Verizon Wireless has purchased rural New Mexico carrier Plateau Wireless, a deal which will allow it to expand its 3G and LTE networks in five counties across the southeast portion of the state. The transaction provides Verizon with Plateau Wireless’ cellular, PCS and AWS spectrum; an unspecified number of subscribers; and the carriers’ current GSM […]
Leap LTE live in 2nd market 10 months after Tucson debut
Leap Wireless International flipped the switch today on its second LTE market in Las Vegas. The launch brings the Cricket Communications parent company closer to its goal of covering 21 million people with the new network by the end of this year, but its LTE coverage is still scarce compared to other operators. The operator […]
Isis to launch Oct. 22; app for T-Mobile goes live
Isis has confirmed it will launch trials of its NFC-based mobile payments service in Austin, Texas, and Salt Lake City on Oct. 22 after delaying the summer debut of the app. The company had planned on going live during the summer but abandoned the summer launch “to ensure a great consumer experience and seamless partner […]
Chinese government backs Clearwire TD-LTE band
The Chinese government is backing the use of the 2.6 GHz band for TD-LTE, the same band Clearwire plans to use for its TD-LTE network in the United States. The announcement is a victory for Clearwire, which has been working with China Mobile to build global support for TD-LTE in the band through the Global […]
Softbank pays $20B to gain control of Sprint
Japanese operator Softbank is shelling out $20.1 billion to acquire a controlling 70 percent stake in Sprint, a transaction that will give Sprint much-needed cash to compete with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The buyout buoys Sprint’s heavily indebted balance sheet with $8 billion in new capital. The operator won’t get more spectrum or new subscribers […]
Sprint, Softbank deal renews Clearwire rumors
Softbank’s massive investment in Sprint has renewed analyst speculation about the transaction’s implications for Clearwire. Sprint is Clearwire’s largest shareholder, and the two companies are closely connected on mobile broadband services. The $20.1 billion transaction between Sprint and Softbank announced early this morning did not address the relationship with Clearwire beyond saying that the deal […]
Clearwire a possible factor in Sprint, Softbank talks
Softbank may be eyeing more than just a stake in Sprint, say analysts who view Clearwire as a potential factor in the companies’ buyout talks. Sprint confirmed yesterday that it is holding discussions with Softbank for a “substantial investment” from the Japanese operator. The size of the investment remains unknown, but Sprint said the stake […]
Sprint, Softbank hold buyout talks
Sprint has confirmed that it is holding buyout talks with Japanese operator Softbank after rumors of the negotiations surfaced this morning. “Sprint is currently engaged in discussions with Softbank regarding a potential substantial investment by Softbank in Sprint,” Sprint said. “Although there can be no assurances that these discussions will result in any transaction or […]
Air Force CIO: Prospects few for vacating government spectrum
Reallocating government spectrum to the wireless industry could be a long and difficult task, a top official from the U.S. Air Force told a CTIA audience on Wednesday. Robert Wheeler, who serves as the agency’s deputy CIO, said that while the Defense Department is “working hand in hand with the industry” to free up the […]
Verizon Wireless LTE markets to hit 410 next week
Verizon Wireless will light up its LTE network in 21 cities next week, making the service available in 410 markets. The LTE deployment is currently two months ahead of schedule, CTO Nicola Palmer said at a MobileCON press event Tuesday. The company has aggressively expanded the service since its launch in December 2010 and currently […]