FlexBeta

Congress Wants Federal Government To Sell 1755-1780 MHz Spectrum Band

Posted by Gsurface on May 12, 2013 No comments

GovTechGuy writes “With next year’s reverse auction of TV spectrum not expected to sate the wireless industry’s growing demand for mobile broadband, lawmakers are turning up the heat on the Obama administration to auction the 1755-1780 MHz band, which is considered especially desirable for mobile phone use. However, the Pentagon and other federal agencies are already using those airwaves for everything from flying drones and surveillance to satellites and air combat training. They say it would take ten years and $ 18 billion just to vacate the band so it can be sold.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

DOJ requires wireless spectrum auction to give smaller carriers a competitive chance

Posted by Gsurface on April 14, 2013 No comments

The Department of Justice told the Federal Communications Commission that the upcoming wireless spectrum auction should give smaller carriers, like T-Mobile, a fighting chance to obtain spectrum in the low-frequency band. The wireless spectrum up for sale is being offered voluntarily by TV broadcasters so that wireless carriers can take advantage of them. However, with

Telus reportedly in talks to buy Mobilicity, spectrum likely to be the prize

Posted by Gsurface on April 13, 2013 No comments

Canadians have been enjoying a minor renaissance in wireless competition since its AWS auction allowed a slew of smaller carriers to join the fray. Unfortunately, that diversity might be shrinking soon. The Globe and Mail reportedly has documents showing that Telus has been in active talks to buy Mobilicity through a share buyout deal. While the apparent leak doesn’t mention the exact motivations, it’s thought to be a spectrum grab when LTE on major Canadian carriers primarily leans on the very AWS frequencies that Mobilicity also uses for its 3G service. Neither Telus nor Mobilicity is commenting, although we’d note that there may be a few roadblocks (however temporary) if the scoop is accurate. Rules meant to preserve competition will prevent Telus from buying any newcomers’ spectrum until early 2014, and Mobilicity left the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association just this week while accusing the industry group of being a puppet for bigger networks like Telus. If negotiations are real and still in progress, there could be some very awkward meetings ahead.

[Image credit: Andrew Currie, Flickr]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Via: MobileSyrup (1), (2)

Source: The Globe and Mail

DOJ identifies lower frequency spectrum as key to wireless competition

Posted by Gsurface on April 13, 2013 No comments

The Department of Justice has provided the FCC with new recommendations for governing spectrum auctions, and with a heavy emphasis on leveling the playing field, the findings are likely to draw the ire of AT&T and Verizon. In its briefing, the DOJ made its case that the nation’s two largest carriers currently hold market power, which is due to the heavy concentration of lower frequency spectrum (below 1,000MHz) allocated to the two incumbents.

According to DOJ officials, “This results in the two smaller nationwide carriers having a somewhat diminished ability to compete, particularly in rural areas, where the cost to build out coverage is higher with high-frequency spectrum.” Although the DOJ never came right out and said it, one can easily surmise that it’s guiding the FCC to establish rules that favor smaller carriers — namely Sprint and T-Mobile — in future low-frequency spectrum auctions. In the DOJ’s opinion, an incumbent carrier would need to demonstrate both compelling evidence of capacity constraints and an efficient use of its current licenses in order to gain additional lower frequency spectrum. Otherwise, the opportunity exists for AT&T and Verizon to snap up licenses simply in attempt to harm competitors.

Given that the FCC and DOJ share the responsibility of ensuring competition in the marketplace, it seems unlikely that this latest brief will fall on deaf ears.

