The concept of a trade show devoted to wireless data applications, like Wireless I.T., is as marvelous as it is timely. The show no doubt is destined for greatness. Internet and wireless technologies-separately and converged-are the hottest things going these days.
But Silicon Valley, which hosted Wireless I.T. last week, should know this about the sponsor of a show that will bring the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association big bucks for years to come: CTIA’s bullish embrace of wireless data hasn’t translated into policy advocacy.
While top firms in the wireless industry, including some in CTIA, aggressively push for additional third-generation mobile phone spectrum and global 3G spectrum harmonization, CTIA remains obstinate. It seems nearly everyone but CTIA accepts that at least another 160 megahertz are needed by 2010 for broadband 3G.
CTIA believes the quick answer to the 3G spectrum shortage is lifting the 45-megahertz commercial wireless spectrum cap. Too bad the Federal Communications Commission and others don’t share that view, given their desire to maintain a semblance of competition in the wireless industry.
Removing the spectrum cap would be a green light for big carriers to gobble up struggling carriers at fire-sale prices and to eliminate them as competitors. Under that scenario, carriers could control their destinies. That would not necessarily be the case if more 3G spectrum goes on the auction block.
3G is the future of wireless at the dawn of the new century. To realize its promise, wireless pipes must be fatter than they are today. Having harmonized 3G spectrum allocations around the world would help, too.
Killer wireless data apps that carried the day at Wireless I.T. last week will look oh so simplistic a few years from now. That CTIA has not lent its clout to the 3G spectrum push is not insignificant. As illustrated elsewhere in this issue, CTIA is a wireless lobbying juggernaut. It spent nearly $2 million during the first half of 1999 on changing hearts and minds of official Washington.
CTIA’s recalcitrance on 3G spectrum has given the Clinton administration an easy out. The White House, which is resisting industry’s entreaty to take an aggressive 3G spectrum position into the World Radiocommunication Conference next spring, can simply point to CTIA as proof of industry divisiveness.
Backing more 3G spectrum worldwide are AirTouch, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Ericsson, Ellipso, Iridium, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel, Omnipoint and PCIA.
Neither the wireless industry nor Silicon Valley should stand for the cynical game CTIA is playing with the future.
