of the potential for spectrum auctions in the 1.5 to 10 GHz band.- Consideration of revenue generation through government spectrum monetization.Upper 12 GHz Spectrum for Satellite Connectivity- FCC chairperson's comments on freeing up spectrum for low Earth orbit satellite providers.- Potential impact on companies like AST Space Mobile and Starlink.- Importance of fair allocation in potential auctions.Apple's 6G Preparations- Indications of Apple's focus on 6G development and hiring.- Analysis of Apple's potential strategies for 6G involvement and IP portfolio building.- Discussion on the importance of Apple's participation in 6G standard-setting.AWS Ends Private 5G Solution- AWS announces the end of its private 5G solution launched in 2021.- Analysis of challenges faced, including competition and complexity.- Reflection on the difficulties of entering the telco space for hyperscalers.Xiaomi's New SoC Launch- Introduction of Xiaomi's Xring 01 SoC using ARM technology.- Analysis of the SoC's positioning and potential market impact.- Discussion of Xiaomi's simultaneous agreement with Qualcomm for flagship chips.Closing Thoughts- Invitation for listener engagement and topic suggestions.- Memorial Day wishes for veterans.

May 17, 2025 • 25min
The G2 on 5G: AST's Consumer Satellite, EchoStar's FCC Probe, MWC Vegas Pivot, T-Mobile's Network Dominance, Carrier Security Partnerships, and Xiaomi's SoC Debut
Welcome and Introduction- Will Townsend and Anshel Sag return for Episode 224 of "The G2 on 5G"- Overview of six topics covered in about 20 minutesAST Space Mobile's New Consumer Satellite Service- Announcement of beta service by end of year, commercial service in 2026- Potential offerings: text, internet data, video conferencing- Shift from middleware approach to direct consumer serviceEchoStar FCC Investigation- FCC investigating EchoStar's 5G network and spectrum usage- SpaceX's complaints about EchoStar's power levels and spectrum utilization- Concerns about impartiality and potential political influencesMWC Las Vegas Evolution- Rebranding as enterprise-focused event- Challenges in attracting attendees and finding its footing- Discussion on the event's future viabilityT-Mobile Network Performance- OOKLA data showing impressive network speeds- Demonstration of 550Mbps uplink on sub-6 connection- Comparison of network performance across Samsung Galaxy Ultra modelsMobile Operator Security Partnerships- AT&T and T-Mobile partnerships with Palo Alto Networks- Focus on enhancing cybersecurity posture for owned and unowned networks- T-Mobile's 5G SASE solution and security slice offeringsXiaomi's Smartphone SoC Announcement- Xring 01: Xiaomi's first in-house smartphone SoC- Expected to be built on TSMC's 4nm process- Implications for Chinese smartphone manufacturers and government effortsClosing Remarks- Invitation for listener engagement and topic suggestions- Contact information for Will Townsend and Anshel Sag

Apr 26, 2025 • 29min
The G2 on 5G: MNO Earnings, T-Mobile's 5G Advanced, AT&T's FWA Boost, Motorola's Razr Revival, Ericsson's Mining 5G, and Verizon's First Responder Slice
Welcome and Introduction- Will Townsend and Anshel Sag host episode 223 of G2 on 5G- Anshel joins from New York after attending Motorola launch eventQ1 Earnings for Major U.S. Mobile Network Operators- AT&T reports strong performance in fiber and mobility investments- T-Mobile experiences subscriber growth miss despite solid revenue- Verizon records strong earnings but faces subscriber lossT-Mobile's 5G Advanced Network- First commercial nationwide 5G advanced network in the U.S.- Potential for new use cases in XR, gaming, and safety applications- T-Mobile maintains lead in 5G network capabilitiesAT&T's 5G Fixed Wireless Access Performance- CEO John Stankey credits Ericsson for boosting FWA performance- AT&T adds 181,000 Internet Air subscribers in Q1- Positioning FWA as complementary to fiber expansionMotorola's New Razr Lineup- Introduction of high-end flagship tier for Moto Razr brand- New features include titanium hinge, improved cameras, and AI capabilities- Variety of models with different processors and specificationsEricsson's Private 5G Deployment in Mining- Partnership with Newmont for private 5G across 14 mines on four continents- Single Ericsson radio controlling bulldozer fleet in South Wales, Australia- Demonstration of 5G capabilities in enhancing mining operations and safetyVerizon's 5G Network Slice for First Responders- Launch of dedicated 5G ultra wideband virtual network slice- Deployment in 29 cities, offering enhanced reliability and performance- Competitive move to match AT&T's FirstNet and T-Mobile's T PriorityImportance of Use Cases and Competition in 5G- Discussion on the need for compelling use cases to drive 5G adoption- Emphasis on competition breeding innovation in the telecom industry