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile

Comments

Via: Reuters

Source: FCC (PDF)

EE plans to double 4G spectrum allocation, will boost speeds in first ten cities by summer

Posted by Gsurface on April 9, 2013 No comments

While EE scrambles to spread its LTE network far and wide before the other UK carriers get into the 4G business, it also wants to flex some spectrum muscle. The network’s announced it’s planning to double the LTE allocation on its 1800MHz band (from 2 x 10MHz to 2 x 20MHz), which it claims will increase download speeds to an average of 20 Mbps, topping out at 80 Mbps. Ten of the 11 original 4G launch cities will be seeing this bandwidth boost first: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield. EE doesn’t want you to think it’s done expanding, though, and says it’ll continue to make use of its MHz and GHz by rolling out boring, normal LTE in new areas whilst doubling up in others. The first ten cities are due to receive “double-speed” 4G by summer, which we assume means around the time summer is supposed to happen.

[Image credit: Lazygamer, Flickr]

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile

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FCC Introduces “Experimental Authorization” Program To Give Commercial Space Companies Access To Spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on March 15, 2013 No comments

The FCC has introduced a plan to give commercial space companies like SpaceX access to the spectrum they need to perform missions. The plan will allow companies to apply for spectrum on a temporary basis so they can safely operate their missions, as scheduled.

As it stands now, companies like SpaceX (with its Dragon resupply missions to the ISS and Falcon9 rocket launches), andXCOR Aerospace and Space Expedition Corporation (who have introduced the LINX for quick trips to space and back) must request spectrum on an as-needed basis.

And there are no insurances that they’ll get what they need, when they need it, to facilitate communication with these space crafts.
TechCrunch

Verizon to use cable spectrum for LTE starting this year

Posted by Gsurface on March 13, 2013 No comments

Verizon Wireless CTO Nicola Palmer told Fierce Wireless in an interview that the company is on track to begin using the 20MHz of AWS spectrum it bought last year from the major cable operators to help boost capacity on its 4G LTE network. [Read more]

CNET News

Carmakers Oppose Opening Up 5GHZ Spectrum Space For Unlicensed Wi-Fi

Posted by Gsurface on February 23, 2013 No comments

s122604 writes “Automakers aren’t too happy about a recent U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal, which uses part of the wireless spectrum assigned to vehicle-to-vehicle technology for Wi-Fi instead. The FCC announced that it plans to free up 195 MHz of spectrum in the 5 GHz band for unlicensed use in an effort to address the U.S.’ spectrum crisis. This could potentially lead to Wi-Fi speeds faster than 1 gigabit per second.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Sprint CEO eyes more spectrum deals after buying Clearwire

Posted by Gsurface on February 21, 2013 No comments

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse isn’t so narrowly focused as to think that the proposed Clearwire acqusition represents the end of the road for spectrum. Far from it: he tells Bloomberg Businessweek that the company is investigating future airwave deals involving companies and government auctions. The Clearwire deal mostly bought time, according to Hesse. Naturally, these ambitions are partly contingent on both SoftBank’s purchase of Sprint and the absence of any Dish-sized hurdles to the Clearwire pact. As long as the path stays clear, though, we wouldn’t assume that Hesse’s shopping spree is over.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

Comments

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek

Britain Could Switch Off Airport Radar and Release 5G Spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on February 14, 2013 No comments

judgecorp writes “Britain is considering switching off air traffic control radar systems and using “passive radar” instead. A two year feasibility study will consider using a network of ground stations which monitor broadcast TV signals and measure echoes from aircraft to determine their location and velocity. The system is not a new idea — early radar experiments used BBC shortwave transmitters as a signal source before antenna technology produced a transceiver suitable for radar — but could now be better than conventional radar thanks to new antenna designs and signal processing techniques. It will also save money and energy by eliminating transmitters — and release spectrum for 5G services.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Ofcom mulls letting all UK carriers reuse spectrum for LTE

Posted by Gsurface on February 2, 2013 No comments

British regulator Ofcom gave EE special license to reuse 1,800MHz spectrum for its fledgling LTE network; to put it mildly, that rubbed other carriers the wrong way. The agency may be more open to a level playing field, as it’s proposing letting everyone follow a similar route, and then some. Following calls from H3G (Three), Telefonica (O2) and Vodafone, Ofcom has offered to let all UK providers repurpose both their 1,800MHz airwaves as well as the 900MHz and 2,100MHz bands. We won’t have too long to wait before a decision: Ofcom will decide on the proposal in the second quarter, which might come just in time for carriers to supplement whatever bandwidth they get from 4G auctions. Especially when hardware already exists that could use the frequencies for faster speeds, success could see the trickle of UK LTE become more of a torrent.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Comments

