Before we turn the page on 2014, we thought we would take a look back at the past 12 months by highlighting what we felt were the top 100 stories of 2014 across the mobile space. Since it would be foolish to rank these in order of “importance,” we have instead laid them out in chronological order. Please check back next Monday for the next round of stories that shaped the wireless world in 2014, as well as Pt. 1.
Also, please make sure to check back beginning Jan. 5 as we begin posting predictions for 2014 from executives across various channels of the mobile space.
April 2:
SDN, NFV set for slow growth in 2014, further strides in 2015
The telecommunications industry is expected to see rapid movement through the rest of 2014 in terms of software-defined networking and network functions virtualization deployments, according to a new report from Infonetics Research. The report, based on conversations with telecom operators representing 51% of worldwide telecom capital expenditures, found that 29% of those surveyed are currently deploying SDN and 52% plan to evaluate SDN deployments by the end of the year. The survey also found that 97% of those questioned plan to deploy SDN at some point, with 93% saying they plan on deploying NFV. … Read More
April 3:
América Móvil fights Mexican regulator over dominance determination
América Móvil filed an injunction against the resolution issued by Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones or IFT) naming the telecom giant a dominant player in the Mexican telecom market. The company serves about 70% of Mexico’s mobile-phone customers and was ordered by the IFT to cut some of its rates. The IFT resolution determined that an economic interest group comprised of América Móvil, Telmex, Telcel, Grupo Carso and Grupo Financiero Inbursa was a “preponderant economic agent” and according to América Móvil, the agency imposed “certain specific asymmetrical regulations.”
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European Parliament votes to kill roaming charges, adopts net neutrality
In an overwhelming vote, the European Parliament passed a package of telecom reforms that includes ending roaming charges in the region by Dec. 2015 and adopting strong — and controversial — net neutrality rules. “Today is an excellent day for Europeans,” said Natalie Kroes, the VP of the European Commission who originally proposed the “Connected Continent” regulations. The package of regulations, which was first introduced last September, aims to bring the EU closer to a single telecom market. It will end roaming charges and enact a form of net neutrality in attempt to guarantee “an open Internet” by banning blocking and degrading of content. The legislation also coordinates spectrum licensing for wireless broadband and seeks to make Internet and broadband contracts more transparent for consumers. … Read More
Climber deaths bring scrutiny to carriers
It is an understatement to say that this year has been tragic so far when so many tower climbers have died within the first quarter. In response, OSHA handed out stern warnings and NATE launched a 100% tie-off campaign, and now concerns about this issue are again moving beyond the wireless communications community. Frontline posted an in-depth article revisiting the research they released in 2012 related to cell tower deaths, updating it with the latest series of events. It’s a great recap worth a read, but there are two important, newer pieces of information one should take away from it. First is OSHA’s renewed commitment to following the line of contracts (responsibility) related to a climber’s death from each sub-contractor all the way up to the carriers. OSHA director David Michaels seems to be the one spearheading this movement. In the past blame has stopped at subcontractors, with carriers left untouched. This new accountability makes sense and it’s hard to argue with the sentiment, but thus far no carrier has been publicly fined or even admonished in any way for any of the recent deaths. Time will tell how this development plays out. … Read More
April 8:
Samsung squeeze continues, profits fall
The world’s largest smartphone maker continues to feel the squeeze as Apple keeps the pressure on the high end, and Chinese competitors push from the low end. The Korean giant says it expects to report operating profit of $8 billion on sales of $50 billion for the first quarter, its second straight decline in quarterly profits. The company’s new flagship, the Galaxy S5, goes on sale in the U.S. this Friday, promising a shot in the arm for Samsung’s sales. However, the high-end Android device will face some stiff competition from the new HTC One (M8), also set to hit stores this Friday. Both new devices sport larger screens than their predecessors, with the S5 at 5.1 inches and HTC One (M8) at 5.0 inches. For reference, the iPhone 5 screen is 4 inches, but the next generation of the iPhone is expected to have a 4.7-inch screen. … Read More
April 21:
AT&T looks to expand fiber into 100 markets
