Page 24 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

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AT&T, Verizon Trial D2D Video Calls with AST SpaceMobile

AT&T and Verizon successfully to common smartphones are the next to test the satellite broadband network in
demonstrated direct-to-device (D2D) video step after the companies received special the US. AST SpaceMobile is using Verizon
calls using AST SpaceMobile’s five low temporary authority (STA) from the Federal and AT&T’s 850MHz spectrum, which is
Earth orbit BlueBird satellites. Video calls Communications Commission last month compatible with standard smartphones,
for a non-continuous direct-to-device
service in the US. Collectively, the five birds
will provide around an hour combined of
connectivity during two passes each day.
AT&T previously made a video call with the
satellite player in 2023 in a test that also
included Rakuten Group. AST SpaceMobile
and Vodafone Group claimed they
conducted the world’s first video call using
a smartphone and satellites in an area with
no mobile coverage last month. Vodafone
Group, Verizon and AT&T are investors in
AST SpaceMobile. The operators and AST
SpaceMobile are in a race with SpaceX
and T-Mobile US and Apple to provide D2D
services such as text messaging, voice
calls and video applications across the US.

AT&T and Nokia Extend Automation and VoNR Partnership

AT&T and Nokia have extended their needs.” The agreement is a notable billion with Ericsson over the next five years.
existing partnership to include support ecosystem development as Nokia lost That’s not to say Nokia had completely
for the evolution of the telco’s voice a major AT&T contract in late 2023 when struck out with the U.S. telco. Prior to the
core offering and for injecting additional the telco selected rival Ericsson as its key VoNR deal, the pair announced multi-
automation capabilities into its network. infrastructure partner in its ambitious goal year deal that will see the vendor provide
AT&T is specifically looking to update its of running 70% of its traffic over Open RAN AT&T with its next-generation fiber access
Nokia IMS Voice Core to include Voice platforms by the end of 2026. To achieve technologies across it current footprint and
over New Radio (VoNR) in a fully cloud- this, AT&T is planning to spend roughly $14 for future expansions.
native architecture that it said enables
flexible scaling and increased automation.
The telco will also use the vendor’s digital
operations software solutions, as well as the
Nokia Cloud Platform (NCP) to “streamline
network activities, enhance automation
and minimize manual intervention.” Yigal
Elbaz, senior vice president of technology
and network services at AT&T, commented:
“With focused execution and investment,
AT&T continues to make excellent progress
in realizing automation at all levels of its
network and service operations.” He added
that the deeper tie with Nokia will allow
AT&T to “further optimize” its network
operations and enable new services to
“better support [its] customers’ evolving

24 JAN-FEB 2025