Well, almost everything. When it comes to network deployments by mobile network operators large and small, I learned almost everything I know by attending State Wireless Association events and other PCIA/DAS Forum events. As one of the founding board members of the Texas State Wireless Association, I have a soft spot for the unsung heroes [...]

Eyes from all over the world are looking at Latin America’s economical and business performance. Several countries in the region are growing faster than other nations around the globe, driven, among others factors, by the domestic economy and exportation. According to International Monetary Fund forecasts, the United States 2011 growth is expected to reach 1.6% [...]

Major telecommunications industry trends, including increased broadband access, the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics demands on the telecom infrastructure and regulatory issues in Latin America, among others themes, will be addressed at Futurecom. In its 13th year, the congress counts 278 exhibitors, 14,000 attendees and 300 keynotes and speakers. It is set to take place [...]

Although device prices are getting lower, there is a lack of spectrum in Brazil and transmissions costs are still very high, said TIM Brazil’s CEO Luca Luciani at Futurecom 2011. Luciani highlighted the need for efficient use and allocation of spectrum. “It must be an agnostic use of it, regardless of what technology is used, [...]

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) made an important alert during Futurecom 2011. Secretary-General of ITU Hammadou Toure said the Internet could collapse by 2015 if governments, regulatory agencies, content producers and telecoms operators don’t reach standards for sector regulation. Toure emphasized that the current rules (which date to 1988) need to be updated. “The rules [...]

Bloomberg | August 28, 2011 | Jun Yang SK Telecom Co., the largest mobile- phone carrier in South Korea, won the rights to use a key frequency for fourth-generation phone service for 995 billion won ($924 million) in the country’s first auction of spectrum. Read the full article here via Bloomberg

The Brazilian army and Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI) announced that they will test LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The initiative, which includes Motorola’s investment of US $2 million, aims to present the possibilities and alternatives to improve the security framework in the country through a mobile broadband network that [...]

After three rounds of bidding and three hours’ time, the ICT Ministry of Colombia auctioned 30 megahertz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band, of which 25 were assigned. The nation’s three operators — Tigo, Comcel and Movistar — paid US $79.89 million for the spectrum.The auction is one of the measures the government announced [...]

If there is an auction for 4G spectrum, carriers should jump to buy it. However, it’s not the only way to offer better data traffic to customers, said Qualcomm Inc.’s Bill Davidson, senior vice-president for global marketing and investor relations. HSPA+ and LTE are parallel evolution paths, so telecom operators could choose to evolve their 3G technologies to HSPA+first, Davidson [...]

The Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transport said that it may allow bidding on a portion of nearly 190 megazhertz of spectrum currently held by the firm MVS Communicaciones in the 2.5 GHz band to help promote more efficient use of spectrum. Initially the 2.5 GHz had been assigned to pay-TV services through MMDS. MVS [...]