BROWSING: AWS

Infrastructure awards wrap-up: Nortel, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia Siemens Networks and more

The following list details this week's infrastructure awards for the cellular, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX industries. The contracts are broken down by transmission technology, country and vendor. The value of the contract is included when available.Cellular--Czech Republic: Telefonica O2 Czech Republic said it is upgrading...

Family Research Council calls for ‘safe’ broadband: FCC gets mixed bag of comments on how it should craft rules for AWS III band

The Federal Communications Commission's attempt to craft rules for the 2155-2175 MHz band has been met with the kind of mixed industry feedback expected in such a proceeding, with a notable exception that could provide a window into what could become a bigger policy...

Worst of the Week: Your predictions for 2008

Hello!And welcome to a special edition of our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. As 2007 draws to a close and we take stock of all the changes that have happened in the wireless industry, we can't help but wonder how things will look...

ZTE USA begins long march with regional carrier

ZTE USA, the American face of the Chinese handset and network vendor, will begin supplying co-branded CDMA handsets to MetroPCS Communications Corp., which offers service to 3.7 million subscribers in major metro areas. The deal is ZTE's second to provide devices to an American...

FCC releases full list of applicants for 700 MHz auction: Qualcomm to bid, while T-Mobile USA could sit it out

The Federal Communications Commission said it received 266 applications for the 700 MHz auction, with small and rural telephone companies dominating a field that also includes leading mobile-phone operators, Google Inc., EchoStar Satellite L.L.C., and some surprises. Click here for complete 700 MHz auction coverage. Nearly...

DE rules challenged: Trio of DEs, Verizon Wireless question wholesale terms for 700 MHZ auction

RULES THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER for small businesses to bid for the D-Block license in the upcoming January auction are under attack from the three companies that have entangled the Federal Communications Commission in auctionrelated litigation since last year.Council Tree Communications Inc., Bethel...

MetroPCS signs up Alcatel-Lucent for new markets

MetroPCS Communications Inc. inked a three-and-a-half year contract extension with Alcatel-Lucent, which covers the buildout of the flat-rate carrier's AWS spectrum holdings in seven major metropolitan areas. Financial terms of the deal were not revealed.MetroPCS scored the new markets through the Federal Communications Commission's...

Satellite to sit out 700 MHz auction: Verizon Wireless questions DE rules

It is beginning to look increasingly unlikely that satellite operators will participate in the upcoming 700 MHz auction, partially due to rules guaranteeing the satellite industry a role in the deployment of a nationwide commercial-public safety broadband network in the band. The situation is...

Yes, FCC, there is an ordering clause

There's an interesting legal argument whose resolution by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could impact small-business bidding rules, last year's wireless auction and perhaps even the upcoming 700 MHz auction. Or it could be much ado about nothing.The question is this: When...

FCC relaxes requirements for public-safety spectrum

THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION relaxed the small-business bidding rule for the 700 MHz national commercial/public-safety block, but the agency cannot seem to shake lingering legal challenges that have the potential to disrupt the upcoming auction-as well as last year's sale of advanced wireless services...

CTIA takes up 700 MHz challenge: Industry association moves in after VZW withdraws appeal

LITIGATION SURROUNDING RULES for auction-bound 700 MHz wireless licenses took an unexpected turn last week.Verizon Wireless filed to withdraw its appeal of the Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz open-access rule, only to have cellphone industry trade association CTIA immediately fill the void by challenging...

NTIA’s Kneuer: under-appreciated, accomplished

In the past, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has managed now and then to wrestle away the spotlight (albeit temporarily) on major telecom-tech issues of the day from the Federal Communications Commission. NTIA, a Commerce Department unit that serves as the principal adviser...

CTIA replaces VZW in challenging open access: Trade group ‘does not seek to delay’ auction

Litigation surrounding rules for the Jan. 24-scheduled 700 MHz auction has taken a sudden turn. Verizon Wireless filed to withdraw its appeal of the Federal Communications Commission's 700 MHz open-access rule, only to have cellphone association CTIA immediately fill the void by challenging the...

T-Mobile USA, Leap move closer to AWS launches: T-Mobile USA gearing up for New York launch, Leap begins to hire in Las Vegas

Signs are popping up that carriers are getting closer to making use of the spectrum they acquired in the advanced wireless services auction last year. T-Mobile USA Inc. confirmed that it has begun offering its first 3G handset to customers in New York, although...

700 MHz proceedings get messy

THE MOBILE-PHONE INDUSTRY FINDS ITSELF ADRIFT in a sea of uncertainty as the 2008 election year approaches, with litigation, legislation and other factors casting a collective cloud over spectrum auctions critical to rollout of next-generation wireless services and the existing regulatory regime.Competition for new...

Decision delayed on DE bidding rules

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected on procedural grounds a challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's small business bidding rules, delaying for another day a ruling on the merits of a case with the potential to overturn the results of last year's...

T time

These are tenuous times for T-Mobile USA.Having spent $4.2 billion for 120 licenses in last year's advanced wireless services auction and seeing its German sister company ready to live with the iPhone, you can understand why T-Mobile USA might be getting a little antsy...

700 MHz rerun: Some want to put open access at 2155-2175 MHz

THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS Commission appeared poised to reject M2Z Networks Inc.'s plan to offer free nationwide broadband service on the 2155-2175 MHz band, a move likely to prompt a court challenge and refocus the campaign to integrate open-access wholesale requirements in the wireless space.Once...

M2Z’s free broadband plan set for rejection

The Federal Communications Commission appeared poised to reject M2Z Networks Inc.'s plan to offer free nationwide broadband service on the 2155-2175 MHz band, a move likely to prompt a court challenge and refocus the campaign to integrate open access-wholesale requirements in the wireless space.Once...

700 MHz: Bidding to start Jan. 16

The Federal Communications Commission set Jan. 16 for the start of the 700 MHz auction, and asked for public comment on competitive bidding procedures for the 1,099 wireless licenses up for grabs. The agency will employ anonymous bidding as a safeguard against anti-competitive behavior...

Laying odds

I know most of us have had almost enough of the 700 MHz auction, what with the lobbying and saber rattling of those interested in the spectrum and the ultimate rule making handed down by the FCC last month.But, beyond the sexy names of...

Sprint Nextel pulls out of SpectrumCo JV

Sprint Nextel Corp. is pulling out of the joint venture it formed with four cable companies to participate in the Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction last year, but said the move has long been planned and does not reflect a change in carrier's strategy....

3 vendors get a piece of Leap business

Leap Wireless International Inc. subsidiary Cricket Communications Inc. has selected three infrastructure vendors for equipment, services and software in its planned buildout of third-generation networks in its recently acquired advanced wireless services spectrum. The entire network coverage expansion will include CDMA2000 1x and EV-DO...

Nortel to build out some Cricket markets

Nortel Networks Ltd. has secured a three-year contract with Cricket Communications Inc. valued at $135 million, to supply the carrier with CDMA equipment as it expands its network coverage with CDMA2000 1x and EV-DO Rev. A equipment, the Toronto-based company announced.The flat-rate carrier is...