Canada
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March 29, 2021 – On Tuesday March 30ᵗʰ, the CWTA and 5GCC present the first in a monthly virtual series titled 5G Canada: What’s Next? The series will host leading experts to discuss 5G's impact on key areas of Canadian society including healthcare, education, public safety, transit, Industry 4.0, the connected home and 5G’s role as an enabler for Canadian innovators. While there is no cost, registration is required. Further details – as well as a digital invitation that can be shared with colleagues or contacts – is available here.
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March 22, 2021 – According to a new report from PwC, COVID-19 changed how Canadians work and live, making internet connectivity and Industry 4.0 crucial to Canada’s future economic success. The efficiency and productivity benefits of Industry 4.0, meanwhile, will depend on using advanced 5G networks. PwC’s latest report suggests that a window of opportunity exists to leverage 5G as a catalyst for Canadian investment, but that this will require cooperation between the government, telecom, and broader industry.
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March 15, 2021 – BCE Inc. recently entered a connected car partnership with Honda Canada, which will use Bell’s Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile broadband network to provide internet access. The built-in Wi-Fi enables streaming and browsing on up to seven devices while supporting mobile gaming and real-time text and email. Bell, which also collaborated on wireless solutions with Lincoln and Ford, is offering a free three-month wireless data trial. Bell and Honda previously shared connected car relationships with AT&T.
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Global 5G
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March 23, 2021 – Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has acquired $8 billion worth of Verizon stock, while increasing his T-Mobile holdings by $430 million. This comes as fellow billionaire Nelson Pelz increased his Comcast holdings past the $1 billion mark. In general, financial experts agree that 5G is a worthwhile investment to consider. New Street Research analysts say that private 5G wireless networks may represent a particularly compelling opportunity, since “enterprises will need secure, private networks, customized for their needs, to support a slew of new enterprise applications that don’t exist today.”
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March 19, 2021 – Two new studies confirm that 5G poses no health risks to humans. The papers – which focused on 5G – were published by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and Swinburne University. After reviewing relevant lab and animal experiments, ARPANSA found “no substantiated evidence that low-level radio waves, like those used by the 5G network, are hazardous to human health.” Swinburne University, meanwhile, looked at the use of mmWave spectrum and concluded that 5G devices will emit energy levels far below existing international safety standards.
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March 10, 2021 – Driven by the rising popularity and availability of 5G devices, the International Data Corporation expects smartphone shipments to grow 5.5% by the end of this year. Despite a more than 10% year-over-year decline at the start of COVID-19 in 2020, IDC expects the U.S. market to grow 3.5% in 2021. 5G devices will make up over 40% of global smartphone shipments in 2021, which will expand to 69% by 2025. Compared to 2020, smartphone shipments increased 13.9% in the first quarter of 2021.
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March 8, 2021 – Forbes’ Anshel Sag predicts that more operators will transition to standalone 5G networks in 2021 to improve coverage and capacity. Sag notes that indoor coverage issues with 3.5 GHz, however, may require cooperating with municipalities on approvals for more new sites, which could be hampered by 5G health misinformation. In its February 2021 report, GSA indicated that 365 5G smartphones are now commercially available – an increase of 46.6% in the last three months. According to GSA, most major equipment vendors say 5G devices are driving a majority of their growth and profitability in 2021.
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