The greater the number of competitors, the better for the user, said Brazil's minister of communications, Paulo Bernardo, to members of the press this week. Those comments came on the heels of Telefónica's bid to buy Vivendi's Brazilian unit GVT. Telefónica hopes to combine its Vivo operations, which...
Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades and enjoy the memories!
Nextel reprimands sales force to stop pressure tactics
Nextel...
América Móvil has decided sell some of its assets to comply with Mexico’s new anti-trust telecom rules that forbid companies from controlling more than 50% of the market.
On July 8, América Móvil issued a statement announcing that its board has analyzed several alternatives and recommendations, and resolved to reduce...
Vodafone selected Alcatel-Lucent as a "supplier of reference" for small cell and Wi-Fi technology as part of its Project Spring investment program. Through Project Spring, Vodafone plans to spend about $11 billion to expand and improve its LTE and 3G coverage in Europe and...
LightSquared’s path to redemption continues, as the spectrum license holder and satellite communications provider announced a $3 billion restructuring plan.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the plan would give Cerebus Capital Management, Fortress Investment Group and J.P. Morgan Chase control over 74% of the...
Nokia Networks announces two acquisitions
Nokia Networks said today that it will buy Nice Systems' 3D geolocation business to enhance the planning and optimization of mobile networks. "The evolution of small cells and LTE necessitates more accurate 3-D geolocation capabilities," Nokia said.
Israel will be the...
Numericable Group to buy Virgin Mobile in France
French cable company Numericable has agreed to buy Virgin Mobile in France for roughly $450 million. Numericable, which has a significant fiber footprint, also bought French wireless carrier SFR this year for $23 billion.
Virgin Mobile France is...
Amdocs showcased its offering for small cell network planning that leverages recent acquisitions, including Actix and Celcite, at the recent LTE World Summit.
Neil Coleman, director of marketing at Amdocs, discussed the Smart Cell Placement solution with RCR Wireless News. Smart Cell Placement identifies experience...
Editor’s Note: Wireless operators are a busy bunch, and as such RCR Wireless News will attempt to gather some of the important announcements that may slip through the cracks from the world’s largest carriers in a weekly wrap-up. Enjoy!
--AT&T signed a deal to acquire...
SBA Communications (SBAC) said today that it is acquiring 1,641 more wireless sites in Brazil from Oi. Oi will lease space on the towers from SBA after the transaction closes, but SBA will have the right to lease space to other carriers as well....
Opera has acquired three-year-old mobile video advertising platform company AdColony for $75 million plus up to another $275 million tied to "ambitious" platform revenue goals over the next two years, and raised its guidance as a result of the purchase.
Opera said with the acquisition,...
Ahead of a key regulatory decision over its plan to acquire E-Plus, Telefónica signed a network sharing agreement on June 25 with Drillisch, which operates as a mobile virtual network operator in Germany.
Under the deal, the smaller rival will get access to 20% of...
Here, Nokia's navigation and mapping company, announced plans to acquire real-time predictive analytics company Medio Systems to extend its location-based services capabilities. Here plans to share Medio's relevant capabilities across Nokia's Networks and Technologies companies as well.
Here expects to be able to create contexual maps and LBS "that change according to the...
Editor's Note: The ability to test network and device features and functions is an important piece of technology development and deployment. RCR Wireless News looks weekly at the test and measurement space to see what's afoot.
--EXFO has acquired Aito Technologies, which provides customer experience...
Following América Móvil's failed bid to takeover KPN last year, the Dutch government is now floating a proposal that would allow it to intervene in any telecom acquisition that had “implications for national security.”
In a June 10 letter to parliament, the Dutch minister of economic...
As the wireless world anxiously awaits Sprint’s oft-rumored bid to acquire T-Mobile US, analysts remain abuzz on the impact just such an offer could have across the market.
During a meeting with Wells Fargo Securities senior analyst Jennifer Fritzsche, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse reportedly would...
Many service providers come to a point where they could benefit from a rethink and refresh of their IP core network. So why exactly should service providers consider rethinking their IP core network architecture
In infrastructure news this week, Ericsson is diversifying its leadership team, and tower companies appear unfazed by the prospect of carrier consolidation.
Ericsson appointments
Ericsson has added three new members to its global leadership team, two of whom are women. Each of the new executives will...
Published reports, citing inside sources, claim Sprint is on the verge of putting in a $32 billion offer to acquire smaller rival T-Mobile US.
Several sources claim the deal will include an offer of $40 per share, or roughly a 17% premium over T-Mobile US’...
The Federal Communications Commission this week provided more color on its plans to regulate the wireless industry, updating its controversial spectrum screen policy to include a greater amount of potential bands.
The FCC said it would include 40 megahertz of spectrum from the AWS-4 band...
On the heels of receiving European Commission approval for its $953 million takeover of Ireland O2, Hutchison Whampoa is turning its sights to Italy. Several unnamed sources told Reuters that Hutchison is resuming talks with Russian Vimpelcom to merge their Italian operations.
A merger between Hutchison's telecom subsidiary 3 Italia and...
The Wireless History Foundation announced four individuals set to be inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame at an event scheduled for Sept. 9. The inductees were selected by a committee composed of an anonymous panel of Hall of Fame members.
This year’s inductees include...
Mobile Minute:
The Mobile Minute is sponsored by SpiderCloud Wireless.
Mobile app acquisitions are making headlines, with two new deals announced this week and a third hitting a possible snag. Intuit is buying mobile app Check for $360 million, or about 18 times expected 2014 revenue....
Foxconn is best known as the manufacturer of Apple's iPhones and iPads, and the human costs of its efficient fabrication processes are well documented. Less well known are the Taiwanese company's global aspirations. Foxconn, which trades under the name Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.,...
