THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION'S conditional approval of Verizon Wireless' acquisition of Alltel Communications L.L.C. and the merger of Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp.'s WiMAX operations could have significant post-election policy and marketplace ramifications, including a private auction of sorts for more than 100...
Nov. 4, 2008, will go down as a historic day both for the country as well as for the wireless industry. The impact of the presidential election is probably self-evident and better explained by those with more knowledge on the subject. But the impact...
With the wireless industry's nationwide players having posted third-quarter results, it appears that the market is quickly changing from a battle of the big 4 to a war between the big 2. Last week, the industry's No. 3 and No. 4 operators, Sprint Nextel...
With Democrats capturing the White House and strengthening their control of Congress on the same day that federal regulators approved two major telecom deals, wireless policy changes could be in store as lawmakers, federal regulators and the incoming Obama administration take measure of an...
MetroPCS Communications Inc. and Leap Wireless International Inc. will offer free roaming onto each other's networks, a move stemming from a reciprocal roaming agreement signed in September by the two rivals. Leap's markets will be free to MetroPCS customers signed up for the carrier's...
The Federal Communications Commission today conditionally approved the Verizon Wireless-Alltel Communications L.L.C. and the Sprint Nextel-Clearwire Corp. mergers, while also voting to allow unlicensed devices to operate in vacant broadcast spectrum known as white spaces.The three major wireless decisions, which were preceded by massive...
After several failed attempts to offer a wireless play, Cox Communications announced its most ambitious wireless blueprint to date: The cable company said it plans to build its own network with the $500 million of spectrum it has accumulated, and plans to launch commercial...
The nation's top wireless and high-tech companies appear poised to be big winners Nov. 4, with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin seemingly on track to secure votes that will result in further industry consolidation, create a super-size WiMAX service provider, expand Wi-Fi and...
The wireless industry faces a policy landscape whose evolving contours could be significantly shaped in coming years by the outcome of the Nov. 4 elections.On the surface, it would appear industry has plenty of reason to worry. If Democrats capture the White House and...
The Department of Justice approved Verizon Wireless' $28 billion purchase of Alltel Communications L.L.C., subject to required divestitures of wireless assets in 100 markets encompassing 22 states."The divestitures required are necessary to protect wireless customers and are among the most extensive required by the...
So far, despite massive lobbying over scheduled Nov. 4 votes on white spaces, wireless mergers, the universal service fund and intercarrier-compensation reforms, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has yet to blink. The FCC last night released the official agenda for the...
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN KEVIN MARTIN is coming under mounting pressure to postpone votes on major wireless items scheduled for Nov. 4. As Martin tries to round up support for the Verizon Wireless-Alltel Communications L.L.C. and Sprint Nextel Corp.-Clearwire Corp. deals and unleashing Wi-Fi...
Cable company Cox Communications announced it will build a wireless network with the $500 million in spectrum the company has accumulated over the past several years, and will launch commercial services by next year. The company will work with Sprint Nextel Corp. to supplement...
Small, rural and regional wireless carriers and trade groups said the Federal Communications Commission should not vote Nov. 4 on the Verizon Wireless-Alltel Communications L.L.C. merger before acting on unresolved roaming, spectrum concentration and handset exclusivity issues."Approving this merger without debating and addressing those...
BOSTON- One of the most difficult questions asked during panel discussions at the Mobile Internet World 2008 event was "What is a mobile Internet device?" Answers ranged from something bigger than a smartphone to something smaller than a portable personal computer, with just about...
A public-interest group asked the Federal Communications Commission to impose open-access conditions on the Verizon Wireless-Alltel Communications L.L.C. and Sprint Nextel Corp.-Clearwire Corp. mergers. Free Press said that while Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel have moved to loosen their control of networks, both companies...
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has set a highly ambitious agenda for the Nov. 4 open meeting. And the December meeting potentially could pack as much punch, seeing that time is running short for the FCC chief to push through policy priorities before...
Election Day 2008 is shaping up as monumental for the wireless industry.The Federal Communications Commission is poised to vote Nov. 4 on the Sprint Nextel Corp.-Clearwire Corp. and the Verizon Wireless-Alltel Communications L.L.C. tie-ups as well as on wireless operations in TV white spaces,...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column. We've gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile industry to give their insights into the marketplace.The mobile ecosystem is expanding. We are quickly moving from an era of proprietary development confined to...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry.Happy belated birthday to you, GSM. Last month, GSM technology celebrated its 21st birthday -...
Verizon Wireless offered to divest another 15 markets as part its $28.1 billion play for Alltel Communications L.L.C., but the proposed transaction is becoming trickier by the day because of fluid economic, regulatory and political factors.In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the...
Canada's two largest CDMA carriers, Bell Canada and Telus Mobility, announced plans to deploy HSPA technology by 2010 as part of an effort to eventually upgrade to Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology.Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei will build the HSPA networks for both carriers.Investment...
MetroPCS Communications Inc. posted limited third-quarter results, displaying strong growth and a year-over-year drop in customer churn. The carrier reported 249,265 net additions during the quarter, nearly double the 114,302 customers the carrier added during the same quarter last year. MetroPCS ended the third...
Wireless competition may soon be coming to the throngs of subway riders who comprise official Washington. A bill passed by Congress and en route to President Bush will allow any licensed mobile-phone carrier to provide service on subways serving the nation's capital and surrounding...
