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!
—AT&T this week announced it would purchase 49 spectrum licenses in the 1.7/2.1 GHz (advanced wireless services) band from Aloha Partners for an undisclosed amount. The licenses cover approximately 50 million potential customers across 14 states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
AT&T said it plans to combine the spectrum with its other holdings to help support the rollout of LTE services. AT&T Mobility’s initial LTE service relies on the carrier’s 700 MHz spectrum holdings, but AT&T is looking to fold in additional support using the AWS band, its 2.3 GHz holdings and the re-farming of spectrum used in the 1.9 GHz and 850 MHz bands currently supporting 2G and 3G services.
AT&T was required to hand over a significant portion of its AWS licenses to T-Mobile US following its failed acquisition attempt of the company in 2011. AT&T took a $4 billion charge during the fourth quarter of 2011, with some of that related to the break-up fee.
AT&T has since aggressively moved to re-stock its AWS holdings, including plans to acquire Leap Wireless and acquiring spectrum from NextWave Wireless.
Aloha Partners has slowly been selling off its significant spectrum holdings, including selling its 700 MHz licenses to AT&T for $2.5 billion. Aloha had at one point looked at entering the streaming content business with its HiWire venture, going so far as to trial service in Las Vegas.
—AT&T also added to its telematics haul, announcing this week that it had signed a multi-year deal to provide automaker Tesla with wireless broadband connectivity for its products. AT&T said it would provide connectivity for Tesla’s remote engine diagnostics, telematics and infotainment features such as Internet radio, Web browsing, live traffic, weather and navigation.
AT&T announced earlier this week a deal with Audi to provide LTE connectivity for that automakers upcoming 2015 A3 model.
–The Competitive Carriers Association, a wireless industry trade group, filed comments this week with the Federal Communications Commission asking the government agency to use its proposed partial economic areas as the geographic unit for the 600 MHz incentive auction planned for mid-2015. That proposal was made by CCA should the FCC decide to not go with its first choice of the cellular market area geographic unit, which is favored by smaller operators.
“CCA fully supports the use of CMAs as the geographic unit for the upcoming incentive auction,” CCA President and CEO Steve Berry noted in a statement. “In the event the FCC decides to forgo CMAs, I strongly encourage the commission to utilize CCA’s proposed PEAs – the next-best option.”
CCA, which includes members across the wireless carrier spectrum, save Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility, proposed the PEA option last year as a way to split the difference in the size of spectrum licenses between CMAs and economic areas. Many CCA members noted at the trade organizations recent event that they would be harmed if the FCC required them to bid on spectrum licenses based on the EA model, noting that such licenses often include large markets that they have not interest in providing service to.
The PEA proposal would see 350 licenses put up for bid, while the CMA plan would include more than 700 licenses and the EA model 176 licenses.
The FCC recently delayed plans for the 600 MHz auction until at least mid-2015, relieving pressure to meet a previous deadline of 2014. The announcement highlights the complex task ahead of the agency to free up these spectrum resources using a controversial incentive auction process.
–U.K.-based wireless operators EE and Vodafone announced plans to provide wireless telecommunications coverage throughout the English Channel Tunnel by mid-year. The services would include support for 2G, 3G and LTE connections in the 31.4-mile long tunnel under the English Channel.
The train trip through the tunnel between England and France typically takes 35 minutes, with approximately 20 million people making the trip each year. Support for 2G and 3G services is set to launch by March, with LTE coverage scheduled for later this year.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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