If you had to give up either your pay-TV service or Netflix, which would you choose? According to a new report from The Diffusion Group (TDG), around four in ten users would hold on to the latter subscription. In its 7th annual “Benchmarking the Connected Consumer” study, TDG finds increasing parity in user perception of […]
OTT Revenues to Quadruple in MENA Region by 2022
International over-the-top TV revenues are set for a massive increase in the coming years. A new report from Digital TV Research indicates OTT revenues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in particular will increase exponentially, quadrupling from $428 million last year to $1.75 billion in 2022. The forecast indicates Netflix will lead […]
Crown Castle Shells Out $7.1B to Buy Lightower
The rumors are true – wireless tower company Crown Castle is adding to its fiber hoard in a big way. The company this week confirmed it is shelling out some $7.1 billion to acquire dark fiber company Lightower. The play will net Crown Castle some 32,000 route miles of fiber Lightower either owns outright or […]
Briefs: Google Fiber, Huawei, i3, Cadent, Harmonic
Google Fiber is reportedly losing its head. Just five months after taking the job, Bloomberg reports Access Chief Executive Gregory McCray is stepping down. McCray’s departure follows that of former leader Craig Barratt in October 2016 after Alphabet put the brakes on expansion plans for Google Fiber. A replacement for McCray was not announced, but […]
Comcast’s MachineQ Enterprise IoT Service Debuts in 12 Markets
Comcast’s machineQ enterprise IoT network is rolling out in a dozen new markets following a series of trials announced at the end of last year. According to Comcast, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Washington D.C. will be the first to gain access to the service. MachineQ uses […]
AT&T Leans in to Edge Computing for VR, Other 5G Use Cases
AT&T says it is leaning into edge computing (EC) to better deliver next-generation applications like virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR). The operator reports its drive toward EC comes as part of its push toward a software-defined network capable of achieving single-digit millisecond latency. Such performance will be necessary for 5G applications, including VR and AR, […]
NBC Looks to Reach Cord Cutters with New Snapchat Show
NBC is taking a new tack, turning away from traditional TV and toward the smartphone in an effort to bring the news to cord cutters and cord nevers. As first reported by Recode, the network on Wednesday launched a news show called “Stay Tuned” that will be delivered to users on Snapchat. The show will […]
Second Avid, Harmonic Patent Dispute Set to Go to Trial
A patent infringement dispute between Avid Technology and Harmonic that has been ongoing since 2011 is set to go to trial following a decision from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) confirming the validity of the former’s patent claim. In a Wednesday press release, Avid said the case will be the second of two […]
Ericsson Shares Plunge After Poor 2Q Report, Cuts to Continue
Ericsson shares took a nosedive Tuesday, dropping nearly 15 percent after the company’s second quarter report revealed a continued slide in sales and an operating loss of around $120 million (1 billion kronor). That loss marked a stark contrast to a net income of 1.6 billion kronor the company posted in the second quarter last […]
Qualcomm CEO Expects to Settle with Apple Out of Court
Despite some bitter back and forth between Qualcomm and Apple, the former’s CEO said this week it’s likely the pair’s ongoing patent dispute will be settled out of court. Speaking at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference on Monday, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said “this is not a new type of battle” for the company. Mollenkopf said a […]