AT&T is looking to increase its push into the fiber space, announcing plans to expand its fiber network into as many as 100 markets across 21 new metropolitan areas to support the rollout of its U-verse service that can provide data speeds of up to one gigabit per second. The telecom giant noted that the major markets include: Atlanta, and Augusta, Ga.; Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C.; Chicago; Cleveland; Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth, Texas; Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Kansas City, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.; Nashville, Tenn.; and St. Louis. The potential markets will join already announced efforts in Dallas and Austin, Texas; and Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem, N.C. … Read More
April 23:
CTIA names Baker to replace Largent
Wireless trade association CTIA announced that industry veteran and former Federal Communications Commission commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker will take the reins of the trade group effective June 2. Baker will replace current CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent, who announced his retirement plans last October. Baker had previously served as director of congressional affairs at CTIA between 1998 and 2000, and most recently served as SVP of government affairs for Comcast-NBCUniversal. Baker also served two years as a commissioner at the FCC from 2009 to 2011. Perhaps highlighting the slide CTIA has felt over the past several years, Baker noted plans to bring a new focus for the trade organization. … Read More
April 28:
Verizon reportedly wins payment deal from Netflix
Netflix will reportedly pay to play on Verizon Communications’ FiOS network, after claiming for months that its video service was being throttled by Verizon. Netflix is calling the deal a “paid interconnect agreement” and saying that it hopes the arrangement will improve service for its customers. The agreement follows a deal that Netflix struck earlier this year with Comcast, after the cable provider’s customers saw streaming speeds fall as traffic increased. Recently, Verizon’s customers have suffered the same fate; Netflix has published statistics showing that Verizon FiOS customers are getting slower download speeds now than they enjoyed six months ago. Verizon has maintained that the slower speeds are due to heavy network traffic during certain times of the day. But the company has never denied that it has the power to increase those speeds. … Read More
May 7:
HP makes a $1B OpenStack bet
Hewlett-Packard is betting its future on the cloud with a commitment to invest more than a billion dollars in software-based solutions that have the potential to replace HP servers and other hardware. Like many other network hardware companies, HP realizes that its customers are increasingly interested in remote data centers and software solutions. Cloud computing can reduce capital expenditures, and can offer solutions that scale more quickly and adapt more readily to changing technologies. Investing in software that may someday replace their hardware is seen by many infrastructure companies as a necessary risk, but HP is taking a bolder stance than most. The company says its investment will focus on OpenStack, a free, open-source resource that can be used in place of licensed software. … Read More
May 15:
NTT DoCoMo, AT&T set for VoLTE launch
The long-wait for commercial voice over LTE services could be coming to an end as a pair of substantial carriers announced plans to launch VoLTE services in the coming months. Japan’s NTT DoCoMo reported yesterday that beginning in late June its “extra-high speed” XiTM service will offer VoLTE voice and video calls. The service will allow customers to conduct VoLTE calls while at the same time transmitting traditional data over the LTE network. DoCoMo will provide free access to the VoLTE video calls through the end of August, at which point customers will be billed both voice and data charges for using the VoLTE service. Initial device support will include four smartphones and a pair of tablets set to launch in the coming months. The devices will require a software update to enable the VoLTE offering. … Read More
FCC lays out 600 MHz auction rules, unleashes AWS-3
The Federal Communications Commission today laid out several decisions set to impact the upcoming 600 MHz spectrum incentive auction and how the government agency views participation in that event. Those entities lobbying their case over the past several months in front of the FCC can at least claim some level of victory from the notice of proposed rulemaking offered up by the FCC. The NPRM included both details on how television broadcasters will participate in the proceedings (reverse auction) as well as how the FCC plans to then turn that still unknown amount of spectrum over to wireless operators (forward auction) to further feed their networks. Those forward-auction details announced today include the FCC parsing out spectrum licenses in 5×5 megahertz chunks (10 megahertz total per license) covering partial economic are license sizes. Larger operators had wanted licenses sizes to include at least some 10×10 megahertz options, which were touted as being most beneficial to current LTE deployment plans. … Read More
