BROWSING: Policy

Paraguay’s Conatel calls for second consultation for 1700-2100 MHz auction

The Paraguayan National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) has called for a second public consultation for the tendering of 1700-2100 MHz spectrum bands. The government has not yet set the date for the auction. Proposals need to be completed by April 13. Conatel will take bids on the...

Verizon greases spectrum deals

Verizon Communications (VZ) looks to be goosing its bid to acquire spectrum assets from a handful of cable companies by hinting the deal could lead to the expansion of video services to its wireless platform. According to a The Wall Street Journal article from over...

RCA Spring 2012: Carriers look to FCC to act this year

ORLANDO, Fla. – Spectrum scarcity, data roaming and interoperability are three of the biggest key issues facing the US wireless industry, and carriers are hoping to see action from Washington before the November elections. Today at the closing session of the RCA Spring Expo...

End of monopoly pushes Cost Rica’s mobile penetration to 101.31%

It has been a few years since the end of the telecom sector monopoly in Costa Rica. The Superintendent of Telecommunications Sutel says ending the monopoly has led to great advances for the country's mobile industry. The mobile telephony penetration rate jumped from 42.38%...

Brazil’s Anatel to study the allocation of 700 MHz

The board of Brazil's telecom agency Anatel said regulators will carry out studies on the 700 MHz band regarding the use of this spectrum for digital television (check out the presentation - in Portuguese). By 2016, all analog TV, which is on the 700...

Analyst Angle: MVNOs in Latin America should target concentrated markets and the diaspora, not low-cost prepaid

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 arrival of Virgin Mobile in Latin America is exciting news. Richard Branson’s famous multi-industry brand will...

Colombia starts 4G auction process; tender open to foreign carriers

Colombia’s Ministry of Information Technology and Communication published for industry comments the draft resolution for the auction of spectrum in the 1.7/2.1 GHz, 2.5 GHz and 1.9 GHz bands. The auction is scheduled to begin August 8, with the deployment of mobile broadband services...

RCA continues fight against Verizon spectrum deals

The Rural Cellular Association continued its fight against Verizon Communications (VZ) attempt to acquire spectrum assets from a handful of cable companies. The association, which represents virtually every mobile operator outside of Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility, said that if approved the deals would...

Cisco bets on unifying BYOD policies management

Cisco is using its expertise in networks and the software that runs them to help companies manage and unify their bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies. The holistic approach is based on Cisco Borderless Network architecture. “The challenges that companies face are great,” Cisco's Inbar Lasser-Raab told RCR...

Everything I learned about the wireless infrastructure industry, I learned from State Wireless Association events

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...

Analysts react to Brazil’s LTE auction delay

Brazil’s plans to auction radio frequencies in the 450 MHz and 2.5 GHz band has again been pushed back from the end of April until at least June. Brazil's telecom regulatory agency Anatel, confirmed to RCR Wireless News that bidding documents must be submitted...

Canada lays out policies to enhance wireless competition

Canada’s Minister of Industry announced a number of initiatives intended to increase competition across Canada’s mobile industry that is dominated by a trio of operators. The initiatives look to settle issues regarding rules for upcoming spectrum auctions, foreign ownership regulations and tower siting. The Canadian...

U.K. regulator to look at LTE deployments in 2G, 3G spectrum

The United Kingdom took a step closer to next-generation mobile broadband services as the country’s regulatory body said it would begin looking at allowing current mobile providers to tap into their 2G and 3G spectrum holdings to offer LTE-based services. Traditionally, European countries have tied...

Dish closes on TerreStar, BDSD deals

Dish Network (DISH) said it has closed on an acquisition of BDSD North America and “substantially all of the assets of TerreStar Networks,” which has helped Dish secure 40 megahertz of nationwide spectrum in the 2 GHz band. Those spectrum holdings have become a...

New iPad’s corporate impact to boost BYOD

Apple is about to launch its iPad 3. Will the new tablet have a greater impact in the corporate market, contributing even more to the consumerization and Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) phenomenon? A recent Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD) survey with 120 IT decision-makers says yes, noting that...

MWC 2012: TD-LTE gets boost from China Mobile plans

BARCELONA, Spain – The move towards the TDD version of LTE gained serious steam last week when during the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain, China Mobile President Li Yue laid out plans for the world’s largest operator to deploy more than 20,000...

Dish spectrum plans postponed; Clearwire could benefit

The domestic market for wireless spectrum assets narrowed a bit in the short term late last week as the Federal Communications Commission said it would open up a formal debate in regards to Dish Networks’ attempt to use satellite spectrum for a terrestrial cellular...

Spectrum pricing issue a crucial missing piece in telecom sector: ICRA

The issue of spectrum pricing, which has wide implications for the future funding requirements of telecom service providers is still a crucial piece that is missing in the Indian telecom sector, says the latest ICRA Ratings report.

LightSquared to cut 45% of workforce, misses Inmarsat payment

The company said it will cut 45% of its 330-employee workforce, according to a news report.

Analyst Angle: Sit. Browse. View.

As 4G smartphones and tablets become more prevalent, iGR has noted a change in consumer behavior – more people are likely to stay stationary while using the new devices. Contrast this behavior with the typical cellular users who, for the last 25 years or so, have moved-and-talked, usually while driving.

Congress gives tower collocations a boost

The tax relief and jobs bill passed by Congress earlier this month may speed the process of tower and base station upgrades. In addition to freeing up more spectrum for wireless broadband, the bill would make it harder for city governments to deny tower...

Reality Check: Eight Brazilian telecom issues to watch

The Brazilian telecommunications market will over the next two years will face its best time since its opening to private initiatives. Here are eight issues, facts or trends, that deserve attention.

TEMA draws PM’s attention towards importance of strong manufacturing base

The telecom equipment manufacturing sector has somehow missed the bus of telecom revolution in the country, TEMA stated in the letter.

FTC raises privacy questions about mobile apps for children

The US Federal Trade Commission's just released survey report on mobile applications for children has revealed that neither the app stores nor the app developers provide the information parents need to determine what data is being collected from their children, how it is being shared, or who will have access to it.