BROWSING: AWS

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...

Infrastructure awards wrap-up: Nokia Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent, Andrew 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--Mexico: Berkeley Varitronics Systems Inc. said it won a contract...

Commerce Committee prods DoC, OMB on AWS spectrum relocation progress

House Commerce Committee leaders wrote the heads of the Department of Commerce and the Office of Management and Budget requesting by the end of next week the first progress report on implementation of a 2004 law that streamlined reimbursement of federal agencies whose communications...

Leap taps Alcatel-Lucent for Rev. A upgrade, network expansion

Leap Wireless International Inc. has signaled its commitment to deploying CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision A by choosing Alcatel-Lucent to build out the carrier's new spectrum acquired in the advanced wireless service auction and to upgrade its existing markets. Leap subsidiary Cricket Communications Inc., the...

DE rules shaky, but AWS results expected to stand: Court decision pertinent ahead of 700 MHz auction

PHILADELPHIA-A three-judge appellate panel hinted the Federal Communications Commission's small-business bidding rules could be on shaky legal ground, but seemed hesitant about throwing out results of last year's $13.7 billion advanced wireless services auction.Council Tree Communications Inc., Bethel Native Corp. and the Minority...

DE rules shaky, but AWS results expected to stand

A three-judge appellate panel hinted the Federal Communications Commission's small business bidding rules could be on shaky legal ground, but seemed hesitant about throwing out results of last year's $13.7 billion advanced wireless services auction.Council Tree Communications Inc., Bethel Native Corp. and the Minority...

Mission accomplished

You'd think leaders of this habitually war-beaten country would have neither the time nor luxury to ingratiate themselves in the kind of palace intrigue over mobile-phone licensing. But sure enough, there's suddenly uncertainty over an Iraqi cellular licensing policy that supposedly was shored up...

Progress made on 700 MHz auction plans, challenges remain

The Federal Communications Commission, facing congressionally-mandated deadlines and time pressures to complete 700 MHz rules to give wireless license bidders sufficient time to prepare for the upcoming spectrum auction, suddenly finds itself bogged down trying to balance competition, public safety, broadband and other public...

FCC plans for 700 MHz draw heated debate

Nearly drowned out in broad policy debates over controversial public-safety and broadband wireless proposals are pressing questions about how the Federal Communications Commission will craft the 700 MHz band plan. A coalition of 21 small- and medium-sized wireless and wireline carriers and state regulatory...

NextWave acquires IPWireless in $100M deal

NextWave Wireless Inc. announced it will purchase TD-CDMA supplier IPWireless Inc. for $25 million in cash and $75 million in stock. The ultimate purchase price could increase to $235 million by 2010 if IPWireless manages to achieve "certain revenue milestones," although NextWave did not...

NextWave acquires IPWireless in $100M deal

NextWave Wireless Inc. announced it will purchase TD-CDMA supplier IPWireless Inc. for $25 million in cash and $75 million in stock. The ultimate purchase price could increase to $235 million by 2010 if IPWireless manages to achieve "certain revenue milestones," although NextWave did not...

Frontline public-safety plan draws cheers, jeers

Federal Communications Commission member Robert McDowell cast doubt on Frontline Wireless L.L.C.'s public-safety broadband plan, which picked up backing from consumer, utility and public-interest groups last week, with the GOP regulator echoing a cellular industry criticism that the proposal comes too late, and full...

Nokia Siemens Networks readies for takeoff

Of all the industries that the soon-to-be-merged Nokia Siemens Networks will play in, the most important are radio access; services core and applications, which includes IMS; and transport and broadband access. Just which is of primary importance depends on which of the company's customers...

DE lawsuit targets 700 MHz auction

A small-business lawsuit to overturn the results of the $13.7 billion advanced wireless services auction is back on track, with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreeing to hold oral argument around the time the Federal Communications Commission expects to issue rules for...

UNWANTED ATTENTION: M2Z’s plan to offer broadband solicits flurry of negative reactions

For the past eight months, M2Z Networks Inc. stood alone behind a plan that might actually aid President Bush's quest for universal and affordable broadband service in the United States. Now it suddenly has company. It comes in the form of petitions to deny...

After years of struggle, tower industry beginning to bloom

The tower industry is sitting pretty these days. And, all things considered, the future couldn't look brighter for The Big Three: Crown Castle International Corp., American Tower Corp. and of SBA Communications Corp. Gone are days of flimsy business models and living on the...

Overdue AWS report sent to Congress

The Bush administration sent Congress a long-overdue report that is key to deploying spectrum licenses that bidders paid $13.7 billion for during last year's auction.Wireless carriers and lawmakers had been pressing the Office of Management and Budget to deliver to Congress a report detailing...

Overdue AWS spectrum relocation report sent to Congress

The Bush administration sent Congress a long-overdue report that is key to the deployment of spectrum licenses that bidders paid $13.7 billion for during last year's auction.Mobile phone carriers and lawmakers had been pressing the Office of Management and Budget to deliver to Congress...

OMB AWOL on AWS

Most of the energy these days in Washington is understandably focused on the Next Big Auction. And why not? 700 MHz bidding later this year could attract a mix of mobile phone, satellite, WiMAX and other players collectively ready to spend between $10 billion...