On Friday AT&T agreed to buy Mexico wireless provider Iusacell for $2.5 billion. The deal nets AT&T Iusacell’s licenses, network assets, retail stores as well as its approximately 8.6 million subscribers. Iusacell operates as both Iusacell and Unefón and maintains a network that covers about 70 percent of Mexico’s population. AT&T expects to expand Iusacell’s network […]
Dish optimistic its mobile broadband will be “real business”
Dish Network is “cautiously optimistic” that the fixed-mobile broadband trials it’s currently running with Sprint and nTelos will turn into a “real business.” During a Tuesday earnings call, Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen said those trials and other opportunities have the satellite-TV provider well-positioned for growth, according to a Seeking Alpha transcript. Dish last year announced […]
NAB chafes at being scapegoat for FCC auction delay
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) fired back at the FCC over implications that further delay of the 600 MHz incentive auction was due to an NAB lawsuit. “We reject suggestions that our narrowly focused lawsuit is cause for delay. We look forward to a speedy resolution of our legal challenge and a successful auction […]
The AWS-3 auction is going to be a street fight
In total, 80 potential bidders have submitted both complete and incomplete applications to participate in Auction 97. In addition to the big name players, smaller carriers like Guam-based Docomo and Bluegrass Wireless have thrown their hats in the ring. But four competitors stand out from the rest. The AWS-3 auction will kick off on Nov. […]
Company turns LED lights into a Wi-Fi network
PureLiFi today announced it has built a Li-Fi network by turning off-the-shelf LED lights into wireless access points.(Image: pureLiFi) The company by the fourth quarter plans to begin shipping Li-Flame, a ceiling-mounted unit that can turn an LED light fixture into a multi-user access “atto-cellular” communication system. The Li-Flame moves Visible Light Communication (VLC) past […]
Sprint shutting down WiMax network
Sprint has confirmed it will shut down its WiMax network around the first week of November next year. “Sprint will cease operating the Sprint 4G WiMAX network on or about November 6, 2015,” a Sprint spokesperson told Wireless Week. News of the shutdown originally surfaced when Android Central published a Sprint internal email. The memo […]
Dish family set to bid on AWS-3 auction
Dish Network is all set for the FCC’s November AWS-3 auction and the satellite provider has inked some joint-bidding agreements as well. According to FCC filings, Dish has signed agreements with Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless. As Reuters points out, Dish has indirect ownership in both companies. Along with Dish, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have […]
CTIA: Mobile drives new levels of sports engagement
The consensus at the CTIA Day 3 sports panel discussion is that mobile is fundamentally changing how sports fans experience the game. Andrea Kremer, chief correspondent for the NFL Network, spoke with Colin Smith, managing director of digital media at NASCAR; John Kosner, executive vice president of digital and print media at ESPN; Emmitt Smith, […]
MetroPCS expands into 10 new markets, ups data for existing subs
MetroPCS today announced expansion into 10 new markets. The T-Mobile prepaid brand will be setting up shop in Chattanooga, TN; Chicago; Kansas City, MO; Minneapolis-St.Paul; Milwaukee, WI; Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA; Richmond-Petersburg, VA; Salt Lake City; St. Louis, MO; and Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, WA. MetroPCS said it’s now in 55 markets with more than 11,000 points of sale. […]
Verizon bets on video, VoLTE and tablets for growth
Net smartphone additions are important, but they’re not everything. That was Verizon CFO Fran Shammo’s take on a wireless industry that he says remains healthy and poised for growth. In a talk at the annual Oppenheimer Investor Conference that was broadcast online, Shammo said Verizon is looking to new technologies like LTE Multicast and Voice […]