Via: The Next Web

Source: Ofcom (PDF)

AT&T to buy Verizon spectrum for $1.9B

Posted by Gsurface on January 26, 2013 No comments

AT&T will buy mobile spectrum in the 700MHz band from Verizon Communications for $ 1.9 billion, AT&T said Friday.
Computerworld News

AT&T spends $780 million to buy more spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on January 22, 2013 No comments

AT&T said Tuesday that it plans to buy wireless spectrum and network assets from Atlantic Tele-Network in an effort to boost its spectrum coffers. [Read more]

CNET News

Canadian Internet Provider Rogers Buys Mountain Cablevision, Wireless Spectrum Licenses From Shaw

Posted by Gsurface on January 15, 2013 No comments

Rogers Communications, one of Canada’s largest wireless and Internet provider, said it will buy Mountain Cablevision and some wireless spectrum licenses from Shaw Communication for about $ 710 million USD ($ 700 million in Canadian dollars), reports Reuters.

TechCrunch

Rogers Wireless buys Mountain Cablevision, option to buy wireless spectrum licenses

Posted by Gsurface on January 15, 2013 No comments

Rogers Communications has announced that it will be buying both wireless spectrum licenses and Mountain Cable from Shaw Communications. The deal allows the company to acquire the spectrum holdings next year. Likewise, Shaw has purchased the last 1/3 stake in TVtropolis – which is owned by both companies – from Rogers. The deal closed for

FCC will move to give more spectrum to Wi-Fi

Posted by Gsurface on January 9, 2013 No comments

The FCC plans to allocate more unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi to improve performance in crowded public places and in homes, looking to head off a future spectrum crunch.
Computerworld News

AT&T scores WCS spectrum victory, covers 608 markets and 82 percent of Americans

Posted by Gsurface on December 19, 2012 No comments

The wireless landscape shifted a bit today, as the FCC has made good on its promise to allow AT&T’s deployment of LTE service over the WCS band. In all, the regulatory agency approved Ma Bell’s acquisition of licenses to the underutilized 2.3GHz spectrum from Comcast, Horizon, NextWave and San Diego Gas and Electric, along with additional AWS spectrum from NextWave. The licenses cover 82 percent of the population across 608 markets within the continental US. If you’re an AT&T subscriber, however, don’t expect to benefit from the deal overnight. By the carrier’s own admission, it’ll take at least three years to build up the proper infrastructure and introduce devices that support WCS, which means you’re likely to go through a new iPhone or two between now and then. In the meantime, feel free to soak in the nitty gritty details at the source.

[Cell tower photo credit: Ashish Sharma / Flickr]

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, AT&T

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Via: PhoneScoop

Source: FCC Order (PDF)

Despite the spectrum craze, Sprint's bid for Clearwire may be right on

Posted by Gsurface on December 18, 2012 No comments

An investor in Clearwire has stepped up its fight to get a better price for the mobile operator, but Clearwire's alternatives to a Sprint Nextel buyout may be limited due to the nature of its spectrum and its business.
Computerworld News

Sprint reportedly wooing Dish with spectrum sharing and MVNO possibilities

Posted by Gsurface on December 8, 2012 No comments

Spectrum is a valuable and finite resource, but it seems that Sprint has an overabundance of the stuff. In addition to the capacity needed for its namesake operation, along with its Boost and Virgin Mobile properties, the Now Network is currently leasing its capacity to Ting, FreedomPop, Republic Wireless, Voyager Mobile, Elevate and pretty much any other company that’s willing to ink a contract. Now, Bloomberg reports that Sprint’s looking to bring a biggie on board. According to the outlet’s anonymous sources, Sprint has approached Dish Network with an offer that would allow the satellite company to establish itself as a wireless provider by using the Now Network’s airwaves. Curiously, a fee-based arrangement isn’t the only topic of discussion, as it’s also said that Sprint is exploring a spectrum sharing arrangement with Dish that would put the satellite company’s unused spectrum licenses to use.

