NEW YORK-When David Finkelstein looks up at the heavens and ahead to the future, he sees low-earth-orbit satellites as galactic warriors fighting to control suburban sprawl on Earth and provide the power of Internet access to the rich and poor alike."The big social message...
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint Corp. said it agreed to purchase $11 million in convertible debentures in Hybrid Networks Inc., a San Jose, Calif.-based company that designs, manufactures and sells broadband data communications systems, including wireless cable modems.Sprint also agreed to purchase $10 million in equipment...
WASHINGTON-The official battle over fixed wireless' access to multi-tenant buildings got started last week as the Federal Communications Commission and industry began to wade through mountains of comments from the fixed wireless industry-which supports the FCC's proposed rules-and the real estate industry, which does...
NEW YORK-Chalk one up for the Federal Communications Commission, which received a stay Aug. 31 of several lower-court decisions that affirmed key aspects of the bankruptcy reorganization of C-block carrier NextWave Personal Communications Inc.As such, NextWave's Chapter 11 reorganization confirmation and consummation hearing is...
BoliviaBolivia's GOB Superintendent of Telecommunications is accepting international bids for a 20-year concessionary contract for providing PCS. Bidding documents must be submitted by 23 September. The service area to be awarded in the contract includes all of Bolivia, although the area of coverage can...
Ericsson signed a US$100 million contract with Diginet Americas to build out Diginet's fixed wireless networks throughout Latin America. The agreement makes Ericsson the preferred supplier to Diginet to provide ATM and IP-based equipment and services for the first pan-Latin America fixed wireless broadband...
United StatesThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) delayed the paging services auction until 24 February, 2000. The FCC said in June that it would auction 2,499 licenses for paging. The licenses, at 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz, were originally scheduled for auction in December. Approximately...
SANDTON, South Africa-Until a short time ago, many African countries did not see the need for independent regulatory bodies. The monopoly state-owned telephone operators were regarded as all that was needed to provide telecommunications services and to perform any regulatory functions.This view is changing...
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-The government late Friday was granted a last-minute emergency stay in its appeal against the bankruptcy reorganization of NextWave Personal Communications Inc., despite a stinging rebuke from another judge earlier in the week that blocked FCC appeal plans.The stay, signed by Chief...
WASHINGTON-Experts from the world's leading wireless telecom standards bodies last week pledged cooperation on third-generation mobile phone technology, number portability, electromagnetic compatibility, fixed wireless access and health effects, despite signs of renewed hostility between the United States and European Union over 3G and rumblings...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission this week is expected to start struggling with the definition of competition as it reviews comments submitted in its competitive networks docket.Is it competition that allows a renter to choose between different apartment buildings based on what telecommunications services are...
NEW YORK-World Access Inc., Atlanta, announced Aug. 17 it would acquire FaciliCom International Inc., Washington, D.C., by paying FaciliCom's shareholders about $436 million and assuming $300 million in FaciliCom debt.World Access, a publicly traded company, terminates international long-distance voice and data traffic in at...
WinStar Communications Inc. said it has been awarded 18 additional licenses from the Federal Communications Commission to operate in the 38 GHz band. Additionally, the company announced Siebel Systems Inc. of San Mateo, Calif. has selected WinStar's OC-3 technology for its campus headquarters.WinStar said...
The Ginger Media Group, owners of U.K.-based Virgin Radio, is collaborating with L.M. Ericsson in early trials of wireless third-generation technology that would allow local or national radio stations to reach global audiences, said Ericsson.The manufacturer's concept is to allow anyone, anywhere in the...
KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Sprint Corp. last week announced it created a new organization that will be responsible for building a broadband fixed wireless network in markets where Sprint has acquired licenses.The Broadband Wireless Group will focus on building fixed wireless facilities and developing high-speed Internet...
WASHINGTON-Proponents of unlicensed spectrum announced plans to organize as a subcommittee with the Wireless Communications Association.The group's mission statement is "to promote the interests of unlicensed spectrum providers, focusing especially on fixed wireless applications."Durga P. Satapathy, a senior member of Sprint Corp.'s Advanced Technologies...
When the clocks roll over at midnight on Dec. 31, the world will welcome not only a new year, but a new decade, a new century, a new millennium and, by many accounts, a new paradigm in the way people communicate.What took decades to...
WASHINGTON-FCC Commissioner Michael Powell warned members of the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council last week the millennium bug was a special problem that requires everyone to work together. For that reason, Powell said, information cannot be kept from the Federal Communications Commission.If companies have...
WASHINGTON-The Telecommunications Industry Association last week urged the Federal Communications Commission to reject petitions on how to structure spectrum sharing between satellite earth stations and terrestrial fixed users in the future."The existing frequency coordination and licensing processes foster efficient use of spectrum through flexibility...
NEW YORK-Heading into a scorcher of an Independence Day holiday, American stock markets closed in record-setting territory, thereby heating up the prospects for wireless sector companies seeking financing during the second half of 1999.By now it is a cliche to say that Alan Greenspan,...
WASHINGTON-Four members of the Senate Commerce Committee have introduced legislation to require all federal agencies to be located in buildings with access to competitive telecommunications. The legislation is intended to help fixed wireless companies, which require rooftop access.The legislation was proposed by Senate Majority...
U S West Wireless recently completed field tests of Qualcomm Inc.'s High Data Rate product, saying it was impressed with the solution, but didn't indicate plans to deploy the technology commercially.
"We were able to show proof of the concept and that it does provide...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission currently is considering how much mobile satellite service operators will have to pay to relocate incumbents in the 2 GHz band.MSS operators, particularly ICO Global Communications Services Inc., would like to offer services using the 2 GHz band. The problem...
AlbaniaAlbania said it plans to issue a public tender to sell a majority stake in Albanian Mobile Communications, the sole cellular provider in the country. The government also plans to offer a license for a second GSM operator at the same time.HungaryThe Primatel consortium,...
