spectrum

DALLAS -- AT&T's CEO, Randall Stephenson, is urging regulators to figure out how to get new spectrum in the hands of wireless operators now, or the industry will run out of capacity very soon.

Speaking here today at the Telecommunications Industry association event, Stephenson said that the 50MHz of wireless spectrum the FCC expects to auction as part of the broadcast incentive auctions won't be enough to satisfy growing demand. In fact, he said, the industry is much closer than many think to running out of available spectrum.

He said that other countries, much smaller than … Read more

A group of regional wireless carriers is calling AT&T's bluff when it comes to claimed interference issues in the lower spectrum bands of the 700 MHz frequency.

On Tuesday, Cavalier Wireless, C Spire Wireless, Continuum 700, King Street Wireless, MetroPCS Communications, U.S. Cellular, and Vulcan Wireless filed a report to the Federal Communications Commission detailing results from a test conducted that shows there are no interference issues between devices operating in other parts of the 700 MHz spectrum frequency bands and the broadcast TV channel 51, which is right next to the lower A block portion … Read more

Verizon Wireless' $3.6 billion bid to buy unused wireless spectrum from cable companies is likely to get regulatory approval. But Verizon may have to give up some of its wireless spectrum to satisfy regulators, say analysts and insiders close to the deal.

Analysts covering the market say it's almost a near certainty that the Federal Communications Commission will approve the deal, which Verizon and a coalition of cable companies owning wireless spectrum proposed late last year. Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks, which are all part of Spectrum Co. plus Cox Communications, want to sell nearly … Read more

Deutsche Telekom isn't keen on repeating last year's failed attempt to wed its T-Mobile USA unit to AT&T, or any other carrier, for that matter.

A complete sale of T-Mobile is unlikely as Deutsche Telekom focuses on turning the business around and ensuring it is a self-funding venture, Deutsche Telekom CEO Rene Obermann told shareholders today, according to a Bloomberg report.

T-Mobile has spent the last few months getting back into the wireless game in a real, aggressive way, launching ads that specifically target its competitors, including former suitor AT&T, and laying out plans … Read more

AT&T buying Leap Wireless? It could happen.

The latest acquisition rumor comes courtesy of Reuters, which reported yesterday that AT&T and Leap have been in talks over the past few months regarding a potential deal.

Such a deal would give AT&T more spectrum -- an asset it has been actively looking for since its deal with T-Mobile collapsed, as well as a decent base of prepaid customers. The report comes just days after Bloomberg reported that T-Mobile had considered buying MetroPCS. The speculation frenzy underscores the acquisitive posture of most of the wireless carriers, … Read more

NEW ORLEANS -- Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead defended his company's plan to buy wireless spectrum from cable operators during a keynote here Tuesday.

Mead emphasized the need for more wireless spectrum in the market to keep up with growing demand for wireless data services among consumers. He said it will take years for the Federal Communications Commission to auction off additional spectrum. And he said Verizon can't wait: his company will need additional spectrum in some markets by 2013, and it will need even more by 2015.

Verizon has been deploying new technology to get more efficient … Read more

Most people buying the new iPad opt for the Wi-Fi only version. Why? The 4G LTE versions are more expensive, for one thing. And since you can't switch carriers later, it means you're locked in to either AT&T or Verizon Wireless.

The fact that an AT&T iPad can't be used on Verizon and Verizon's iPad can't be used on AT&T troubles many of these consumers. After all, aren't they using the same LTE network technology? And aren't they even using the same 700 MHz spectrum for this … Read more

Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced a bill today that would put a valuable sliver of government-owned wireless spectrum on the auction block for commercial wireless carriers within five years.

Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced the bill, which will require the government to auction off spectrum in the 1755 MHz to 1780 MHz frequencies. The spectrum would be paired with spectrum at the 2155 MHz to 2180 MHz frequency bands. The 2155 MHz to 2180 MHz band of spectrum has been already cleared by the Federal Communications Commission and is now ready to … Read more

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have formed a bipartisan task force to figure out how the government can more efficiently use wireless spectrum.

The Federal Spectrum Working Group was announced Wednesday by Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chairman of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), the Democratic ranking member on the subcommittee. And it will be led by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.).

The purpose of this new group will be to study and come up with a possible action plan for making more efficient use of wireless spectrum used by the … Read more