Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from this week in history. Enjoy the ride!
Ericsson writes down ST-Ericsson investment
Ericsson says it will write down the value of its investment in ST-Ericsson by $1.2 billion, and that its third quarter earnings will be off by the same amount due to the charge. The news comes less than two weeks after Ericsson’s partner in the chipmaking venture announced plans to bail out. STMicroelectronics is exiting the joint venture as part of a reorganization. … Read More
DT CEO Obermann to be replaced by Höttges at end of 2013
T-Mobile USA parent company Deutsche Telekom announced that CEO Rene Obermann will leave the company effective Dec. 31, 2013. Obermann has been at the company for 16 years, the past seven as CEO. Replacing Obermann will be Timotheus Höttges, who has been with the company since 2000, most recently serving as CFO. … Read More
AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel expand LTE
Just ahead of the holidays, AT&T Mobility and Sprint Nextel announced expansions of their respective LTE networks, with AT&T Mobility adding or expanding service in nine markets, while Sprint Nextel launched service or expanded coverage in six markets. … Read More
Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA jump on expansion bandwagon
The race to meet year-end network expansion goals continued this week as Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA both announced greater coverage from their respective next-generation networks, just a day after similar announcements from AT&T Mobility and Sprint Nextel. … Read More
Carriers to invest more in infrastructure in 2013
Telecom infrastructure spending is projected to bounce back in the year ahead, with investment in North America and Asia driving growth. Infonetics Research is projecting worldwide growth of roughly 4%, as even operators that have been delaying investments finally start spending. “Service providers have no choice but to invest in their networks now; some have been restricting capex for so many years that they are experiencing network outages, unable to handle exploding traffic,” said Infonetics analyst Stéphane Téral. … Read More
Hesse’s 5-year ride on the Sprint Nextel roller coaster
Few wireless companies over the past five years have provided more fodder for news than Sprint Nextel, a time frame that is also the length in which its current leader, Dan Hesse, has been at the helm. Over those 1,800-plus days, Sprint Nextel has been a harbinger of feast or famine that has kept many entertained. … Read More
AT&T gains FCC support for AWS, WCS spectrum deals
AT&T Mobility added to its spectrum bundle, gaining government approval for control over a number of 1.7/2.1 GHz and 2.3 GHz spectrum licenses from Comcast, Horizon, NextWave and San Diego Gas & Electric. … Read More
Cisco to enhance policy control with BroadHop acquisition
Cisco Systems has taken a deeper step in policy control and service management technology for carrier networks. The company announced yesterday its intent to acquire Denver-based BroadHop, a Wi-Fi service provider for Cisco. Financial terms were not disclosed. … Read More
Chipmakers fight for China’s smartphone market
Chipmakers on both sides of the Pacific are fighting hard for spots inside the millions of smartphones that are being designed, manufactured and sold within China. One of every three smartphones shipped in the third quarter went to China, according to IDC, and of course many of those phones were made there as well. Supplying silicon for those smartphones is a multi-billion dollar business, and U.S. companies like Qualcomm and Broadcom are competing with Asian players including Samsung, Huawei and Taiwan’s MediaTek. … Read More
FCC lays out rules for Dish spectrum, H-Band auction
The Federal Communications Commission laid out rules for spectrum recently approved for use by Dish Networks, including build out requirements, as well as rules for 10 megahertz of spectrum it expects to auction off next year. … Read More
