Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) selected four companies to develop direct-to-device (D2D) mobile services using high-altitude platform stations: NTT, NTT Docomo, Space Compass and SKY Perfect JSAT, said a Thursday news release from the companies. The initiative is part of NICT’s “Beyond 5G,” project, “which envisions a society where connectivity is assured over the air, sea, and space regardless of user location,” the companies said: “The four participating companies aim to solve various technical issues and demonstrate a communication service using HAPS positioned in the stratosphere over Japan, with the goal of accelerating the commercialization of HAPS D2D communication services.”

EU governments decided on a general approach to high-speed broadband rollout, the European Council announced Tuesday. The European Commission-proposed Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) would replace the 2014 broadband cost-reducing directive. GIA is essential for Europe's connectivity objectives, it said. Among other goals, the EC proposal aims to speed network rollout and lower the cost of deploying e-communications infrastructure, which is partly caused by complex permit-granting procedures. Ministers made changes to the proposal, including creating an exception for a transitional period for smaller municipalities and carve-outs for critical national infrastructure. They also approved amendments clarifying what factors must be considered in calculating fair conditions for access as well as making clear that not only fiber can be used to reach very high capacity. The European Parliament's negotiating position was approved Oct. 4 and the Spanish Presidency will enter "trilogue" talks with the council and EC. The Spanish Presidency "intends to make as much progress as possible in these negotiations until the end of the year," the council said. Belgium will take over the EU Presidency Jan. 1. The council's position drew strong disapproval from the European Telecommunications Network Operators Association, European Competitive Telecommunications Association, GIGA Europe and the GSM Association. The industry groups slammed ministers for omitting several EC-proposed provisions they said "positively support" the rollout of very high capacity networks (VHCNs). These include: (1) The need to recognize the importance of shorter permit-granting processes. (2) Dilution of the process to define exemptions on permit-granting, which must happen in an "effective and harmonized way." (3) The need to safeguard technology neutrality and enable VHCNs by refraining from either discriminating against or unjustly preferring particular kinds of infrastructure.

ITU published a framework for the development of standards and radio interface technologies for 6G, it said Friday. Framework details were contained in “Recommendation ITU-R M.2160,” recently approved at a meeting of the ITU Radiocommunication Assembly in Dubai. ITU-R “will now focus on defining technical requirements, the submission process, and the evaluation criteria for potential 6G radio interface technologies,” a news release said: “For the next phase of 6G development, companies and industry associations will submit proposals for the IMT-2030 Radio Interface Technology for ITU-R consideration in early 2027. These submissions will then be evaluated against the agreed minimum requirements prepared by ITU's expert group on [international mobile telecommunication] systems.” The framework identifies 15 capabilities for 6G, nine of which were derived from 5G systems, ITU said. “IMT-2030 is also expected to help address the need for increased environmental, social and economic sustainability, and also support the goals of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.” The framework examines immersive communications providing “a rich and interactive video experience for users,” hyper-reliable and low-latency communications, “enhanced ubiquitous connectivity, especially in rural, remote and sparsely populated areas with the aim of bridging the digital divide,” massive IoT, the use of AI and “integrated multi-dimensional sensing to improve assisted navigation, and high-precision positioning including object and presence detection, localization, imaging​ and mapping.” By agreeing “on a way forward on 6G, ITU Member States have taken an important step toward ensuring that technical progress is synonymous with affordability, security, and resilience -- supporting sustainable development and digital transformation everywhere,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

Fixed-broadband services accounted for more than 80% of global internet traffic in 2022, but the dominance of fixed networks “underscores the global connectivity disparity between high- and low-income countries,” ITU said Monday. There remains only one fixed-broadband subscription per 100 people in low-income countries because of high prices and lack of infrastructure, ITU said. It found “not only that fewer people are online, but that those who are connected use less data -- meaning they are not achieving the full potential of connectivity or realizing the benefits of digital transformation.” Worldwide, the monthly average was 257 GB per fixed-broadband subscription, compared with 11 GB per mobile-subscriber in 2022 -- monthly fixed traffic in just low-income countries averaged 161 GB compared with 1 GB for mobile during the period. “The further and faster technology advances, the more urgent our mission to connect everyone becomes," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU secretary-general. “Fulfilling the promise of universal and meaningful connectivity is one of the most important causes of our time in our effort to realize the sustainable future we want and need."

