Nokia has won a tender to test the world’s first standalone (SA) 5G system for automated rail operation on the Deutsche Bahn.

Deutsche Telekom has frozen all 5G deals with vendors, awaiting a decision about the use of Huawei in its networks, according to Reuters.

The operator will set up towercos in 2020, cut telecom costs by €1bn, focus on infrastructure and B2B services, and could spin off MEA properties.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested the UK might ban Huawei from 5G networks to avoid jeopardising the intelligence-sharing alliance between the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

According to Dell’Oro Group, Ericsson and Huawei were the top two vendors.

The CEOs of European telcos have called for measures to support innovation and lower network deployment costs.

In preparation for 5G, Orange Poland has selected Juniper Networks to enhance the automation capabilities of its IP network core.

A data call made on 29 November connected Bern, Switzerland, and Gold Coast, Australia, over live commercial 5G networks and 'pre-commercial' 5G smartphones.

Orange is launching Europe’s first operator-branded 5G smartphone, aimed at early adopters. Analysts say other telcos should take note to ensure effective 5G monetisation.

A 4K remote-surgery consultation has taken place in Italy, supported by TIM's 5G network.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has suggested that Europe sets up a dedicated agency to certify components for 5G networks.

Finland’s Elisa claims to have demonstrated a first – a virtual reality broadcast that matched the quality of a human eye's vision.

5G will cover up to 65% of the world's population by the end of 2025 and handle 45% of global mobile data traffic by then the report says.

Rakuten Mobile will use Netrounds’ programmable automated active service assurance software in its cloud-native network.

Huawei, Samsung and OPPO increased market share in the third quarter of 2019 at the expense of Apple and Xiaomi, whose market shares declined.

Bosch has applied for 5G operating licences for selected German locations, saying it believes local area networks are “the way forward”.

Swisscom is partnering with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland for research relating to 5G and network functions virtualisation (NFV).

Michaël Trabbia, CEO of Orange Belgium, and Sandrine Dufour, acting CEO of Proximus, signed the final agreement for the sharing arrangement they proposed in July.

After months of speculation and fierce debate, France’s telecom regulator Arcep published its decision on the procedure and conditions for awarding licences.

Mobile analytics company Opensignal says 5G adoption is moving too slowly to overtake 3G in just one year, anywhere in the world.