A rural Indiana community is getting both high-speed internet service and a new, connected testbed focused on agricultural technology, built as a collaborative effort between network services provider Hawk Networks and Camden, Indiana-based R&D company RuralUrban.
According to the partners, Hawk Networks will be supporting deployment of a high-speed broadband network that leverages fiber, fixed wireless and CBRS-based LTE services, acting as a virtual network operator via its Althea software platform for billing, routing and operating networks. The two organization said that they are making a joint investment to bring high speed broadband internet to the residents of Camden—which also allows them to connect 20 acres of RuralUrban Labs’ 500-acre 5G farm and carbon sequestration testbed.
“Althea’s technology allows us to deliver robust connectivity in a community driven and sustainable way. Instead of treating mobile and private 5G networks as separate from broadband, communities like Camden can build holistic networks with Althea,” said Deborah Simpier, Founder and CEO of Hawk Networks. “We are excited to work together with RuralUrban Labs to provide broadband access and support the AgTech innovation at Camden’s 500 Acre 5G Farm.”
“On these 500 acres of land, we are developing, testing and commercializing cutting edge revolutionary Agtech, covered by numerous patents that will work to improve a farmers livelihoods. Partnering with Hawk Networks and using KeyLTE provides the connectivity needed to further test and refine these technologies will allow us to focus on the tech commercialization in a much more robust way,” said Neil Mylet, founder of RuralUrban Labs. KeyLTE is Hawk’s solution for private networks, which uses an edge EPC embedded into a home router for easy and low-cost set-up of a network.
In other test news:
–CTIA and Ericsson are working together on a new certification program specifically for IoT solutions for utilities. The Smart Connected Infrastructure certification program “addresses the increasing demand for advanced IoT deployments for utilities and creates a set of standards to ensure the safety and reliability of these devices,” CTIA said in a release, adding that the program builds on its recently introduced IoT Network Certified certification program. “With new federal government funding for the development of smart cities and modernization of aging power grid infrastructure across the country, many communities are looking for best practices and how to safely and efficiently deploy connected infrastructure,” the organization continued.
Michelle James, VP of strategic industry programs at CTIA, said that the new certification program “will offer demonstrated security and performance best practices that give utilities the starting place to evaluate network compatibility and cybersecurity protections. … This program is a product of long-term industry collaboration between technology leaders and utility stakeholders to provide the solid baseline we need for connected IoT deployments on cellular networks.” Ericsson is helping to develop the program and also providing the initial test lab.
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“Together with CTIA, we are building a program based on leading voluntary standards that drives compatibility, safety and reliability of IoT devices when it comes to performance and cyber-security of devices deployed in mission critical networks,” said Elisiario Cunha Neto, Ericsson North America’s VP and CTO of its business development customer unit.
-ICYMI: NEC and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) announced this week that they have created a roadway warning system that relies on private 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) to potentially identify dangerous traffic conditions and hazards. Read more here.
–InTest, which provides testing solutions across a number of industries including semiconductor test, has completed a $20 million funding raise with an eye toward growth—and potential acquisitions.
Nick Grant, president and CEO of InTest, said that the additional capital provides “further financial flexibility” to support the company’s strategy for growth, “including both our organic initiatives as well as potential acquisitions.” InTest said in a financial filing that it plans to use the funds for general corporate purposes, which could include capital expenditures, acquisitions, stock repurchases or repayment/refinancing of debt.
-The National Spectrum Consortium and the Linux Foundation have announced a formal collaboration focused on Open RAN software prototypes, demonstrations and development, including an open-source reference stack. More details in this story.
–Spirent Communications‘ federal business subsidiary will be demonstrating emulation capability of a new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) positioning and timing satellite constellation, Xona, that is in the process of coming online. The demo is slated for next week’s Joint Navigation Conference in San Diego, the largest U.S. military positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) conference. New test results will be presented as part of the technical programming, focused on the testing of LEO PNT and Xona’s resilience in the presence of RF jamming. Spirent Federal and Xona worked with Hexagon/NovAtel on the testing; NovaTel is developing the first Xona-enabled receivers.
In additional news from Spirent, the company worked with NI on a jointly developed, “comprehensive” test for Open RAN radio units (O-RUs). Full story is here.