For all the potential that such an agreement could provide, talks between the companies are currently said to be in a holding pattern while the FCC completes its review of Dish’s spectrum holdings. As proof that duo aren’t completely cozy, Sprint is currently lobbying the regulatory agency to impose rules that Dish insists would reduce the viability of its spectrum. Oh, the irony.

[Cell tower photo credit: Paul O'Keefe / Flickr]

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

Comments

Source: Bloomberg

LG Spectrum 2 Review (Verizon)

Posted by Gsurface on December 2, 2012 No comments

We’ve been seeing a lot of really good high-end handsets lately (like the Galaxy Note II and the HTC DROID DNA), but all the while, LG has been putting out some solid mid-range phones. Not too long ago, we reviewed the LG Optimus L9, a mid-range device at T-Mobile that wasn’t extraordinary in any way

New on MIT Technology Review

The Spectrum Crunch That Never Really Was

Posted by Gsurface on November 26, 2012 No comments

New technologies promise to keep wireless data capacity increasing for years.

Take a look around at the next ball game or concert you attend. You’ll see thousands of fans sending text messages or snapping photos and e-mailing them to friends. Those armies of smartphone owners are behind a striking increase in wireless data usage: Cisco estimates that mobile data traffic will grow by a factor of 18 by 2016, and Bell Labs predicts it will increase by a factor of 25.

Ireland completes spectrum auction after analog shutoff, LTE rollout pegged for mid-2013

Posted by Gsurface on November 16, 2012 No comments

The dust has settled after Ireland’s recent spectrum auction, and wouldn’t you know it, Vodafone, O2, Meteor and Three have picked up a combined 140MHz of paired spectrum across the 800, 900 and 1800MHz bands. According to the country’s regulator, ComReg, the auction will effectively double the spectrum available in these bands and will allow for LTE deployment across Éire. For its part, O2 has committed to begin its 4G rollout in the first half of 2013. To ensure quick deployment, all license holders are required to make their new spectrum available to 70 percent of Ireland’s population within three years. In all, the companies will pay €855 million ($ 1.09 billion) for spectrum rights until 2030, of which, €482 million is payable up front. Curiously enough, the country’s 800MHz spectrum was freed up just last month after its analog shutoff. To find a complete breakdown of the situation, feel free to hit up the announcement from ComReg at the source link below.

[Thanks, Neil]

[Photo credit: Seattleye / Flickr]

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile

Ireland completes spectrum auction after analog shutoff, LTE rollout pegged for mid-2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TheJournal.ie (1), (2) | source ComReg (PDF) | Email this | Comments
Engadget

U.K. 4G Auction Rules Finalized: Combined Reserve Of £1.3BN For 800MHz, 2.6GHz Spectrum; 4G Services To Go Live In May/June

Posted by Gsurface on November 12, 2012 No comments

The rules for the U.K.’s forthcoming 4G auction have been published by telecoms regulator Ofcom. The reserve price for the two swathes of spectrum going under the hammer (800MHz, 2.6GHz) has been set at a relatively modest £1.3 billion — modest when you consider the U.K.’s 3G auction raised a staggering £22.5 billion back in 2000. 4G is expected to raise a lot less than 3G.
TechCrunch

Best Buy listing reminds us that the LG Spectrum 2 is still on its way to Verizon

