AT&T and Dish: Rumor or Cage Rattling?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 · 
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According to Credit Suisse analyst Stefan Anninger, a seven-page FCC exparte AT&T penned may be a strong indicator of the carrier’s interest in buying up the 40Mhz S-band spectrum currently controlled by Dish Network.
After separate bankruptcy proceedings last year, Dish Network now holds DBSD North America, Inc. and TerreStar Networks, Inc. and their satellite spectrum licenses. Dish recently petitioned the FCC for an ancillary terrestrial component waiver that it says it will use to provide a wireless-hybrid 4G LTE network. Read more
Industry Demands Scrutiny of Verizon-Cable Agreements
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, January 23, 2012 · ·
Last week Comcast and Verizon Wireless announced that they will launch a new marketing program in Seattle and Portland, Ore., selling their respective services to the other’s customers.
This is the first marketing promotion under the new landmark partnership which was announced last month, whereby Verizon Wireless agreed to pay $3.6 billion to a consortium of cable providers for 122 advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum licenses covering approximately 259 million people, or more than 85% of the U.S. population. Additionally, the cable companies and Verizon Wireless entered into a joint re-sale, marketing and technology development agreement. Separately, just a few days later, Verizon Wireless entered into an similar agreement with Cox Communications to purchase 20 MHz of AWS spectrum licenses covering 28 million POPs for $315 million. Read more
AT&T Acquires Qualcomm’s 700 MHZ Spectrum
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, December 23, 2011 · ·
Although not the same magnitude as the T-Mobile merger, yesterday the FCC approved the sale of Qualcomm’s 700 MHz spectrum to AT&T. The commission attached a few conditions to the sale. The highly technical and specific conditions concerning interoperability and interference are described by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski as potentially helpful to smaller operators.
The 700 MHz spectrum was originally purchased and used by Qualcomm to support its Media FLO TV product, a mobile video service which it shuttered in 2010. As such, the ironic aspect to this purchase is the increasing demand for additional bandwidth by consumers for watching video on AT&T’s mobile phones.
AT&T Ends Quest to Purchase T-Mobile USA
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 19, 2011 · ·
The biggest merger of the year is now dead. AT&T announced earlier this afternoon that it will end its bid to acquire T-Mobile USA, a quest which began in March of this year.
The statement, reads, in part:
“The actions by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice to block this transaction do not change the realities of the U.S. wireless industry. It is one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world, with a mounting need for more spectrum that has not diminished and must be addressed immediately. The AT&T and T-Mobile USA combination would have offered an interim solution to this spectrum shortage. In the absence of such steps, customers will be harmed and needed investment will be stifled.”
In its statement, AT&T took this opportunity to encourage the FCC to meet the current and future spectrum needs of the wireless industry, including expeditiously approving AT&T’s acquisition of unused Qualcomm spectrum currently pending before the commission.
To reflect the break-up considerations due T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom, AT&T will recognize a pretax accounting charge of $4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011. AT&T had already set this money aside. Additionally, AT&T announced that it will enter a mutually beneficial roaming agreement with Deutsche Telekom.
Dish and T-Mobile?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, December 19, 2011 · ·
According to Dish Network CEO Joseph Clayton, if the AT&T/T-Mobile takeover fails, Dish Network would be interested in exploring some partnering arrangements with T-Mobile.
Earlier this year Dish Network acquired two satellite companies and their spectrum out of bankruptcy. Dish has “hinted” strongly that it intends to provide a more diverse offering that will include video, broadband and voice services. T-Mobile is one possible partner. Early in the fall, Dish Network had openly talked about pursuing a deal with Sprint or Clearwire intending to provide a satellite-terrestrial hybrid service. Read more
Verizon Wireless Adds Cox to its Cable Partners
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 19, 2011 · ·
Cox Communications announced December 16, that it has entered into an agreement to sell Verizon Wireless its 20 MHz Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum licenses covering 28 million POPs for $315 million. The deal plays on the joint venture announced by SpectrumCo. and Verizon Wireless which was revealed just a few weeks ago.
Cox and Verizon Wireless also announced that they plan to sell each other’s residential and commercial products and services through their respective sales channels. Over time, Cox may have the option to sell Verizon Wireless’ services on a wholesale basis. In addition, Cox expects to enter into arrangements with the innovation technology joint venture formed by Verizon Wireless and SpectrumCo. partners Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services. Read more
AdTran to Acquire Nokia Siemens’ Fixed Broadband Unit
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 12, 2011 · ·
ADTRAN Inc., an NTCA associate member, announced today that it plans to acquire Nokia Siemens Networks‘ fixed line Broadband Access business (BBA) and associated professional services and network management solutions. The planned acquisition would include the Broadband Access intellectual properties, technologies and the established customer base.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however media reports peg the transaction at somewhere south of $24 million. Adtran said it plans to complete the deal through an asset sale and purchase agreement. The acquisition is expected to close in April 2012 and transfer about 400 Nokia Siemens employees to Adtran, including staff in engineering, R&D, sales and professional service, according to the companies.
The agreement also includes provisions which would allow ADTRAN solutions to be incorporated by Nokia Siemens Networks into its customer propositions, broadening ADTRAN’s business opportunities. Read more