The 6G Podcast by Moor Insights & Strategy

Anshel Sag and Mike Dano
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Tech News
  • Weekly

A 6G podcast about the latest inside info on what's going on in the 6G industry by two of the industry's leading analysts, Anshel Sag and Mike Dano

  1. 3d ago

    Carrier Earnings, Starlink D2D Data, and Early 6G Calls (AI-RAN), mmWave, and Apple 6G Modems)

    Anshel Sag and Mike Dano review U.S. carrier earnings, noting generally solid results (AT&T postpaid ARPU up 4% and wireless service revenue up ~5%, plus the sale of its Mexico business; strong T-Mobile EPS; FWA and fiber net adds across carriers) while discussing SpaceX/Starlink as a persistent “boogeyman” topic with uncertain timelines, costs, spectrum needs, and core-network requirements. Dano summarizes Ookla findings on Starlink direct-to-device activity in Latin America, showing growth with Entel in Chile and Peru, usage concentrated in rural mining regions, and about half of samples occurring outside reported cellular coverage or at the cell edge; Entel also cited D2D as a driver of net adds. They cover accelerating 6G momentum with Nokia/T-Mobile/NVIDIA AI-RAN work, Verizon/Ericsson’s outdoor pre-standard 6G call at 7 GHz, and ongoing 5G voice-quality maturation. The episode also highlights Verizon’s renewed focus on millimeter wave (Starry acquisition) and edge/AI transport and inference deals, Apple hiring for 6G modem roles, and speculation about satellite broadband bundles that could include streaming plus edge caching. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:35 Carrier Earnings and Starlink 05:37 D2D Data in Latin America 08:50 Mining Demand for Starlink 10:35 6G Calls and AI RAN 13:44 Verizon Edge and mmWave 16:30 Apple Eyes 6G Modems 18:25 Satellite Bundles and Streaming 20:37 Smart Caching and Wrap Up 22:42 Closing and Next Week

  2. Oct 17

    iPhone Duo Preorder Rush, Starlink’s $8B 800 MHz Bet, Private 5G Pullback, and 4 GHz 6G Spectrum

    In episode 261 of the 6G Podcast, Anshel Sag and Mike Dano discuss Apple opening iPhone Duo pre-orders amid tight availability and compare carrier promotions, with Verizon framed as the lowest total-cost path under certain switch terms while AT&T and T-Mobile offer different discounts and bundles. They then unpack reports that Starlink bought Grain Management’s 800 MHz spectrum (reported at $8B), debating whether it signals a serious U.S. terrestrial mobile build-out or leverage for MVNO negotiations, and highlighting challenges like limited bandwidth, network density, backhaul costs, and timelines. The hosts also cover Nokia selling and Ericsson dissolving their private 5G efforts as the market fails to reach expected scale, review Ookla data showing notable 4.4–5 GHz 5G usage in Hong Kong as the U.S. considers 4 GHz for 5G/6G, and recap the Qualcomm vs. Arm licensing dispute verdict. They close with reactions to Tesla’s new Roadster “flying car” announcement as a PR spectacle. 00:00 Welcome and Catch Up 00:52 iPhone Duo Preorders 01:33 Carrier Deals Breakdown 03:51 Launch Hype and Market Context 05:28 Starlink Buys 800 MHz 08:21 Can Starlink Build a Network 13:19 What Would Customers Switch For 14:45 Private 5G Pullback 18:36 4 GHz Band for 6G 21:34 Qualcomm vs Arm Verdict 27:03 Tesla Flying Car Talk 31:06 Wrap Up and Sign Off

  3. Sep 29

    Qualcomm’s Agentic Snapdragon Summit, US Fiber Land Grab, and 3GPP’s 6G Migration Debate

    In episode 260 of the 6G Podcast, Anshel Sag recaps Qualcomm’s Hawaii summit, where the key theme was agentic computing and announcements included Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (plus a non-extreme flagship), Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, Microsoft Surface devices with Snapdragon X2 Plus, and an X105 modem described as Release 19 compatible, alongside partnerships supporting on-device AI amid memory constraints. Mike Danil summarizes an Ookla report on U.S. fiber ISPs during a consolidation “land grab,” citing major deals (Verizon–Frontier, AT&T–Lumen fiber, Zayo acquisition) and highlighting smaller providers to watch: Allo Fiber, Gateway Fiber, Live Oak Fiber, Wire3, Ripple Fiber, Intrepid Fiber, and Easy Fiber. They discuss Google’s Project Sun Catcher to test TPUs in space and the growing plausibility of space data centers, then cover 3GPP’s Madrid meeting where decisions on 5G-to-6G migration (MRSS spectrum sharing and other deployment options) were deferred to December in Boston. The episode also touches on a new Apple–Qualcomm licensing agreement and Meta’s Muse consumer AI agent, including early friction when agents interact with service-provider chat systems. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:35 Qualcomm Summit Highlights 03:17 On Device Versus Cloud AI 06:14 US Fiber Land Grab 09:14 Fiber Competition Trends 11:08 Google TPUs in Space 14:28 3GPP 6G Migration Debate 19:37 Qualcomm Apple Licensing Deal 22:18 Meta Muse AI Agents 28:07 Wrap Up and Farewell

