BROWSING: Policy

Time Trippin’: Nokia, Motorola on top of the world; FCC announces AWS bidders … 7 years ago this week

Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from...

Nextivity gains AT&T approval for cell booster

The wireless industry’s acceptance of cell signal boosters gained momentum this week as AT&T announced a deal with Nextivity authorizing the use of its Cel-Fi Smart Signal Booster for use across AT&T Mobility’s 2G and HSPA-based 3G networks. The carrier has also received authorization...

LatAm Wrap-Up: Peru to auction AWS spectrum; Mexico to invest $55B in telecom

The advanced wireless services (1.7/2.1 GHz) spectrum band auction in Peru is scheduled for July 22. ProInversión announced that four carriers have qualified to bid in the auction that will enable LTE deployment in the country. The participating telecom operators are: Telefónica Móviles (Movistar),...

Verizon Wireless adds 1M subscribers, customer base tops 100M; unveils Edge device upgrade plan

Verizon Wireless set the results bar high for its rivals, announcing second quarter numbers showing continued strong growth in the lucrative postpaid space as well as increased revenues. Verizon Wireless reported just over 1 million direct net customer additions for the quarter, including 941,000 postpaid...

Telus Mobility cuts year from customer contracts, girds for potential competition

Canadian wireless operator Telus Mobility is cutting a year from its traditional three-year contract plans, now allowing customers to gain access to postpaid rate plans with a two-year commitment. The three-year plan has been a staple of the Canadian wireless market, used by all...

Reality Check: Everyone gets a headline this week

On Friday, AT&T announced that they were acquiring Leap Wireless for $15 per share in cash. The transaction, including the acquisition of $2.8 billion in net debt as well as proceeds from the

AT&T plans to acquire Leap

AT&T jumped aggressively into the merger and acquisition frenzy, announcing late Friday plans to acquire Leap Wireless for about $1.2 billion, or $15 per share. Analysts noted that with Leap's substantial debt load the total price is in excess of $4 billion. Leap’s stock...

Carrier Wrap: Sprint, T-Mobile US make waves; UK regulator unchain 2G/3G spectrum

Editor’s Note: Wireless operators are a busy bunch, and as such RCR Wireless News will attempt to gather some of the important announcements that may slip through the cracks from the world’s largest carriers in a weekly wrap-up. Enjoy! --The nation’s No. 3 and No....

Sprint rolls out new rate plans, guarantees ‘unlimited’ access

Fresh off the heels of its acquisition by Softbank and acquisition of Clearwire, Sprint unveiled new rate plans looking to tap into the unlimited everything model embraced by carriers looking to gain a competitive advantage. The new plans, dubbed My Way and My All-in, include...

Done deal: Softbank closes on Sprint acquisition; Hesse to remain as CEO

Softbank officially closed on its acquisition of a 78% stake in Sprint Nextel, which cost the Japan-based operator $21.6 billion, or just slightly more than originally planned. Operationally, the closing sees Sprint Nextel change its official name back to Sprint Corp., having changed from that...

NII, Motorola launch PTT app in wake of Sprint Nextel iDEN shut down

Looking to continue push-to-talk communication capabilities between customers across the Western Hemisphere, NII Holdings and Motorola announced a smartphone application that will allow users in the United States with to connect PTT conversations with NII customers across Latin America. The PRIP application, which is based...

Sprint Nextel closes on Clearwire acquisition; Softbank deal on deck

On the heels of a positive vote from Clearwire shareholders, Sprint Nextel announced this morning that it has closed on its acquisition of the remaining stake in the carrier it did not previously own. The deal calls for Sprint Nextel to buy the...

Reality Check: Why plug-and-play smart antenna front-end modules are key for unperturbed connectivity

LTE has been in commercial service for a while, which makes it easy to overlook the fact that it’s still a relatively new technology for most device original equipment manufacturers.

Clearwire shareholders approve Sprint Nextel deal

Clearwire shareholders voted in favor of the carrier’s acquisition by Sprint Nextel, filling in the final piece of a pending pair of acquisitions that could provide a stronger No. 3 in the domestic wireless market. Clearwire noted that the required majority of its shareholders not...

Softbank-Sprint Nextel-Clearwire deals inch closer to completion; financial concerns remain

The tie up between Softbank, Sprint Nextel and Clearwire inched closer to fruition as late last week the federal government signed off on the deal, while today witnessed financial aspects of the transactions taken care of. Softbank said it expects the deals to be...

EE set to unveil faster LTE in UK; launch shared, prepaid access

U.K.-based wireless operator EE announced plans to commercially launch its “double-speed” LTE service across a dozen markets on July 4. The carrier explained that the offering will provide theoretical download speeds as high as 150 megabits per second, though average speeds will be closer...

Report: Softbank nears FCC approval for Sprint Nextel deal

Softbank is reportedly close to gaining U.S. government approval for its pending $21.6 billion purchase of a 78% stake in Sprint Nextel, which both companies have said they expect to close by mid-month. Bloomberg is reporting that the deal has gained approval by two of...

Time Trippin’: … Disney enters mobile; concern grows over Sprint’s 2.5 GHz dominance … 8 years ago this week

Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from...

Canada provides framework for spectrum license transfers

Canada’s attempt to infuse more competition into its wireless space gained more clarity as the country’s telecommunications regulator laid out rules for the transfer of spectrum licenses. The rules follow the government’s recent re-booting of its competition initiative that saw Industry Canada refuse consolidation...

Reality Check: Wireless earnings drivers for the second quarter (Pt. 2)

Sprint Nextel was not the only telecom company making news over the past week, as early last week, Mary Dillon abruptly

Google approved to administer white space database

Following a 45-day trial earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology granted approval for Google to operate its white space administration tool, also known as the “TV bands database system.” As part of the approval, Google is providing “facilities” for...

Worst of the Week: Diving for spectrum

As has been often said, and in more loquacious ways, spectrum is the lifeblood of the wireless industry. Without it, we would all still be running for payphones, concentrating on our driving and having conversations with each other.

U.S. Cellular continues spectrum sales; T-Mobile US to pick up AWS licenses for $308M

U.S. Cellular continued to rationalize its spectrum position, announcing today plans to sell 10 megahertz of spectrum in the 1.7/2.1 GHz band to T-Mobile US for $308 million. The licenses cover 32 million potential customers in 29 markets in the Mississippi Valley region, including...

Report: Verizon makes offer for Wind Mobile, in talks with Mobility

Verizon Communications has reportedly moved closer to entering the Canadian wireless market, having offered to purchase beleaguered operator Wind Mobile and initiating talks with equally-troubled Mobility. Reuters reported that sources claimed Verizon has offered up to $800 million to purchase Wind, seeming to confirm reports...