SpaceX has been granted particular short-term authority by the Federal Communications Fee for subject testing of direct-to-cellular communications by way of its Starlink second technology satellites.

The corporate mentioned that it will be testing as much as 5 gadgets at completely different energy ranges utilizing T-Cellular US’ spectrum within the 1.9 GHz band at greater than two dozen areas that embody Mountain View, CA; Kansas Metropolis, KS; Redmond, WA; San Diego, CA; Dallas, TX; Reston, VA; and Bethel, OK; amongst others.

Final yr, the 2 firms had introduced a spectrum-sharing deal that included direct-to-cellular emergency texting capabilities, with anticipated beta companies coming someday across the finish of this yr, after the launch of SpaceX’s second-generation Starlink satellites.

In different take a look at information:

–Anritsu and Emite have collaborated on a brand new over-the-air (OTA) measurement answer that helps testing of compliance with the IEEE 802.11be commonplace, aka Wi-Fi 7.

Anritsu mentioned that its Wi-fi Connectivity Take a look at Set MT8862A has been built-in with Emite’s portfolio of anechoic and reverberation chambers for OTA measurement of Complete Radiated Energy (TRP)/Complete Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) efficiency of Wi-Fi 7 gadgets.

-As phrase continues to trickle out over who supported what testing in the course of the fall 2023 O-RAN Alliance plugfest, Viavi Options mentioned this week that it participated in testing in 11 labs throughout eight international locations: the U.S., the U.Okay., Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Japan and Korea. It supported exams together with RAN Clever Controller (RIC) testing for AI-enabled functions, safety testing, conformance and end-to-end testing, in addition to real-time evaluation and automation of testing.

“In 2023, the trade has been challenged by monetary strain whereas advancing networks to ship progressive companies,” mentioned Ian Langley, SVP and GM of Viavi’s Wi-fi Enterprise Unit. “On the PlugFest, Viavi is happy to have demonstrated milestones towards elevated working effectivity, together with take a look at automation, real-time evaluation, and growing RAN intelligence to handle vitality consumption.”

-In testing-tangential information, safety robotic firm Knightscope mentioned {that a} California semiconductor take a look at tools firm has bought three of Knightscope’s autonomous safety robots to patrol a manufacturing, testing and analysis facility. One will “patrol the manufacturing flooring indoors amongst high-end take a look at tools and provides,” one other will monitor the constructing’s entrance entrance and a 3rd will monitor the rear of the constructing, which is adjoining to a regional airport, Knightscope mentioned. The consumer firm has 9 different U.S. areas and should increase the safety robots to further areas, relying on how the primary deployment goes.

–Allion Labs famous this week that machine producers are actually right down to a yr earlier than the European Union’s USB Kind-C rule—which requires all cellphones, tablets and cameras bought within the EU to have a Kind-C charging port—takes impact. Laptops will need to have a Kind-C port by the spring of 2026. “With just one yr left earlier than the deadline, some producers haven’t but clarified their planning and verification testing preparations, creating uncertainty of their branding technique,” the corporate mentioned, including that a few of the Kind-C-associated dangers that should be examined for embody irregular sign transmission when connecting to a show, lack of ability to cost gadgets after connection and the danger of a product overheating attributable to poor cable high quality. 

–Ookla has taken a have a look at Fastened Wi-fi Entry broadband service from T-Cellular US and Verizon, within the context of buyer positive factors and efficiency. Learn the complete story right here.