  4. Sep 19

    Apple’s C2 mmWave Modem, 4 GHz Spectrum Push, Snap SPECS 5G, and Verizon’s 6G Forum

    In episode 259 of the 6G Podcast, analysts Anshel Sag and Mike Dano discuss Sag’s travel and key takeaways from Apple’s event, including the foldable iPhone Duo, A20 Pro silicon, and Apple’s new C2 modem as its first millimeter-wave modem (US-only), plus Release 18/5G-Advanced features like uplink MIMO and updated modem architecture; Sag also notes new watches using a 5G RedCap modem. Dano covers accelerating US spectrum activity tied to 6G, highlighting CTIA and NextG Alliance focus on the 4 GHz band ahead of WRC27, FCC/NTIA auction developments, Verizon’s request to test 4.8–4.9 GHz in Los Angeles, and debate over spectrum sharing. Sag recaps Snap’s standalone AR Specs, including a Qualcomm cellular modem built into the glasses case, enterprise positioning, open-source Linux platform, and carrier partners. They also address new FCC and HHS (RFK Jr.) RF exposure inquiries, Verizon’s expanded 6G Innovation Forum membership and pre-standard ISAC work, and India joining a US-led 6G alignment initiative. 00:00 Welcome Back and Updates 01:18 Apple Event Foldable iPhone 01:46 C2 Modem and 5G Advanced 05:44 Four Gigahertz Spectrum Push 11:45 Snap Specs AR Glasses 18:46 FCC RF Exposure Study Returns 26:45 Verizon 6G Innovation Forum 29:27 India Joins 6G Alignment 32:16 Wrap Up and Subscribe

  5. Sep 5

    Slicing the Spectrum — From Vodafone's SuperMobile to Space RAN & Robo-Taxis

    In this episode of The 6G Podcast, Anshel Sag and Mike Dano break down the latest shifts across 5G Standalone deployments, spectrum efficiency milestones, non-terrestrial networks, and the intersection of 6G with autonomous vehicles. Topics Covered: Vodafone Three’s "SuperMobile" Slicing Launch: Anshel and Mike discuss Vodafone Three UK’s new network slicing tier offering guaranteed minimum throughput (15 Mbps) and enhanced security. They weigh whether consumer and enterprise demand will finally justify standalone premium tiers, contrast it with BT's current stance, and evaluate whether the rollout arrives years too late. Nokia & AI-RAN Spectral Efficiency: A breakdown of Nokia’s recent push into AI-driven Radio Access Networks (leveraging Nvidia hardware) and their target of doubling spectral efficiency by 2028. Mike highlights real-world Ookla/RootMetrics benchmarks measuring current bits-per-hertz performance across carriers, while Anshel compares the targets to Qualcomm’s 6G projections. Upper 6 GHz Field Testing in Europe & Asia: MasOrange and Ericsson conduct upper 6 GHz trials in Spain, while KDDI and Samsung demonstrate multi-gigabit speeds using 3.6 GHz and extreme MIMO in Japan. The hosts explore how spectrum scarcity will shape regional 6G allocations, including the divergence between US Wi-Fi allocations and China's cellular focus. Space RAN & Direct-to-Device Competition: Canadian player MDA Space announces its "CHORUS" / Aurora LEO satellite constellation aimed at mobile network operators under the Space RAN banner. Mike and Anshel discuss consolidation in the D2D satellite market, Starlink’s momentum, and how satellite integration will define future 3GPP standards. Elliott Management vs. Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile US: Activist investor Elliott Management challenges Deutsche Telekom's path to total control over T-Mobile US, pushing instead for share buybacks. The co-hosts look at the broader implications of T-Mobile’s executive turnover—including the departure of its CFO—and the geopolitical hurdles facing cross-border telecom ownership. Autonomous Driving Reaches the Streets: Mike and Anshel reflect on the rapid rollout of commercial robo-taxis across US cities, including Waymo expansions and Tesla Cybercab sightings. Anshel shares insights into the automotive development cycle, predicting the emergence of true 6G-connected autonomous vehicles around 2032 and the role ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) will play.

