European Telcos Echo the Call for “New IP.” Bellheads Want to Take Over

 The Bellhead vs Nethead war is back with a vengeance. The European standards committee ETSI launched a new “Group on NON-IP Networking.” The telcos want to own the new 5G services. It has very strong support from the European telcos for major changes in IP networking. Those who remember the bellhead vs nethead wars will recognize what is going on.

The telcos – again – want strong control and quality of service, claiming it will be much more efficient. I believe Vint, David Isenberg, and many on this list discredited that argument 20 years ago, but it’s back with a vengeance.

China Mobile at the ITU made similar suggestions under the meme “New IP.”  I don’t think that anyone would be surprised the Chinese government is strongly supporting central control. Some uninformed reporters think this is about China trying to take control of the Internet and restrict freedom of speech in China. That’s nonsense; China already has the tools for censorship domestically and doesn’t need help from the ITU.

This is a telco versus the net battle, with the net advocates almost invisible. Traditional allies, like Google, are now so big they are conflicted.

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Right Does Right

My analysis of U.S. telecom in 2020 & 2021 is dominated by the power of the T-Mobile build at 2.5 GHz.Verizon added $billion to keep up. David Evans and Jeff Eisenach included it in T-Mobile merger filings long before I separately came to the conclusion.

Opening 1200 MHz at 6 GHz for Wi-Fi will be one of the most important policy moves of the new decade. It took smarts and courage.

Pai refuses Free Press dumb idea TV stations should censor Trump 

Modi’s Gov refuses telco demand to raise and fix prices 

Germany, UK hold some 3.5 GHz spectrum for non-telco users

I can respect those who don’t share my progressive politics. Send me suggestions.

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