In a press conference today in the WhiteHouse’s Roosevelt Room, the president laid out a number of initiatives focused
on helping accelerate the U.S. role in the 5G race.
on helping accelerate the U.S. role in the 5G race.
“This is, to me, the future,” Trump said,
opening the press conference flanked by Ajit Pai, Ivanka Trump and
a room full of communications representatives in cowboy and hard hats.
opening the press conference flanked by Ajit Pai, Ivanka Trump and
a room full of communications representatives in cowboy and hard hats.
“It’s all about 5G now,” Trump told the
audience. “We were 4G and everyone was saying we had to get 4G, and then they
said before that, ‘we have to get 3G,’ and now we have to get 5G. And 5G’s a
big deal and that’s going to be there for a while. And at some point we’ll be
talking about number six.”
audience. “We were 4G and everyone was saying we had to get 4G, and then they
said before that, ‘we have to get 3G,’ and now we have to get 5G. And 5G’s a
big deal and that’s going to be there for a while. And at some point we’ll be
talking about number six.”
The apparently off-script moment echoed
Trump’s recent call onTwitter for the U.S. to get 6G technology “as soon as
possible.” There’s something to be said for the spirit, perhaps, but it’s
probably a little soon to be jumping the gun on a technology that doesn’t
really exist just yet.
Trump’s recent call onTwitter for the U.S. to get 6G technology “as soon as
possible.” There’s something to be said for the spirit, perhaps, but it’s
probably a little soon to be jumping the gun on a technology that doesn’t
really exist just yet.
Trump used the opportunity to downplay
earlier rumors that the government might bebuilding its own 5G network, instead promoting a free-market method,
while taking a shot at the government’s capabilities. “In the United States,
our approach is private sector-driven and private sector-led,” he added. “The
government doesn’t have to spend lots of money.”
earlier rumors that the government might bebuilding its own 5G network, instead promoting a free-market method,
while taking a shot at the government’s capabilities. “In the United States,
our approach is private sector-driven and private sector-led,” he added. “The
government doesn’t have to spend lots of money.”
In recent months, however, both the
administration and the FCC have
been discussing ways to make America more competitive in the race to the
soon-to-be-ubiquitous cellular technology. Earlier today, the FCC announced
plans to hold the largest spectrum auction in U.S. history, offering up the
bands to wireless carriers. The planned auction is set to kick off on December
10.
administration and the FCC have
been discussing ways to make America more competitive in the race to the
soon-to-be-ubiquitous cellular technology. Earlier today, the FCC announced
plans to hold the largest spectrum auction in U.S. history, offering up the
bands to wireless carriers. The planned auction is set to kick off on December
10.
Earlier today Pai and the FCC also proposed
a $20.4 billion fund design to help connect rural areas. The chairman said the
commission believes the fund could connect as many as four million small
businesses and residences over the course of the next decade.
a $20.4 billion fund design to help connect rural areas. The chairman said the
commission believes the fund could connect as many as four million small
businesses and residences over the course of the next decade.
The focus is understandable, of course.
5G’s value will go far beyond faster smartphones, providing connections for a
wide range of IoT and smart technologies and potentially helping power things
like robotics and autonomous vehicles. The technology will undeniably be a key
economic driver, touching as of yet unseen portions of the U.S. workforce.
5G’s value will go far beyond faster smartphones, providing connections for a
wide range of IoT and smart technologies and potentially helping power things
like robotics and autonomous vehicles. The technology will undeniably be a key
economic driver, touching as of yet unseen portions of the U.S. workforce.