The news: As most carriers have transitioned to 4G LTE networks and more recently 5G connectivity, 3G networks are shutting down in the US to make it easier to roll out newer standards. 3G networks, which were introduced in 2021, took cellphones beyond voice calls and text messages and into an era of wireless data, GPS, mobile apps, and mobile messaging, per Tech Xplore.

A major supplier of mobile processors and wireless components, Qualcomm plans to integrate Cellwize’s cloud-native multi-vendor radio access network (RAN) automation and management platform into its own 5G solutions portfolio.

India saw a massive 173% surge in smartwatch and fitness tracker sales, and wireless earbud sales grew by 66% YoY in that market per The Economic Times. Higher demand in emerging markets indicates strong momentum for the segment beyond North America, Europe, and other maturing wearable markets. Key stat: Apple currently owns 36% of the global smartwatch market as of Q1 this year, per Counterpoint.

It’s possible faster wireless connections will encourage more video viewing, causing in-stream and pre-roll advertising to surge. 5G augmented reality (AR) is likely where the first and most noticeable changes will occur. It already plays a noteworthy role on social networks with filters and lenses. As 5G penetration increases, AR capabilities will expand.

Why it’s worth watching: The decision to ban Huawei and ZTE came after examination of 5G wireless technology. ”In 5G systems, sensitive functions will become increasingly decentralized and virtualized in order to reduce latency, and the number of devices they will connect will also grow exponentially.

Alistair Fulton, vice president and general manager of the wireless and sensing products group at Semtech, said, “A lot of what we’ve seen in smart hospitals is the repurposing of applications that have been built for other things.”

As a disruptor in the wireless provider category, Mint Mobile’s marketing culture encourages risk-taking, whether that’s choosing not to advertise in the Super Bowl or having company owner and actor Ryan Reynolds leave voicemails for customers. Watch Industry Voices, with CMO Aron North, to learn what drives its viral marketing successes and more.

The technology industry produces various devices like smartphones, laptops, and wireless headphones that are designed to be disposable. While Big Tech companies race to net-zero in their offices and production facilities, the burden and cost of their products’ poor repairability are passed on to consumers and third-party repair technicians.

eMarketer forecasting analysts Eric Haggstrom and Peter Vahle and vice president of content studio at Insider Intelligence Paul Verna discuss the future of the movie theater. Will movies make a comeback and what will they look like? They then talk about HBO Max with ads, AT&T's possible wireless phone plans subsidized by ads, and Apple One subscription bundles.

Though US adoption of 5G is still in its early days and consumer knowledge of the technology is lagging compared with other countries, industry professionals are already anticipating what opportunities the wireless tech will bring.

It’s possible faster wireless connections will encourage more video viewing, causing in-stream and pre-roll advertising to surge. But it’s still too early to tell, as widespread consumer adoption of 5G is still a few years away. In 2022, only 28.6% of US adults will have 5G wireless device service subscriptions, per our latest forecast.

About 41% of Medicare beneficiaries did not have a computer with high-speed internet at home as of 2018, and nearly the same percentage lacked a smartphone with a wireless data plan, according to an August 2020 analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine. In fact, more than a quarter had access to neither.

“The administration is actively engaged with the FAA, FCC, wireless carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to reach a solution that maximizes 5G deployment while protecting air safety,” said a White House official. What’s the catch?

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Wireless access to broadband for homes and business locations linking to towers. It replaces fiber optic connections and Wi-Fi. Latency: The time taken by data to travel between the sender and receiver. Low-band: Frequency ranges used for 5G between 600 MHz and 900 MHz.

The bigger picture: The continued reality of remote work, compounded by the recent Delta and Omicron variant surges, will make robust and resilient Wi-Fi connections more important than 5G wireless adoption, at least for the short term. The FCC’s unlocking of Wi-Fi 6 bandwidth could help promote greater standardization.