Posted by Gsurface on October 24, 2012 No comments

A few months back an anonymous tipster gave us a candid look at the Verizon-bound LG Spectrum 2, but after a couple more sightings here and there, the trail eventually went cold and Big Red’s unannounced smartphone fled back into seclusion. However, a recent website posting by Best Buy has brought this mobile Sasquatch out of hiding and back into the mainstream media. While this listing is mostly a refresh confirming our source’s shared specs, it notes the Spectrum 2′s unsubsidized price as $ 650. Now, before you would-be buyers start directing your browser to the retailer’s webpage in hopes of making a quick purchase, it should be noted that the device is listed as “sold out online.” Still, we can’t help but notice the pictured device’s homescreen carries a date of November 3rd, which could be a nod to when the Spectrum 2 might officially show up on store shelves.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

Best Buy listing reminds us that the LG Spectrum 2 is still on its way to Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 02:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Police | source Best Buy | Email this | Comments
Engadget

FCC clears the way for AT&T to use untapped spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on October 17, 2012 No comments

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has voted to approve an agreement that will bring an end to a 15-year fight over interference concerns over mobile broadband service in the 2.3GHz band of spectrum.
Computerworld News

FCC chief lays out plans to boost mobile carriers' spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on October 5, 2012 No comments

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski detailed plans on Thursday to free up more wireless spectrum that carriers say they need to offer high-speed mobile services.
Computerworld News

FCC approves auction to reclaim broadcast TV spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on September 30, 2012 No comments

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun — what looks to be — a long process of reclaiming broadcast television spectrum. The process will essentially involve paying television broadcasters to give up some of their public airwaves voluntarily. They will then be auctioned off to wireless carriers to use for internet service. The FCC has

FCC moves forward on incentive spectrum auctions

Posted by Gsurface on September 28, 2012 No comments

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission took the first step toward groundbreaking auctions of television spectrum to mobile carriers faced with skyrocketing bandwidth demands from their customers.
Computerworld News

FCC to vote on proposal to use old NextWave spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on September 27, 2012 No comments

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on a proposal that would allow AT&T to offer mobile broadband service on 20MHz of spectrum it purchased in August along with spectrum holding company NextWave Wireless.
Computerworld News

FCC to move on sharing scheme that could free up 100MHz of wireless spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on September 14, 2012 No comments

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission says it will act by the end of the year on a White House-appointed panel's recommendation to have federal agencies share 100MHz of spectrum with commercial users.
Computerworld News

Intel: PC moves into a new computing spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on September 13, 2012 No comments

The PC isn’t in as great a decline as many have predicted. It’s just becoming part of a new spectrum of computing, according to Intel researcher and fellow Genevieve Bell.
Computerworld News

FCC to vote September 28th on proposal auctioning UHF spectrum, Weird Al might still approve

Posted by Gsurface on September 9, 2012 No comments

The FCC has been more than a little eager to repurpose spectrum as wireless internet access takes off: white spaces and iDEN frequencies have already switched roles, and that’s not including the myriad of spectrum swaps. Add one more wireless variety to the list, as FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has confirmed his agency will vote on a proposal for incentive-based auctions of UHF spectrum. When the Commission meets next on September 28th, it will decide on whether or not to lure broadcasters into giving up the usually TV-focused space for the sake of data lovers everywhere. The freed-up airwaves in the proposal would mostly be unlicensed spectrum with “WiFi-like uses,” but at a much lower frequency than the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands that WiFi needs today: as the first consistent, unlicensed spectrum at that range in the US, it could create opportunities for longer-ranged, free wireless that aren’t even on the table in 2012. Not that we have much of a choice in taking action today. Any accepted rules won’t be completely finalized until mid-2013, and the auction itself won’t take place until 2014. Still, the UHF plans foster dreams of more wireless for everyone — and we suspect that even one Mr. Yankovic wouldn’t mind giving up Channel 62 for a long-distance home network.

