Leap – Clearwire Agreement
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, March 16, 2012 · 
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In a March 14 announcement, Clearwire Corp. and Leap Wireless subsidiary Cricket Communications Inc. released information on a five-year contract between the companies. The agreement is the second for the Clearwire Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Sprint Nextel recently signed a similar agreement with Clearwire.
The deal, utilizing the Clearwire “capacity off load service,” will be used to supplement Cricket’s own LTE network. Cricket is reportedly planning to deploy LTE to approximately two-thirds of its present network over the next 24 to 36 months. Cricket service is available nationwide.
In a press release, Erik Prusch, president and CEO of Clearwire said, “The beginning of our long-term wholesale partnership with Cricket is a key step forward in the development of Clearwire’s wholesale LTE business model.”
Verizon Announces HomeFusion 4G LTE Broadband
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, March 12, 2012 · ·
Verizon Wireless announced on March 6 the introduction of HomeFusion Broadband. According to Verizon Wireless, HomeFusion will provide an alternative service for high-speed in-home Internet access in hard-to-serve areas of the country using Verizon Wireless’ developing 4G LTE network.
In a press release, Tami Erwin, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless said, ”Customers want to connect more and more devices in their homes to the Internet, and HomeFusion Broadband gives them a simple, fast and effective way to bring the most advanced wireless connection from Verizon into their homes.” Read more
FCC Approves License Transfer to Dish Network
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, March 5, 2012 · ·
On March 2, the International Bureau of the FCC approved the transfer of licenses from DBSD Satellite Services and TerreStar License, Inc. to Dish Network Corp. The licenses include gateway earth stations, earth terminals and ancillary terrestrial components (ATC). Dish Network had acquired the two satellite companies out of bankruptcy. Read more
More on LightSquared
Posted by Steve Fravel on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 · ·
The FCC recently announced that it has suspended a conditional waiver that had allowed LightSquared to construct and operate a satellite-hybrid LTE network. According to published reports, LightSquared was served early last week with a notice of default. LightSquared apparently failed to make a $56.25 million payment to Inmarsat. LightSquared has 60 days to correct the non-payment.
The ruling was prompted by a report from the National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA) indicating that the LightSquared planned LTE wholesale network would create harmful interference with GPS devices used by the U.S. government and commercial aviation. LightSquared has maintained that the interference is due to poor design of GPS devices that allow the units to “listen in” to devices in the L-band spectrum where LightSquared intended to deploy its network. The FCC has issued a request for comment on the NTIA letter. Read more
Ergen on Dish and Broadband Plans
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, February 24, 2012 · ·
According to multiple published accounts, Dish Network Corp. Chairman Charles Ergen is optimistic about the company’s planned nationwide 4G LTE network. Talking with reporters on Dish’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Ergen said that Dish had “an 80% chance or better” of successfully entering the wireless industry.
However, Ergen went on to say that much will depend upon the FCC and whether the commission will approve use of spectrum from the purchase of TerreStar Networks and DBSD North America to be used for the wireless service. “If by chance we are not granted a waiver or it was kicked down the road without a decision through rulemaking, then I think that we’d have to consider the risk, and at this point, I’d say we probably don’t have an 80% chance of success,” he said. “We’d have to look at other alternatives with what to do with the business and the spectrum, which would be unfortunate.” Dish applied for an ancillary terrestrial component waiver to facilitate construction and operation of a nationwide satellite-terrestrial hybrid wireless service. Read more
NetAmerica Alliance Member Goes Live
Posted by Steve Fravel on Thursday, February 16, 2012 · ·
Peoples Telephone Cooperative of Quitman, Texas, has begun offering 4G LTE data service in rural Texas. Peoples Telephone has been a member of the NetAmerica Alliance since 2010. NetAmerica is an alliance of independent carriers who have joined forces to build out 4G LTE service in the carriers’ licensed coverage areas. In a press release, NetAmerica describes the new service as a milestone in its development and member enhancement, emphasizing the joint mission of the NetAmerica independent carrier alliance as key to “empowering the delivery of lifestyle and livelihood-enhancing 4G LTE solutions.” Read more
LightSquared at an Impasse?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 · ·
Additional information added to this article on Friday, February 17, 2012.
With hints at possible litigation, there is every indication that LightSquared has hit the wall on a Valentine’s Day offering little love. The International Bureau of the FCC revoked the conditional approval LightSquared was granted in January 2011. Read more