BROWSING: Policy

Reality Check: Network neutrality and the Brazilian Internet Civil Mark

One of the most wrestled with subjects in the Brazilian ICT industry is network neutrality regulation in the Brazilian Internet Civil Mark, a legislative project which defines principles, guarantees, rights and duties on Internet use in Brazil.

German operators complain about LTE approval delays

When Germany auctioned LTE frequencies in 2010, operators were required to first deploy the high-speed internet technology in rural areas before deploying to the more lucrative urban areas. Now having met many of their rural obligations, carriers are complaining of bureaucratic delays for their big...

Amdocs: ‘Omni convergence’ era is changing business models

MIAMI – Convergence is driving personalization, contextulizaton and a focus on the user experience across the telecom space. Customers want a seamless, real-time experience across devices, technology access, lines of business, services, payment types and users. During the Amdocs' InTouch event (check out all our...

Amdocs: The core business does not change

MIAMI – “Maybe you get the impression that we are doing too much, but we are not.” This was how Eli Gelman, Amdocs’ president and CEO, ended a question and answer session with analysts for the press at the InTouch event (read all our...

America Movil to mimic Claro in standardized IT systems

MIAMI - Latin American telecom operator giant America Movil has begun a project to standardize its company's primary IT systems in the region. Named America Movil One, the project was launched after Brazilian Claro transformed its business process management systems by implementing a combination...

Analyst Angle: Spectrum issues create uncertainty in the air

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We’ve collected a group of the industry’s leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. The 2012 edition of the International CTIA Wireless show held in New Orleans served as...

FCC asks Verizon Wireless, cable cos for more details on spectrum plans

Verizon Wireless’ attempt to secure 1.7/2.1 GHz (AWS) spectrum assets hit a snag as the Federal Communications Commission has asked the parties involved to provide more details on the proposed transaction. The additional information relates to Verizon Wireless’ plans to potentially auction off current 700...

Policy Watch: Telefonica first to cap European data roaming charges

When the European Parliament voted on May 10 to place new caps on roaming charges, they included data services for the first time. Telefonica was the first major carrier to respond. The very next day, the Spanish-owned carrier, known as O2 and Movistar to many...

LightSquared files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

LightSquared followed through with weekend rumors by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this afternoon, noting the move will give it “breathing room” to work through current regulatory challenges that prevent it from gaining access to its spectrum assets. The company stated that despite the...

LightSquared on life support?

LightSquared’s grasp on solvency appears to be slipping as the latest round of published reports indicated that the firm was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection. According to The Wall Street Journal, LightSquared and its financial backers have until end of business today...

Claro, Movistar, Entel present proposals for Chilean LTE tender

America Movil’s Chilean unit Claro, Telefonica’s local wireless operations Movistar, and Chilean Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (Entel) have each presented proposals for the 2.6 GHz frequency band tender, which will be responsible for the deployment of LTE networks in Chile. Each proposal received scores, which...

CTIA 2012: ‘Mad Money’ Cramer leads lively carrier keynote session

NEW ORLEANS – CTIA reconfigured its now annual carrier keynote panel at this year’s trade show, moving what had been a morning affair to the afternoon of the first official day of the event. And despite some initial sluggishness, the roundtable format dug into...

CTIA 2012: New FCC commissioners, spectrum sharing are highlights of Genechowski’s CTIA keynote

Calling mobile phones the most pervasive technology in history, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genechowski opened the CTIA Wireless 2012 show by telling his audience that more people now have mobile phones than have electricity or running water. He also highlighted political news that...

FCC releases $300M Mobility Fund auction requirements

The Federal Communications Commission moved forward with its controversial Mobility Fund, announcing the release of a public notice with the procedures for “phase one” of the reverse auction for universal service fund support. The fund is expected to provide up to $300 million in...

Towers: FIFA World Cup committee asks Brazilian government, telcos to settle

The Cup Executive Group has asked Brazil's state and city governments to negotiate agreements by December with telecom companies to manage the proliferation of cellular towers in anticipation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The topic is controversial because there is an array of legal issues...

Verizon to expand LTE-based broadband service nationwide

Verizon Wireless is set to expand its recently unveiled HomeFusion Broadband offering nationwide beginning tomorrow. The service relies on the carrier’s LTE network and was initially announced earlier this year. For Verizon Wireless’ parent company, Verizon Communications, the service will allow it to expand broadband...

Analyst Angle: HSPA+ and LTE offer a unique opportunity in Latin America, Caribbean

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We’ve collected a group of the industry’s leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. A primary challenge for wireless operators in Latin America and the Caribbean during the past three...

C Spire partners with Dish on mobile capabilities

Regional wireless operator C Spire continues to make waves, today announcing a partnership with Dish Networks to promote Dish’s TV Everywhere products and DVR technologies at C Spire’s retail locations. The partnership includes showing the place-shifting capabilities of Dish’s offering using assets from its...

UK report suggests $9B in direct investments, 125,000 jobs linked to LTE rollouts

According to a report commissioned by U.K.-based wireless operator Everything Everywhere, the impending rollout of LTE services could result in Britain garnering nearly $9 billion in direct private investments by 2015 and create or safeguard up to 125,000 jobs. The report, conducted by Capital Economics,...

Report: Falcone agrees to step aside at LightSquared

LightSquared benefactor Philip Falcone has reportedly agreed to eventually take his claws out of the beleaguered wireless company in an attempt to prevent the operator from going bankrupt. Falcone currently runs Harbinger Capital Partners, which has invested more than $2.9 billion into LightSquared. The Wall...

Chile regulators say country could use 700 MHz for LTE

Chilean telecom regulator Subtel is considering auctioning the 700 MHz band for LTE, the Minister of Telecommunications, Pedro Pablo Errazuriz, said during the 37th Plenary Meeting of the GSMA Latin America. The meeting is held in Chile, gathering about 250 members from 30 Latin...

Analyst Angle: Anatel should have amended LTE spectrum auction rules to be more attractive

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We’ve collected a group of the industry’s leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry. In January 2012, Anatel opened the LTE-spectrum auction rules for public consideration. The rules included details...

AT&T Mobility remains coy on Verizon Wireless spectrum plans

If AT&T Mobility is interested in the 700 MHz spectrum assets Verizon Wireless is looking to offload, it’s keeping that interest close to the vest. Speaking during its quarterly conference call, AT&T Mobility’s CEO Ralph de la Vega noted the carrier would not speculate on...

M&A forces Austria to postpone LTE spectrum auction

Austria’s telecommunications regulatory body has postponed plans to auction wireless spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1.8 GHz band targeting the launch of LTE services due to a pending acquisition by a pair of the country’s largest wireless operators. The auction was...