EE has launched what it says is the UK’s first commercial network slicing offer, Fast Lane, for consumers and small businesses. Subscribers will be able to use it to avoid congestion in high-footfall areas like the daily commute or at major events and use the network for livestreaming, video calls and social media, among others. The service is underpinned by 5G Standalone (SA, also dubbed 5G+), with the BT mobile arm saying the network currently extends to 54 million people, or 78% of the UK population. The plan will be available as part of EE’s new Full Works Plus subscription that includes a compatible handset and comes at a £5 (US$6.8) premium to the existing Full Works plan. (See also: BT preps 5G network slicing services this summer.)
VMO2 switches on 5G SA in Kent
In more UK 5G updates, VMO2 has expanded its 5G SA network to 1.6 million people in Kent, a county in Southeast England. This is part of a £700 million (US$954 million) mobile investment package, which covers new masts, small cells, 4G and 5G upgrades, automation and new spectrum deployment.
Ericsson trials AI in RAN with SoftBank
Ericsson has tested a solution it calls AI-native Scheduler for Link Adaptation, a feature of its AI in RAN technology, on SoftBank’s commercial 5G network in Japan. It is intended to enhance network performance, with Ericsson saying it improved spectral efficiency by around 25% and downlink user throughput by 50%. Ericsson notes the technology is a step toward AI-native mobile networks.
African smartphone set for 26% decline
The African smartphone market is set to shrink by 26% this year, having already fallen by 7% in Q2, according to data from Omdia (a sister company of Light Reading). It sees the most marked decline in the sub-$100 segment, which has served as an entry point to digital connectivity. Rising memory costs and AI-driven changes to supply chains have affected availability and pricing of entry-level phones, forcing a shift in the market. Going forward, it notes that financing options will be key to ensure affordability.
Sweden ponders future mobile needs
The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) will investigate the connectivity needs of its farming, meat production and forestry sectors. The goal is to establish how their requirements on mobile networks may evolve with regards to factors like capacity, reliability and robustness.