  6. Aug 29

    Qualcomm’s 6G Leadership Day, AI-Native Networks, ISAC Demos, FWA Performance, Starlink’s Terrestrial Ambitions, and Apple Foldable Rumors

    Anshel Sag and Mike Dano return for episode 257 of the 6G Podcast and recap Sag’s visit to Qualcomm’s 6G event, highlighting Qualcomm’s view that 6G standards will remain global, real ISAC drone/car sensing demos, Giga-MIMO results (up to 16 Gbps downlink), a push for 400 MHz bandwidth, and an “AI-native” 6G approach including a compute card for the RAN while arguing GPUs aren’t required. Dano summarizes Ookla’s fixed wireless access report showing U.S. FWA holding up well with T-Mobile’s median downloads over 200 Mbps and seasonal foliage effects, plus AT&T speed gains tied to EchoStar mid-band spectrum. They discuss MobileX being mostly acquired by Charlie Ergen’s Connex, Starlink’s stated plan to build a U.S. terrestrial network, Lockheed Martin’s Verizon 5G-powered drone detection service Netsense launching next year, and expectations around a possible foldable iPhone at Apple’s September 9 event. 00:00 Welcome Back and Catch Up 01:01 Qualcomm 6G Vision 02:58 ISAC and Giga MIMO Demos 04:41 AI Native 6G and GPU Debate 11:06 Fixed Wireless Performance Report 15:16 MobileX Acquisition and MVNOs 18:44 Starlink Terrestrial Network Plans 25:50 Lockheed Netsense Drone Detection 29:37 Apple Event Foldable iPhone Buzz 31:30 Foldables Demand and Tradeoffs 39:58 Wrap Up and Where to Follow

  7. Aug 29

    Samsung Fold8 Unpacked, Starlink Brazil Data, Nokia AI-RAN, and 5G Earnings Season

    In episode 256 of the 6G Podcast, Anshel Sag and Mike Dano discuss Samsung Unpacked in London, including the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the Watch9’s first use of a non-Samsung chip, improved Gemini performance, silicon-carbon battery gains, and Samsung’s expanded three-tier foldable lineup. Dano summarizes an Ookla report on Starlink in Brazil, where Starlink is the 13th-largest fixed broadband provider (~1.4% share), has more urban than rural customers, shows improving daily load effects since Q4 2025, and sees over 12% of customers changing locations in H1. They cover Nokia’s NVIDIA-based, O-RAN-compliant AI RAN platform claiming 50% spectral-efficiency gains by 2027 and 100% by 2028 with a 5G-to-6G upgrade path. They review an NTIA-led 6G “call to action” emphasizing open, interoperable, secure standards among allied countries, discuss EU Huawei rip-and-replace cost debates, and recap carrier/cable earnings trends: softer but solid growth, cable MVNO gains, broadband subscriber losses, reduced device subsidies, and limited concern about satellite/D2D. 00:00 Welcome and Travel Banter 01:03 Samsung Unpacked Hands On 04:40 Foldables Versus Cameras 05:59 Starlink Brazil Deep Dive 12:25 Nokia NVIDIA AI RAN 15:38 White House 6G Call 19:11 EU Huawei Rip Replace 23:28 Earnings Season Rundown 28:27 Wrap Up and Next Show

  8. Jul 10

    T-Mobile Leadership Shakeup, Telstra Outage Fallout, and SpaceX’s 100,000-Satellite FCC Filing

    Episode 255 of the 6G Podcast features Anshel Sag and Mike Dano discussing major 5G/6G and satellite developments. They cover Verizon’s standalone 5G winning BMW telematics business via KDDI, highlighting shifting connected-car partnerships and growing connectivity demands for autonomy and V2X. The biggest news is T-Mobile’s leadership reshuffle under incoming CEO Srini Gopalan, expanding John Saw’s responsibilities, hiring former AT&T FirstNet architect Chris Sambar as chief enterprise officer, and signaling Mike Katz’s exit. They examine Telstra’s nationwide outage in Australia tied to network timekeeping software, which disrupted emergency calls and broader services. Research notes include Analysys Mason finding mobile data traffic growth rebounding to 22% by end of 2025, driven by fixed wireless access and adaptive bitrate streaming. The episode also reviews SpaceX’s FCC request for up to 100,000 Gen3 Starlink satellites, plus Ookla analysis suggesting US networks allocate relatively little uplink capacity, a potential issue as AI increases uplink demand. 00:00 Welcome and Catch Up 01:17 Verizon BMW Connected Cars 04:17 T-Mobile Leadership Shakeup 10:24 Telstra Outage Fallout 16:10 Mobile Traffic Growth Returns 19:32 Starlink Gen3 100K Satellites 25:02 AI Networks Need Uplink 30:47 Wrap Up and Subscribe

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A 6G podcast about the latest inside info on what's going on in the 6G industry by two of the industry's leading analysts, Anshel Sag and Mike Dano

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