Verizon recently snapped up a war chest full of 28 GHz and 39 GHz spectrum licenses in its $1.05 billion Straight Path buy, and it seems that move was quite timely – not just because of 5G. In a Monday research note, BTIG’s Walter Piecyk reported Verizon recently began turning up the remaining 10 MHz…
Mobile Now Act Heads to the House Following Senate Approval
The Mobile Now Act, a bill aimed at opening more spectrum for 5G services, has moved one step closer to becoming law after the Senate approved the measure Thursday. Introduced by Senators John Thune and Bill Nelson back in 2015, the Mobile Now Act resurfaced in the Senate Commerce Committee of the 115th Congress in…
Senate Confirms Carr, Rosenworcel to Open FCC Seats
The FCC is once again at its full five-member strength following the Senate’s confirmation of Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. FCC Chairman was quick to issue congratulations. “I congratulate Brendan and Jessica on their confirmations,” Pai said in a statement. “As I know from working with each of them for years, they have distinguished records…
FCC Seeks Comment on Procedures for 2018 Connect America Fund Auction
The FCC is moving ahead with plans to hold a reverse auction that will award nearly $2 billion in Connect American Fund support over the next ten years to expand rural broadband. Specific dates have not yet been announced, but the Commission indicates the auction will commence sometime next year. To prepare, the FCC is…
Introduction of Spectrum-Focused AIRWAVES Act Garners Industry Applause
The telecom industry on Tuesday cheered the introduction of new legislation in the Senate that would create a pipeline to free up more spectrum and dedicate funds to boost the buildout of wireless broadband infrastructure. Introduced by Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), the Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic…
Wireless Outsiders Could Boost American Tower’s Carrier Base
American Tower could look outside its traditional pool of wireless operators to boost business as more players express interest in the 3.5 GHz CBRS band and millimeter wave spectrum for next generation use cases. That was the takeaway from an exchange between BTIG’s Walter Piecyk and American Tower CEO Jim Taiclet during last week’s second…
Analysts Predict How Verizon Might Move on Fiber
During a second quarter earnings call last week, Verizon executives stressed the importance of fiber to its long term network plans. CFO Matt Ellis in particular pointed to fiber as a “critical element” to the carrier’s small cell densification and spectrum expansion plans. But after selling its Fios assets in California, Texas, and Florida to…
Here’s Why Carriers Are Pushing So Hard for Gigabit LTE
igabit LTE. Aside from 5G, this seems to be one of the hottest topics in wireless right now. AT&T and T-Mobile have already achieved gigabit-class speeds in their tests of unlicensed LTE technologies. Both AT&T and Sprint have also announced work on four-channel carrier aggregation to take things to the next level. Even Verizon – which is known for playing its…
Verizon Has Its Eye on Fiber as Densification, Spectrum Efforts Roll
Verizon has fiber square in its sights as the carrier pushes forward with efforts to densify its network with small cells and light up new spectrum. Speaking during Thursday’s earnings call, CFO Matt Ellis said fiber is a “critical element” in the carrier’s plans to expand both its wireless and wireline businesses. “We remain focused on…
LS Networks Expands Fiber Footprint in Northwest for Small Cell, 5G Deployments
Fiber-to-tower provider LS Networks this week said it’s ready to facilitate small cell rollouts and 5G connectivity with its network of towers across the Northwest. The company said it started its buildout initiative back in 2012 with 15 towers, and has now expanded its footprint to provide fiber access to more than 500 towers in Oregon…
Sprint Headed for Massive MIMO Deployments in 2018, Four Carrier Aggregation
In its quest for gigabit LTE, Sprint is working toward four carrier aggregation and commercial deployments of massive MIMO technology next year. In a recent blog post, Sprint CTO John Saw noted the carrier is gearing up for rollouts of four-channel carrier aggregation, as well as higher order and massive MIMO, and 256-QAM on its…
WISPA Fights “Ill-Conceived” T-Mobile, CTIA Proposals Change CBRS Rules for 5G Use
The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) is adding its voice to the fight against efforts to turn CBRS into a “5G-only” band. In comments filed with the FCC this week, WISPA called such proposals “ill-conceived,” “destructive,” and “self-serving.” The changes requested by the aforementioned parties, WISPA argued, would “create an exclusive and permanent band…
AT&T’s LAA Tests to Continue in San Fran, Indianapolis with FCC Approval
AT&T has received the go-ahead from the FCC to continue its tests of License Assisted Access (LAA) in two cities through the start of next year. In its application for special temporary authority, AT&T said it is planning to continue its tests of LAA technology in up to six locations in San Francisco and two…
T-Mobile, Verizon Confirm Work on C-RAN Underway
Seems like C-RAN is all the rage these days. On the heels of news from AT&T that the carrier is moving toward a C-RAN architecture via its small cell deployments, rivals T-Mobile and Verizon have also revealed their own work on C-RAN is well underway. Answering questions following T-Mobile’s earnings call Wednesday, CTO Neville Ray…
Is Full Duplex A Viable Fix For the Spectrum Crunch?
