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 this week in history. Enjoy the ride!
Verizon downplays W-CDMA comments
Verizon Wireless is considering either using wideband-CDMA technology as its third-generation network standard or adding the technology to its CDMA-based network. Company spokespeople assert the move is not new-or news-but it is nonetheless representative of the murky realm of 3G wireless issues and carriers’ hopes of appeasing many while committing to few. “We’re talking about the future here,” said Nancy Stark, a Verizon spokeswoman. “It is not news, and it’s not a change.” While it might not be a change, it is surprising that Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless operator, is considering using W-CDMA. … Read More
Services, not speed, count in 3G world
Forget about 3G speed. Bring on the services. “Today’s network speed and coverage are more than adequate for most of the so-called 3G services,” said Matin B. Dunsby, global wireless initiative leader of Deloitte Consulting, echoing the often understated fact that the glorified services anticipated in the next generation of technologies are already available in the market. At the UWCC Conference in Orlando in early May, AT&T Wireless’ Chief Technology Officer Rob Nelson also emphasized the point, noting that the United States’ frenzy over spectrum may not frustrate the rollout of some of the 3G services that present networks can support. … Read More
Pentagon budget woes could boost Industry 3G effort
While policy-makers struggle to balance commercial spectrum needs and national security, the outcome of industry efforts to secure the military’s 1700 MHz band for third-generation wireless systems could be influenced greatly by Pentagon budgetary constraints, international pressure, presidential politics and last Friday’s stunning court ruling against the Federal Communications Commission. As the spectrum brawl between industry and DoD heats up, it is becoming increasingly clear that a mix of variables-beyond spectrum and nation security-are not only at play, but possibly critical to the administration’s final decision on 3G. In some respects, these dark-horse issues have the potential to help mobile-phone firms in their quest for DoD frequencies. … Read More
Prepaid: A love/hate relationship
A noteworthy dynamic has developed in which major players like AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Cingular Wireless and Sprint PCS are actively promoting prepaid services, while smaller providers like Dobson Communications Corp. and TeleCorp PCS want to minimize its role. “The irony is not lost on me that AT&T is attacking prepaid when TeleCorp is running away from it,” said Bill Benton, wireless services analyst for William Blair & Co, Chicago. TeleCorp, which is AT&T Wireless’ largest affiliate, intends to raise its postpaid subscriber base to 90 percent by year-end, a 20-percentage point increase from 2000. … Read More
NextWave ready to resume rollout
NextWave Telecom Inc., a one-time poster child for everything that went wrong with the government’s C-block auction for PCS licenses, said it stands ready to continue to build its network, following an appeals court ruling last Friday that said the government could not cancel NextWave’s 90 licenses. NextWave said it has $90 million in debtor-in-possession financing from recent bankruptcy-court-approved financing. “Having this financing on hand enables us to resume critical construction activities, such as fine-tuning our network design and switch engineering, completing microwave clearance, establishing our backhaul network and local interconnection arrangements, and finalizing tower site selection and development,” said NextWave Chairman Allen Salmasi. … Read More
FCC: Wireless is competitive
The Federal Communications Commission proclaimed the good news that the wireless industry is competitive, as more than 75 percent of the population can choose between five or more wireless carriers. “Not every item that will come to you will be a good-news item, but we think this is a good-news item. … The commission’s pro-competitive and deregulatory policies are working in the wireless industry. … What you want to see going up is going up, what you want to see going down is going down,” said Thomas J. Sugrue, chief of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. This trend was celebrated by former wireless lobbyist turned FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy. “Today’s report is an incredible success story. … It also shows where pro-consumer, deregulatory policies can work together,” Abernathy said. … Read More
Cingular exec touts EDGE benefits
A Cingular Wireless executive last week discussed the benefits of EDGE technology as an alternative to true third-generation networks, further evidence that EDGE may still play heavily in future plans for U.S. operators. Anil Doradla, a wireless technology researcher for Cingular, made his comments during the Intelligent Networking for Wireless Architectures conference in Denver. Doradla expressed confidence in EDGE technology, which at one point fell on hard times but now seems to be making a comeback. Doradla said EDGE would make “a good 3G alternative.” “We feel that (EDGE) is going to be an excellent choice for 3G services,” Doradla said. “There are very many operators supporting EDGE.” … Read More
BT, DT to share 3G networks in U.K., Germany
BT Wireless and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile International said their operating companies in the United Kingdom and Germany plan to cooperate on the rollout of third-generation networks. The agreement includes coordinated rollout of 3G infrastructure and sharing of new and existing base stations, including sites, masts and antennas, in major urban areas. In addition, the companies will cooperate on the initial buildout of 3G infrastructure, as well as bilateral roaming on 3G networks. BT Wireless said the potential cost savings on capital expenditure of 3G networks could be up to 30 percent over 10 years. In addition, the agreement could expand the network availability of 3G services more quickly than without sharing and reduce the required number of new masts and base stations, the companies said. … Read More
802.11b business holds promise for vendors
802.11b, otherwise known as Wi-Fi, is growing into one of the most buoyant fountains of money in the wireless industry, challenging big and small vendors to seek differentiating models in a tightening economic landscape. According to industry sources, the technology, which is thriving on the emerging zeal for anywhere and anytime communications, generated about $800 million in 1999 when it became a standard and is expected to rake in as much as $3 billion in a couple of years. Major vendors like Microsoft Corp., IBM Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. are driving the technology as one of their top-flight business arms for generating revenue. … Read More
Tower buildout slows as colocation grows
Tower companies tend to fall into a safe and cozy place in the hard driving, fast moving wireless machine, seemingly immune to the pitfalls that plague carriers and network equipment suppliers, pitfalls such as subscriber churn, microprocessor shortages and a crashing stock market that has stripped even the toughest companies to the bare bones. That has been the case, or the assumption, until now. The truth, however, is elusive. While no one disagrees that wireless subscribers are increasing throughout the world, carriers have been struggling to deploy the network equipment to support all these subscribers at the same intense pace. … Read More
