Verizon Communications has hired the same investment bank that helped AT&T and T-Mobile US sell their towers to Crown Castle, according to Bloomberg. New York's TAP Advisors is an investment bank that specializes in tower transactions and has broad expertise in wireless. Two of...
As mobile operators focus on the need for network densification, the companies that supply and service the carriers are exploring the business models and technologies that can enable successful DAS and small cell deployments. The DAS model is proven in large venues, but the...
DENVER – Even though no cable operators have emerged over the years as mobile operators in the sense of building out licensed-spectrum wireless networks, the desire for a mobility play for cable MSOs hasn't faded – and Wi-Fi is the primary path the industry...
DENVER — Cisco's booth was one of the busiest on the floor at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo this week. In addition to set-top boxes with integrated Wi-Fi that it has been providing to the cable industry, the company is touting the Wi-Fi gateway that already exists...
In infrastructure news this week, Alcatel-Lucent boosts small cell backhaul and NATE issues a warning to tower climbers.
Infrastructure News
Alcatel-Lucent adds wireless backhaul solutions for LTE small cells
Alcatel-Lucent is a leading small cell vendor, but the company knows that the outdoor market won't take off...
Sprint and Dish Network’s “interesting” relationship got a bit closer today as the two companies announced Dish would offer LTE-based wireless broadband services in Corpus Christi, Texas, using Sprint’s network and spectrum.
Dish said the service will provide download speeds of 10 megabits per second,...
T-Mobile US’ push to expand LTE coverage and capabilities is set to receive a boost from long-time vendor Ericsson, which announced a deal to supply equipment and services covering 700 MHz spectrum, LTE-Advanced and IP-based voice support.
According to Ericsson, the deal is an expansion...
The adrenaline of heights is something you relish. Hard, physical activity in a job is something you enjoy. You’ve seen the gravity-defying photos of a tower climber perched atop a 100-foot tower and asked yourself, “How do I become a tower climber?”
It’s a question that...
ABI Research names CommScope, TE Connectivity, Axell, Corning, and SOLiD as the top vendors of distributed antenna systems (DAS) based on implementations. More than half of all DAS deployments to date are in North America, and four of the five companies are based in...
Jibe Mobile is participating in the GSMA’s 360 Series in North America this week to showcase its cloud-based (RCS/joyn) deployments with Deutsche Telekom and Sprint.
I had the opportunity to speak with Amir Sarhangi, Jibe’s CEO, about the differentiation the company's solution provides to operators and also...
The cost of upgrading legacy networks to LTE can be prohibitive for the so-called tier-three operators. Next-generation small cells operating in a distributed network core may offer an alternative.
SDN enables networks within networks
Software-defined architectures enable network functionality to migrate away from the core, increasing...
Let the disruption begin — this is how Silicon Valley's Apcera is announcing its new platform-as-a-service (PaaS). Continuum is a policy-driven platform that has attracted attention and investment from Ericsson. The telecom equipment giant said today that it sees PaaS as a key to success...
Telefónica has inked a deal to buy Brazil's GVT for roughly $9 billion. GVT's current owner, France's Vivendi SA, fielded competing bids from Telefónica and Telecom Italia. GVT offers fixed telephony, broadband and pay-TV services.
The final purchase price is lower than expected; Telefónica reportedly...
The use of network analytics in Wi-Fi is an area with great potential for network optimization as well as improving customer experience, according to Shahid Ahmed, managing director at Accenture and the lead for its North American Communications Industry practice.
"Wi-Fi, first of all, is...
Verizon considers divesting tower assets
Last year we reported on Crown Castle's huge deal with AT&T; the tower giant bought almost 10,000 towers for $4.85B. Apparently this was food for thought for Verizon Communications' CFO Fran Shammo. He's gone on record saying AT&T's move was...
Every day there are new announcements related to connected car functionality. This topic continues to be hot. Announcements come from the auto OEMs, aftermarket players working toward late model cars, app developers, mobile operators and on and on.
Some topics that have peaked my interest recently include...
Software is becoming an increasingly important part of telecommunication networks and deployments as both wired and wireless carriers look to add functionality to operations while increasing simplicity and reducing costs. RCR Wireless News is keeping an eye on recent developments through its weekly “Software”...
Google's wireless experts take on Google Fiber
Google has promoted a former Qualcomm executive to lead Google Fiber, according to The Wall Street Journal. Dennis Kish will head up Google Fiber and will report to another Qualcomm alum, Dr. Craig Barratt. Barratt, who may have...
In infrastructure news this week, Sprint's spending is in the spotlight, Verizon's towers may be for sale, Alcatel-Lucent has a major new contract, and Rackspace is going it alone.
Infrastructure News
Sprint spending outlook
Sprint will focus the deployment of its 2.5 GHz spectrum assets in urban...
Verizon Wireless has slowly begun to roll out voice over LTE services, announcing this week its Advanced Calling 1.0 offering. The service comes just days ahead of the launch of Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices, both of which are the first from...
Explosive mobile traffic growth, largely driven by the proliferation of LTE mobile devices, new broadband technologies and Internet video content, have caused a tremendous increase in network messaging volume that can overwhelm critical LTE network elements and degrade services for a large number of...
Ed Kozel, CEO of Range Networks, talked with RCR Wireless about the company's recent addition of an enterprise focus along with its approach of using open source base station software to bring cellular coverage to underserved rural areas.
Kozel took over as CEO of Range...
The Wi-Fi Alliance has added new services to its Wi-Fi Direct standard for peer-to-peer connectivity between Wi-Fi devices. The new services will make it easier to print documents from smartphones and tablets.
"This is sort of one-touch printing, without downloading drivers, even from a smartphone...
América Móvil is ready to sell its telecom infrastructure along the east coast of Mexico, according to Bloomberg, and AT&T is on the short list of buyers. The Mexican communications conglomerate, controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim, is being forced to divest by new Mexican telecom...
