1. Jan. 29
Re-auction brings in record $17B to FCC
After 101 rounds and $16.85 billion, the Federal Communications Commission’s auction of 422 personal communications services licenses ended last Friday. The auction, which began Dec. 12, broke the previous record of $9.2 billion for PCS spectrum set in 1996.
2. Jan. 29
Ericsson will outsource phones
L.M. Ericsson left an ironic trail last week. It extolled its third-generation technology while surrendering its phone-making business and posting a fourth-quarter loss that limped behind expectations.
The Swedish company outsourced its phone-making business to Singapore-based Flextronics International Ltd. in an admission of delivery failures from key suppliers and deficiencies of its entry-level phones.
3. Jan. 29
Powell takes top spot at FCC
President George W. Bush has designated FCC Commissioner Michael K. Powell, 37, as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
4. April 9
LMDS running out of breath
One local multipoint distribution service wireless broadband carrier folded under the financial burden of the stock market last week, and now the futures of several others hang in the balance, potentially impacting the stability of an entire industry that just a year ago was seemingly poised for greatness.
Bellevue, Wash.-based Advanced Radio Telecom Corp., which offered wireless broadband services using the 39 GHz frequency band, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy March 30, citing “distressed capital markets,” and its inability to complete any of the financing alternatives it had been pursuing.
5. April 16
Motorola reports first loss in 16 yrs.
Motorola Inc. mixed memory with some cheer in its first-quarter results last week as it reported its first loss in 16 years amid hopes of a rebound in the second half of this year.
The phone maker declared that the economy is in a recession reminiscent of the 1974-75 and 1984-85 cycles, a subtle hint that the bad times are here even if they may not hold the industry hostage for too long.
6. May 28
Glenayre quits paging
Glenayre Technologies Inc. announced a massive restructuring plan last week that includes cutting 55 percent of its work force-a full 700 positions-and completely dismantling its wireless messaging infrastructure division. Glenayre officials said the company would refocus its energies on its unified messaging products and services.
7. July 2
New York ban signed
With a stroke of Republican Gov. George Pataki’s pen June 28, New York became the first state in the country to impose a statewide ban on the handheld use of wireless phones by most drivers in most instances.
8. July 16
AT&T Wireless goes it alone
While the event was not celebrated with fireworks across the country, AT&T Wireless finally was able to celebrate its independence last week as it began its first trading day as an independent company. And, while most people were not expecting AT&T Wireless’ stock to go through the roof, there was some hope a strong showing would signal a possible recovery for the wireless industry.
9. Sept. 3
Cingular brings GPRS to the masses in Seattle
In addition to being the home of grunge music, monopolistic computer operating systems and $5 cups of coffee, Seattle has recently become the birthplace of next-generation services in the United States. Following AT&T Wireless Services’ launch of GPRS services for businesses in July, Cingular Wireless last week switched on its GPRS network in Seattle, with services targeted to the mass consumer market.
10. Sept. 17
Wireless industry responds to American tragedy
Debate over wireless and high-tech issues across the board-including third-generation mobile-phone spectrum, location-based 911, digital wiretaps, Internet privacy, satellite export licensing and critical infrastructure protection-are expected to be recast to take account of national security implications in the aftermath of last week’s deadly terrorist attacks that inflicted heavy damage on the Pentagon and turned the World Trade Center’s twin towers into a massive grave site.
11. Oct. 8
Wireless loses most of 1.7 GHz band to DoD
The Bush administration, deferring to national security over commerce in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, dropped plans late last week for tapping most of the military frequencies that were under consideration for third-generation wireless services.
12. Oct. 8
3G goes gangbusters in DoCoMo launch
All the hype that has surrounded third-generation over the past several years was finally given substance last week as Japanese wireless operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. launched its 3G FOMA service to an eager public.
13. Oct. 8
FCC grants E911 waivers
The Federal Communications Commission on Friday granted waivers from the enhanced 911 Phase II original timeline to wireless carriers, but forwarded waiver requests on TDMA networks to its enforcement bureau.
14. Oct. 8
Virgin to target prepaid with Sprint PCS
It’s finally official.
After years of work, months of rumors and speculation and only a brief, two-sentence statement issued in June as proof of the pact, Sprint PCS and Virgin Group announced early Friday they are teaming to create the first mobile virtual network operator arrangement in the U.S.
15. Nov. 5
Cingular EDGES into 3G upgrade
Calling it “the most well-known secret in corporate America,” Stephen Carter, president and CEO of Cingular Wireless, said the operator will overlay all its TDMA and analog networks with EDGE, a software enhancement of GPRS technology.
16. Nov. 12
Spectrum cap relaxed
While consolidation has been a continuous process in the wireless industry since its inception, the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to allow operators an additional 10 megahertz of spectrum in urban markets, and unlimited capacity after 2003, is expected to mark the beginning of the final round of consolidation in the industry. Though the decision allows any carrier to own additional spectrum, analysts expect only the most affected nationwide operators to broker deals.
17. Nov. 19
Finally! NextWave to reap $6B; FCC gets $10B
The negotiators finally reached a settlement agreement Thursday that will give the PCS C- and F-block licenses of bankrupt NextWave Telecom Inc. to the re-auction winners. It remains unclear whether Congress will pass legislation, as called for in the agreement, by the end of the year.
18. Nov. 19
$1.5B health lawsuit filed
A former Motorola Inc. employee with brain cancer last week filed a $1.5 billion lawsuit against the mobile-phone industry, raising the stakes in escalating health litigation against wireless firms already smarting from the high-tech bust and economic downturn.
19. Nov. 19
GSM gains ground in United States
While Cingular Wireless grabbed recent headlines after officially announcing the overlay of its TDMA network with GSM technology, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and VoiceStream Wireless Corp. reminded the industry last week that they are among the trendsetters for GSM technology in the United States.
In addition to launching GSM/GPRS services in the South Florida area, bringing the number of operational markets to more than a dozen, AT&T Wireless provided additional technical insight into its technology migration plans. Those plans include continued migrating TDMA markets to GSM/GPRS, implementing EDGE technology in select markets and eventually launching UMTS services on its network.
20. Dec. 10
Motorola to turn off pager manufacturing
The paging and messaging industry shook last week with the news that the nation’s largest carrier will file for bankruptcy and that the No. 1 maker of one- and two-way paging devices will exit the business by the middle of next year.
While both announcements have been expected for several months, they mark a major turning point for the industry. Soon, two of the nation’s three largest independent paging carriers will be in bankruptcy and the undisputed kings of devices and infrastructure will no longer be part of the industry.