Here’s something that sounds almost too good to be true: a wireless network solution that allows operators to both send and receive information on the same frequency at the same time. But is it, really? Kumu Networks’ VP of Product Management Joel Brand told Wireless Week his company has developed a viable full duplex system…
Comcast, Charter Hammer Home Title II Opposition Ahead of FCC Comment Deadline
Cable operators haven’t been shy about their opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s use of Title II to enforce net neutrality regulations. But Comcast and Charter in particular have seized the opportunity this week to fully air – and reiterate – their grievances. In filings submitted just before the FCC’s comment deadline on Monday, Comcast…
Tuesdays with Roger: Net Neutrality, the FCC, and Sprint’s New Leasing Play
Recon Analytics’ Roger Entner takes a look at the impacts of the recent net neutrality day of action and the FCC’s push to collect more broadband data. He also examines Sprint’s decision to expand its leasing options and how it could help the carrier lure in new customers. Want to listen on the go?…
Twitter Tidbits: T-Mobile’s Neville Ray Talks 600 MHz, LTE-U/LAA
After unleashing a blistering blog post on Monday, T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray took to Twitter to slam the competition again and reiterate what the Un-carrier is doing right. In the process, Ray dropped a few more hints about T-Mobile’s network progress. Here’s the rundown of highlights: T-Mobile currently covers 315 million people with its LTE…
Broadcasters Ask FCC for $2.1B in Repack Reimbursements in Initial Estimates
The tally is in, and the number is $2,115,328,744.33. That’s how much eligible TV stations and multichannel video programming distributors have told the FCC it will cost to relocate to their new channel assignments in the wake of the Commission’s recent spectrum incentive auction. The figure is a compilation of initial reimbursement cost estimates submitted…
FCC to Explore Use of 3.7 GHz to 24 GHz Spectrum for Mobile Broadband
More spectrum was promised and the FCC is looking to deliver. The Commission is set to vote on a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) at its next meeting that would kick off an investigation into the use of spectrum between 3.7 GHz and 24 GHz for mobile broadband. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in a blog post…
AT&T CEO Dismisses Reports of Restructuring for Time Warner Deal As “Speculation”
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has dismissed as “speculation” a Bloomberg report that claimed AT&T would reorganize as part of its merger with Time Warner. Stephenson’s response was filed by CNBC early Friday morning, just a few hours after Bloomberg reported AT&T was planning to restructure to accommodate Time Warner. The latter outlet indicates AT&T is…
T-Mobile Touts Deployments in Los Angeles as State Debate on Small Cell Bill Rages
T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray took to Twitter earlier this week to tout the Un-carrier’s progress on small cell deployments in Los Angeles. According to Ray, T-Mobile has launched 1,000 small cells in the city to date, which are supported by fiber backhaul and provide improved coverage and capacity for residents. But the milestone comes amid…
FCC Mulls Form 477 Changes to Collect Better Broadband Data
The FCC is gearing up to improve its broadband data collection for both fixed and wireless services. In a move Chairman Ajit Pai said will aid future decision-making, the Commission is planning to take up a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at its August meeting that seeks comment on revising how – and how often…
Form 477 Changes on the Way as FCC Aims for Better Broadband Data
The FCC is gearing up to improve its broadband data collection for both fixed and wireless services. In a move Chairman Ajit Pai said will aid future decision-making, the Commission is planning to take up a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at its August meeting that seeks comment on revising how – and how often…
Dems Want FCC to Account for “Unpopular” Policies
Two Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are pressing for an oversight hearing to learn more about what they called the Federal Communications Commission’s drive to implement “unpopular policies.” In a letter to Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), ranking committee members Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)…