Apr 18, 2025 • 25min
The G2 on 5G: T-Mobile's 6G Tests, Google's Pixel 9a, Vodafone's IoT Milestone, RedCap Collaboration, AT&T's FirstNet Satellite Trials, and MediaTek's New Chips
Welcome and Introduction- Will Townsend introduces episode 222 of G2 on 5G- Anshel Sag joins as fellow analyst- Recording from Florida locationT-Mobile's 6G Equipment Testing- FCC grants T-Mobile request to test experimental prototype wireless equipment- Testing near Bellevue, Washington headquarters- Spectrum band in 7 GHz to 8.4 GHz range- Potential for 10-20 times more capacity and higher data ratesSpectrum Considerations for 6G- Discussion of 7 GHz and 12 GHz spectrum for 6G- Challenges with propagation characteristics above 6 GHz- Potential tricks to improve propagation for higher frequenciesGoogle Pixel 9a Launch- Mid-range device priced at $499- Same processor as flagship series with some compromises- Larger battery than flagship models- Downgraded modem compared to higher-end versionsVodafone's IoT Milestone- Vodafone connects 200 millionth IoT device- 50% year-over-year sales growth over last five years- Discussion of IoT monetization and network infrastructureGSA Forms 5G RedCap Special Group- Collaboration on RedCap networks, features, and product rollouts- Founding members include Ericsson, Huawei, Qualcomm, and MediaTek- Importance of standalone 5G networks for RedCap applicationsAT&T and AST Space Mobile FirstNet Trials- Testing direct-to-cell satellite connectivity over Band 14- Extension of FirstNet's mission-critical capabilities- Importance for emergency services and disaster responseMediaTek's New Chipset Announcements- Dimensity 9400 Plus for flagship phones- Companion Ultra for Chromebooks- Focus on AI performance and capabilities- Comparisons to Intel's offerings in the Chromebook marketNTT Data Center Services- Brief mention of NTT's position as third in the world for data center service delivery

Apr 5, 2025 • 31min
The G2 on 5G Podcast: Celona's AT&T Deal, HP GO, Dallas Cowboys' Cybersecurity, Lilo & Stitch 5G, T-Mobile's Network Security, and Hyundai's 5G AI Factory
Welcome and Introduction- Will Townsend and Anshel Sag discuss the latest insights on 5G technology.- Episode 221 of G2 on 5G, covering six topics in about 20 minutes.AT&T and Celona Partnership for Neutral Host- Announcement of AT&T and Celona collaboration for neutral host solutions.- Discussion on the viability and monetization of neutral host technology.- Stanford Healthcare highlighted as a use case for private networking and neutral host solution.HP Go's New Connected PC 5G Experience- Introduction of HP Go's connected PC 5G experience announced at HP Amplify.- Multi-carrier solution integrating AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile services.- Simplified activation process and management for IT departments.Dallas Cowboys and AT&T's Dynamic Defense- Exploration of the Dallas Cowboys' implementation of AT&T's Dynamic Defense.- Discussion on the importance of security for high-profile sports franchises.- Emphasis on the layered approach to security and complementary controls.Disney and T-Mobile 5G Collaboration- T-Mobile 5G used in the production of Disney's new Lilo and Stitch live-action film.- Benefits of 5G in film production, including improved speed and cost-efficiency.- Discussion on the long-standing relationship between Disney and T-Mobile.T-Mobile and Zscaler Partnership for Mobile Network Security- T-Mobile partners with Zscaler to enhance overall mobile network security.- Importance of layered security approach in mobile networks.- Discussion on the significance of digital experience monitoring for subscribers.Hyundai's Smart Factory in Georgia- Hyundai opens a massive smart factory in Georgia, leveraging 5G and AI technologies.- Overview of the factory's capabilities, including production capacity and automation features.- Discussion on the future of manufacturing and the role of automation in the automotive industry.Closing Remarks- Invitation for viewers and listeners to reach out about specific 5G topics for future podcasts.- Contact information provided for Will Townsend and Anshel Sag on social media.

Mar 27, 2025 • 23min
The G2 on 5G: Verizon's AI Assistant, Sateliot's Funding, Nvidia's 6G Push, T-Mobile's Spectrum Swap, SoftBank's Telco LLM, and Ampere Acquisition
Welcome and Episode Overview- Will Townsend hosts episode 220 of G2 on 5G- Anshel Sag joins as fellow analyst- Discussion of latest 5G and 6G developmentsVerizon's AI Assistant for Small Businesses- Launch of Verizon Business Assistant for customer interactions- Text-based chatbot to automate and improve engagement- Potential for retention and customer stickinessSateliot's Funding and Satellite Technology- €15 million grant from Spanish government- Compact "briefcase satellites" for IoT applications- Comparison with other satellite communication companiesNvidia's AI RAN and 6G Ambitions- Partnership with T-Mobile and Cisco for AI-native approach- Nvidia's influence on potential 6G standards- Aggressive positioning in telecom AI developmentT-Mobile's Spectrum Deal- Agreement with Grain Management LLC- Swap of 800 MHz for 600 MHz spectrum and cash- Strategic move to bolster T-Mobile's coverageSoftBank's AI and Telecom Initiatives- Development of Large Telecom Model (LTM)- Acquisition of Ampere Computing- Positioning for AI and telecom infrastructure growthClosing Thoughts and Contact Information- Invitation for listener feedback on 5G topics