May 19:
AT&T offers $48.5B for DirecTV, commits $9B to incentive auction
Following weeks of rumors, AT&T over the weekend announced plans to acquire satellite television provider DirecTV for nearly $49 billion in stock and cash – and the assumption of more than $15 billion of debt. The move, if approved by regulators, would bolster the telecom giant’s pay-television business and allow for more thorough bundling of services. News surfaced last week that AT&T was looking to pick up DirecTV in a move to boost its home entertainment offerings and better compete against planned consolidation in the cable television space tied to Comcast’s efforts to acquire Time Warner Cable. … Read More
AT&T re-launches Cricket brand
AT&T solidified its no-contract ambitions, announcing the combination of its recently acquired Leap Wireless business with its Aio Wireless platform that will operate under the Cricket Wireless brand. The new offering will take advantage of AT&T Mobility’s nationwide network, which the carrier claims offers LTE services to more than 280 million potential customers. That footprint is the same as was offered by Aio Wireless,which launched – and rapidly expanded – just last year, but substantially larger than 21 million customers covered by Leap’s LTE service prior to its acquisition and nearly triple its owned 3G footprint. Leap did offer nationwide 3G roaming through an agreement with Sprint. … Read More
May 21:
AT&T outlines network priorities
Bill Smith, president of network operations and AT&T Services, told his audience at this week’s PCIA 2014 Wireless Infrastructure Show that vendors should not worry that AT&T’s planned purchase of DirecTV could divert network spending. “I don’t think anybody should be concerned that this is a left turn by AT&T with respect to our investment in our network,” said Smith, adding that the growing consumption of video on mobile devices is the driver for the deal. “The demand for capacity is insatiable,” said Smith. “We have been seeing 40% year-over-year growth on the network. The bottom line is we don’t see any end in sight. We have committed to be at 300 million [potential customers]by the end of the year, and that by and large is going to be the end of the summer.” … Read More
May 23:
HP to cut at least 11,000 more jobs
HP will cut more jobs as it works to turn its hardware businesses around and grow its software business. 11,000 to 16,000 more jobs will be eliminated, on top of the 34,000 already announced. HP employs between 250,000 and 300,000 people worldwide. Employees in HP’s server, storage, PC and software divisions may all be candidates for cuts, but CEO Meg Whitman said that research jobs will not be eliminated. The company continues to increase its R&D spending. … Read More
China Mobile set to slash LTE pricing, increase network spend
Increased competition appears to be hitting the Chinese mobile market, with reports that the country’s largest operators – and some of the largest in the world – are set to slash rate plans in order to maintain their tremendous growth. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that China Mobile, which counts more than 780 million wireless customers, was set next month to cut pricing on its recently launched LTE service by up to 50%. The pricing moves are reportedly coming in an attempt to spur slugging uptake of LTE services and to fend off competitive pressure from fellow state-run operators China Unicom and China Telecom. The Chinese government earlier this month announced it would allow wireless carriers to be more aggressive on rate plans. … Read More
May 28:
Amdocs launches big data analytics portfolio for telcos
Amdocs is building on its long history with the telecom industry as an OSS/BSS provider and expanding its big data analytics offerings for telcos, including access to its data scientists. The company says it is the first end-to-end provider of communications-specific big data solutions encompassing business and operational support systems (B/OSS), network and social media. “Amdocs is not entirely new to this space — far from it,” said Matt Roberts, director of marketing for big data and strategic innovation for Amdocs. “The objective it to extend that into a much more comprehensive, carrier-grade platform, and a suite of analytics apps that feed off all the domains in a service provider’s business.” … Read More
May 29:
Apple beats rivals to wearables
While Google and Samsung have been busy looking for breakthrough wearable technology, Apple has been listening for it. Yesterday the company confirmed that it will buy Beats Electronics and Beats Music for $3 billion. Beats Electronics is the maker of the iconic headphones, while Beats Music is the streaming music service that is familiar to most AT&T Wireless customers thanks to a co-marketing deal between the two companies. “Apple’s Beats acquisition is no doubt largely because of the hardware business rather than the fledgling music service,” said Strategy Analytics’ David MacQueen. The Beats hardware gives Apple an entry into a market that may explode under its direction, much as the mobile phone market did. … Read More