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

FCC to vote September 28th on proposal auctioning UHF spectrum, Weird Al might still approve originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink New York Times | source FCC | Email this | Comments
Engadget

EU Calls for Unified Approach to Allocating “White Space” Spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on September 4, 2012 No comments

judgecorp writes “The European Union has proposed that operators should share their spectrum, to make better use of it. The European authorities want to go beyond the ‘white space’ re-use of geographic gaps in spectrum, acknowledging that intelligent radio systems can now avoid interference. The EU wants operators to allow other players onto their licensed spectrum with short range equipment, in exchange for help building wireless infrastructure and creating more mobile data capacity”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Permalink Wall Street Journal | source India’s Department of Telecommunications (PDF) | Email this | Comments
Engadget

Europe Lays Out Proposals For Wireless Spectrum Sharing Amongst Fiercely Competitive Carriers

Posted by Gsurface on September 3, 2012 No comments

Carriers are fiercely competitive, but swallowing their territorial tendencies, several around Europe have started teaming up to share mobile spectrum and other resources in the ongoing race to serve hungry mobile consumers with data for their apps, video chats and film streams — expected soon to top 1 trillion megabytes of data per month. Today the EU took a step towards formalizing that, with the introduction of a proposal for spectrum sharing.

Announced by Neelie Kroes, VP for the European Commission, the proposal “is an essential part of the solution to dealing with the wireless crunch… by using new technical possibilities to create a secondary market for spectrum rights.”

TechCrunch

India planning fresh 2G spectrum auctions for November 12th

Posted by Gsurface on August 28, 2012 No comments

India’s Department of Telecommunications has issued guidelines for the forthcoming 2G spectrum auction, penciled in for November 12th. While the subcontinent has already flogged off its 3G bands, it withdrew 122 licenses in the 1,800MHz and 800Mhz waves due to allegations of serious corruption. The country has set the starting price of $ 2.5 billion, a figure that the networks have balked at, saying that it’ll cause tariffs to increase — but is less than half of the $ 5.61 billion the country had originally sought to raise during the first, scandal-ridden auction.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

India planning fresh 2G spectrum auctions for November 12th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 02:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What $3.9 billion Verizon/cable spectrum deal means to you (FAQ)

Posted by Gsurface on August 25, 2012 No comments

The FCC approved Verizon’s $ 3.9 billion bid to buy wireless spectrum from a group of cable companies. But what does the final deal hashed out with regulators mean for consumers?
[Read more]
CNET News

FCC approves Verizon spectrum deal with roll-out demands

Posted by Gsurface on August 24, 2012 No comments

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has conditionally approved a multibillion swap of wireless spectrum between Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and four of the biggest cable TV system operators in the U.S.
Computerworld News

Verizon wins FCC approval for spectrum deals

Posted by Gsurface on August 23, 2012 No comments

The Federal Communications Commission followed the lead of the Department of Justice and approved Verizon’s bid to buy wireless spectrum from cable operators. But the agency also included a few conditions.
[Read more]
CNET News

Verizon Wins Some Spectrum Wiggle Room

Posted by Gsurface on August 17, 2012 No comments

The U.S. Justice Department has approved a $ 3.6 billion deal for the carrier to buy airwave capacity from cable companies.

Verizon Wireless increased its ability improve its network speeds and capacity, after the U.S. Justice Department approved a controversial spectrum purchase from several major cable companies today.

Technology Review RSS Feeds

11 ways around using more spectrum for mobile data

Posted by Gsurface on August 17, 2012 No comments

Despite widespread calls for more spectrum to carry mobile data, there is a wide range of technologies already being used or explored that could help to speed up networks or put off the day when more frequencies need to be cleared.
Computerworld News

Wireless spectrum: What it is, and why you should care

Posted by Gsurface on August 13, 2012 No comments

CNET’s Marguerite Reardon explains wireless spectrum in layman’s terms and tells why it’s so important to what’s happening in the wireless market today.
[Read more]
CNET News

T-Mobile and Verizon ink huge AWS spectrum sale and swap deal

Posted by Gsurface on June 25, 2012 No comments

T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless have inked an AWS spectrum purchase and exchange deal in multiple US markets, with the GSM carrier aiming to repurpose the airwaves for its 4G development. The agreement, which has been submitted to the FCC for approval, covers spectrum in 218 US markets – covering 60m people – and would

