4G Global Update - June 16, 2011

 

Cox Communications Considers Selling 3G Network in US

Bloomberg

Cox Communications, the third- largest U.S. cable-TV operator, is considering selling its wireless network to a large telecommunications company, President Pat Esser said. Cox will either sell the infrastructure to a company such as AT&T, Verizon Communications or Sprint Nextel, or tear down the network, Esser said in an interview. Cox has no plans to upgrade the network, which uses 3G technology, to support the faster 4G standard, Esser said. Closely held Cox said last month it would stop building out its own network and would instead rely on a partnership with Sprint to deliver wireless service to customers. The decision is based on Sprint's speedier 4G network, Esser said, which he said will become the industry standard. Cox is also in talks with LightSquared to use that venture's network to further boost its wireless coverage, Esser said. More

 

 

Finland and Russia Agree on Terms Over Deployment of 3G 900MHz Border Services

TeleGeography

On the back of a meeting of the Finnish-Russian working group on communications and information technology, Finland's Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has announced that the two countries have reached an agreement on the co-ordination of the use of the 900MHz band. As a result of the discussion between the two parties, it will now be possible for 3G networks to be constructed near the border between Finland and Russia, which the MoTC says will "improve the availability of high speed data connections in these areas." More

 

 

Taiwan NCC to Issue Radio Licenses in Stages

Taipei Times

The Taiwan National Communications Commission said it was planning to issue operational licenses for low and medium — powered radio stations in different stages after the legislature passed an amendment to the Broadcasting and Television Act earlier this week. The amendment enables the commission to issue licenses through auction, public tenders or a qualification review by NCC commissioners as well as other methods deemed appropriate. More

 

 

TerreStar Picks Dish to Open Bidding

The Wall Street Journal

TerreStar Networks selected Dish Network as the opening bidder in a looming bankruptcy-court auction after receiving a $1.375 billion offer for the mobile-communications business, according to court papers filed early Wednesday. Dish will get a $27.5 million breakup fee should TerreStar sell itself to another suitor. TerreStar, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October, owns government licenses to use certain pieces of spectrum, the limited pockets of airwaves available for high-speed 4G networks. A final deadline for other bids ahead of TerreStar's auction has been pushed until June 27. The auction is now set for June 30. Any sale must be approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. More

 

 

AT&T Chief Says Merger Will Mean Faster LTE Expansion in US

The Boston Globe

The chief executive of phone carrier AT&T said his company will start deploying a next-generation cellular data network in the Boston area this year, and the same service can quickly be deployed across Massachusetts if the company's proposed $39 billion acquisition of rival T-Mobile USA goes through. More

 

 

LightSquared Gets More Time to File GPS Test Results

Reuters

Regulators have granted LightSquared another two weeks to explain GPS interference issues related to a high-speed wireless network it wants to build in the U.S. Before LightSquared can go ahead with its proposed network, it must show the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that it can avoid interference with GPS devices, which use wireless airwaves next to those licensed to LightSquared. LightSquared was due to file a related report with the cooperation of other companies in the GPS and cellular industries June 15. The company instead asked the FCC for an extension until July 1 because all the information required for the report had not yet been submitted. "Based on preliminary test results, LightSquared determined that additional testing, beyond what had been planned initially, including alternative frequency plans to support its network roll-out, was necessary to permit a proper evaluation," Jeffrey Carlisle, executive vice president, regulatory affairs & public policy, LightSquared, said in a letter to the FCC. More

 

 

LTE vs. Broadcasters: Let the Spectrum Wars Begin

The Register

As mobile carriers prepare to upgrade to 4G/LTE networks, Australia's free to air broadcasters and Foxtel are bracing for potentially significant and costly interference to their transmissions. Earlier this month U.K. regulator Ofcom estimated that it would cost £100 million to deal with the disruption caused by 4G transmitters to over 760,000 households with digital Freeview. More