AT&T has completed the upgrade of its 5G network in the greater Houston area, utilizing the C-band spectrum it acquired in 2021. The company has been able to tap into the mid-band spectrum earlier than expected, resulting in increased speeds, better data capacities, and less congestion in several cities, including Austin, Boston, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. Over 175 million people now have access to AT&T's mid-band 5G network, and another 290 million have a lower-band 5G connection. Customers with 5G capable phones can connect to the enhanced coverage without upgrading their devices.
Open interest in futures tracking Bitcoin Cash (BCH) tokens has surged to May 2021 levels as the Bitcoin offshoot network experiences a revival of activity and value. BCH prices have doubled in the past week, becoming one of the top-performing tokens above a $1 billion market capitalization. Rising open interest either means that new money is flowing into the market or existing participants are increasing their allocation. The surge in trading interest is likely due to a network upgrade and an influential exchange listing.
Ethereum's ether has surged to a nine-month high ahead of a major network upgrade called "Shapella," which will allow owners of ether to withdraw their assets. The upgrade is expected to make the digital currency a more profitable long-term investment. The recent rally has followed a similar pattern to past bouts of enthusiasm surrounding network upgrades. In September, ethereum ran up ahead of a historic transition to a more energy-efficient way of securing the network, called proof-of-stake.