U.S., Mexico reach border spectrum agreement

Posted by Gsurface on June 9, 2012 No comments

The U.S. and Mexican governments have reached agreements on the sharing of wireless spectrum on the border of the two countries, opening up spectrum in the 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz bands to commercial services and public safety agencies, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission said Friday.
Computerworld News

Qualcomm developing LTE chip that supports 7 spectrum bands

Posted by Gsurface on June 6, 2012 No comments

Qualcomm has revealed that it is developing a new LTE chip that can support seven frequency bands, which would mean that future LTE devices equipped with the chip can be used on Verizon, AT&T, and Clearwire 4G. This eliminates the need for manufacturing different versions of a mobile device and solves the interoperability problem of

IEEE Spectrum Digs Into the Future of Money

Posted by Gsurface on May 31, 2012 No comments

First time accepted submitter ArmageddonLord writes ” Small, out-of-pocket cash exchanges are still the stuff of everyday life. In 2010, cash transactions in the United States totaled US $ 1.2 trillion (not including extralegal ones, of course). There will come a day, however, when you’ll be able to transfer funds just by holding your cellphone next to someone else’s and hitting a few keys — and this is just one of the ways we’ll wean ourselves off cash. In ‘The Last Days of Cash’, a special report on the future of money, we describe the various ways that technology is transforming how we pay for stuff; how it’s boosting security by linking our biometric selves with our accounts; and how it’s helping us achieve, at least in theory, an ancient ideal — money that cannot be counterfeited.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

MetroPCS and T-Mobile want Dish to give up half of its wireless spectrum, worry about AT&T and Verizon swooping in

Posted by Gsurface on May 22, 2012 No comments

Dish Network might not start up its LTE-based 4G network until as late as 2016, but that hasn’t stopped MetroPCS and T-Mobile from jointly telling the FCC that the would-be carrier needs to make some concessions for small carriers to rest easy. Both of the complaints have a common proposal that would see Dish give up 20MHz of its 40MHz space in the 2GHz range to prevent the satellite giant from using its abundant airwaves as part of a cash grab: MetroPCS and T-Mobile are worried Dish will just try for a “windfall” and sell the spectrum it doesn’t need to AT&T or Verizon. While it’s not asking for a sell-off, the Rural Cellular Association is still jittery about concentrations of power and wants the FCC to make Dish hit certain build-out targets, offer roaming at wholesale rates and require FCC approval for any roaming deal that would go to Big Blue or Big Red. The big carriers’ advocacy group, the CTIA, is unsurprisingly against build-out demands as “unduly burdensome.” FCC officials have been silent by comparison, although the agency has encouraged spreading spectrum around and proposed its own expansion requirements. You’ll likely see smartphones with 2GHz frequencies at some point in the future — it’s just a matter of whether Dish or someone else slaps its logo on top.

MetroPCS and T-Mobile want Dish to give up half of its wireless spectrum, worry about AT&T and Verizon swooping in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 01:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink FierceBroadbandWireless | source T-Mobile (PDF), MetroPCS (PDF), CTIA (PDF), RCA (PDF) | Email this | Comments
Engadget

American Cellular Companies Clamor For Fresh Spectrum

Posted by Gsurface on May 12, 2012 No comments

alphadogg writes “No one will ever say that America’s wireless carriers are too proud to beg. This year’s Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association Wireless trade show in New Orleans seemed less like an industry gathering at times and more like an infomercial dedicated to forcing the government’s hand to free up more spectrum. Start with CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent, who dedicated the vast majority of his introductory keynote address to discussing the challenges carriers will face if they don’t get fresh spectrum to use within the next few years. Execs from T-Mobile, Verizon and others also beat the drum. Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead, for example, said: ‘Innovation is at risk today due to the spectrum shortage that we face. If additional spectrum is not available in the near-term, mobile data will exceed capacity by 2015.’”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.