Chile (57%), Indonesia (56.5%), Argentina (56%) and Hong Kong (56%) had the highest spam call rates among all the countries tracked by Hiya, the company said Thursday. In the U.S., 22.3% of unknown calls were found to be spam, Hiya said. The company identified 6.55 billion instances of phone spam across 39 countries in Q3, or 73 million incidents per day. Generative AI is behind some of the calls, Hiya said: “Voice-cloning technology is being used by scammers to convince victims that a child, grandchild or other loved one is in trouble and needs immediate financial assistance -- or worse, that a ransom needs to be paid for their release.

The "fair share question" of whether Big Tech should pay for network usage is a "temporary issue" that's part of a broader debate on the future of Europe's telecom infrastructure, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said Tuesday at an informal meeting of EU telecom ministers in Leon, Spain. Among other things, government officials discussed how to ensure Europe has the right infrastructure to achieve its "digital decade" goals. The European Commission recently consulted on the future of electronic communications networks and plans to publish a "white paper" during the Belgian EU Presidency, which begins in January, Breton said. Government officials at the meeting agreed that boosting European networks will mean defining the technology of future networks, determining how to fund them, and deciding whether any new regulation is needed, he said. Responses to the consultation showed little appetite, except among some large telcos, for making content providers pay operators to carry their material (see 2310110032). "Our purpose is much broader than" fair share; "we need to share a common vision," Breton said. The white paper will discuss payment for network usage, but that's not the overarching issue, he added. Lobbying for and against the idea continued before the meeting. The Computer and Communications Industry Association, several national tech and trade associations and France’s largest internet exchange point strongly opposed usage fees and urged the EC and governments to reject them. GSMA Europe warned "the clock is ticking" to determine whether Europe leads or lags behind. Among other things, mobile operators said, countries must introduce "a digital infrastructure framework that enables the huge effort in rollout and network transformation required to achieve 2030 targets, fostering investment by tackling low returns for service providers and finding a new financing model in the digital value chain that allows for sustainable, secure and efficient use of Europe’s networks."

Hikvision USA this week asked the FCC for “clarification and guidance” on the definition of “covered communications equipment” in an order last year further clamping down on gear from Chinese companies, preventing the sale of yet-to-be authorized equipment in the U.S. (see 2211230065). The order directed the Office of Engineering and Technology and the Public Safety Bureau to “develop and finalize additional clarifications” on the terms “video surveillance equipment” and “telecommunications equipment,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 21-232. “Hikvision seeks such clarity with respect to the specific types of devices that constitute ‘covered equipment’ so that it can operationalize the Order’s use limitations,” the company said.

Comments are due to the International Trade Commission Oct. 26 in a potential investigation on imported electronic devices, says a notice for Wednesday’s Federal Register. Ericsson filed a complaint Thursday alleging Motorola and Lenovo import devices, including mobile phones, that infringe on four of Ericsson's patents for semiconductor chips, cellular communications, video encryption and video controls. Ericsson seeks a permanent limited exclusion order against Lenovo and its subsidiaries, plus cease and desist orders. The company filed another complaint against Lenovo and Motorola Oct. 11 at the ITC for alleged infringement of Ericson's cellular communication patents (see 2310160032).

Comments are due to the International Trade Commission Oct. 25 in a potential patent infringement investigation on imported 5G-capable mobile phones and components, said a notice for Tuesday's Federal Register. Ericsson filed a complaint last week alleging Motorola and Lenovo import 5G-capable mobile phones which infringe on four of Ericsson's patents on protecting privacy in wireless networks, wireless transmission, uplink and downlink controls and wireless encoding. It asked the commission for a permanent limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order. Ericsson said the infringement was part of Lenovo's longstanding bad faith licensing negotiations on Ericsson's fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory commitments. The company said it has been in negotiations with Lenovo for more than a decade over several Ericsson patents "essential" to cellular standards.

Motorola Solutions slammed a compliance plan with FCC supply chain security rules filed by Dahua Technology, in a filing posted Friday in docket 21-232. “The Plan’s definitions of ‘Critical Infrastructure,’ ‘Government Facilities,’ and ‘National Security’ are incomplete,” Motorola said. “The Plan also erroneously implies that the definitions … are stagnant, which is not the case.” Dahua’s definition of employee “is too narrow by limiting its reach to employees, contractors, or agents of Dahua USA engaged in specified functions ‘associated with the sale of Dahua Equipment in the United States,” the company said: “The public safety prohibition extends to certain locations overseas, and the Employee definition should be modified accordingly. … Dahua also should be directed to eliminate use of the term ‘National Security Purposes’ in the Plan. Although ostensibly intended as a shorthand reference to the purposes for which Dahua’s covered equipment cannot lawfully be marketed or sold, it is unnecessarily confusing and unreasonably restrictive.” Security firm IPVM also raised concerns on the plan.