June 1:
Motorola Mobility to close Texas manufacturing plant
Motorola Mobility’s effort to bring smartphone manufacturing to the United States has failed, and the company says it will close its Fort Worth factory by the end of the year. By that time Motorola Mobility expects to be owned by China’s Lenovo, which is buying the handset business from Google for $2.9 billion. The Texas manufacturing facility, which has been open for one year, currently employs 700 people who make the Moto X Android smartphone. Manufacturing in the U.S. has helped Motorola offer custom-designed Moto X handsets, but consumers have not been enthusiastic. Fewer than a million Moto X smartphones were sold worldwide during the first quarter, according to Strategy Analytics. Now both AT&T and Verizon are offering it for no money down with a two-year contract. … Read More
June 2:
T-Mobile taps Ericsson for new OSS/BSS contract
T-Mobile is giving its customers more visibility into their wireless service by leveraging Ericsson’s service agility solution, which includes charging, billing, order management, product catalog and customer relationship management. The solution is based on Ericsson’s pre-integrated OSS/BSS software suite. The contract is a long-term managed services agreement that will include all branded T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers. Customers will gain real-time billing visibility and full control over account service changes. … Read More
June 13:
Rubio introduces Wireless Innovation Act, spurs reallocation of gov’t spectrum
The wireless industry’s thirst for spectrum remains a challenge for the federal government, which following years of apparent inactivity, is set to unleash more than 100 megahertz of new spectrum into the commercial space through auctions over an 18-month period. Those efforts received a further boost this week as U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R.-Fla.), who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced the Wireless Innovation Act, calling for the federal government to reallocate spectrum assets used by federal agencies for commercial use. … Read More
June 16:
EC, South Korea to work towards common 5G standard
The race towards the next evolution of mobile technology received a boost today as the European Commission and South Korea announced plans to work towards a common definition of “5G” technology. The Joint Declaration on Strategic Cooperation in Information Communications Technology and 5G agreement calls for the EC and South Korea’s Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning to work towards a “global definition of 5G and to cooperate in 5G research.” That work will include a need for harmonized radio spectrum to ensure interoperability, and plans to coordinate research project proposals to be launched in 2016. … Read More
American Tower bets a billion on Brazil
American Tower is expanding in Brazil, adding roughly 4,600 towers to the 7,200 towers it already has in that country. The company is buying BR Towers S.A for just under $1 billion. The purchase price will be a combination of cash and the assumption of debt. American Tower expects BR Towers to own about 2,530 towers and have exclusive use rights for roughly 2,110 towers by the time the deal closes in the fourth quarter. Olivier Puech, CEO of American Tower’s Latin American operations, told RCR Wireless News last month that American Tower has roughly 7,200 towers in Brazil. The company acquired 2,790 Brazilian towers from NII Holdings last year. … Read More
Level 3 to buy TW Telecom in $5.7 billion deal
Telecom consolidation continues, with Level 3 (LVLT) announcing plans to buy TW Telecom (TWTC) in a $5.7 billion cash and stock deal that will give Level 3 a deeper fiber presence in many U.S. cities. Level 3 is paying $40.86 per share for TW Telecom. Both firms are based in Colorado, and together they will be an $8 billion (revenue) company. Internet backbone providers like Level 3 and TW Telecom are feeling the heat as their larger rivals continue to grow. AT&T is trying to buy DirecTV, and Comcast wants to purchase Time Warner. Executives from both Level 3 and TW Telecom said that size and scale were key motivators for their merger. … Read More
June 25:
AT&T slows infrastructure spending, and tower crews feel the pain
It’s been just over a month since AT&T network operations president Bill Smith told an audience at PCIA’s Wireless Infrastructure Show not to worry about the carrier’s $48 billion bid for DirecTV. “I don’t think anybody should be concerned that this is a left turn by AT&T with respect to our investment in our network,” Smith said at the time. But a left turn may be just what AT&T has taken, or at least a detour. By early June, Wall Street analysts were already hearing bad news from AT&T suppliers. Michael Genovese of MKM Partners told his clients that a “new widespread capital spending freeze in place at AT&T,” could impact vendors, and Jefferies & Company’s George Notter said his contacts were reporting sharp declines in revenue from AT&T. … Read More
