I started playing with some of the broadband data released today by the Communication Workers of America to get a rough picture of the US digital divide: (more…)
Unfiltered
Frank discussion with telecom's most experienced editors
Archive for the ‘Residential Services’ Category
Charting the digital divide
by Ed GubbinsAugust 25th, 2009
2 Comments Related Topics: All Stories, Broadband Stimulus, Broadband/FTTX, Regulation, Residential Services |
Analyst predicts IP STB revival
by Sarah ReedyAugust 24th, 2009
IP set-top boxes will generate a market value of more than $3 billion by 2014, according to data today from ABI Research. Spurred by the digital transition, ABI found that STBs now have a more crucial role in the home as they are used to access entertainment and information services provided by pay TV providers. (more…)
1 Comment Related Topics: All Stories, IPTV, Residential Services, Service Delivery, Video |
Carrier M&A activity drops off
by Ed GubbinsAugust 18th, 2009
I was struck by the apparent drop-off in RLEC M&A activity this year as described in Frontier Communications’ (NYSE: FTR) recent regulatory filings. Leading up to the mid-tier telco’s deal to acquire nearly 5 million access lines from Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Frontier was only considering one other major deal, and even that didn’t get very far.
It’s a stark contrast with last year, when offers were flying in every direction across the RLEC sector, including proposals for three-way mergers. Embarq and CenturyTel talked with at least five other companies about serious M&A offers before the two merged last fall.
And it wasn’t just the RLECs. M&A offers were flying in the CLEC sector, too, last year. The Wall Street Journal reported for the first time only last week that (more…)
1 Comment Related Topics: All Stories, Broadband/FTTX, Business Services, Carrier Ethernet, Residential Services |
As carriers gird for FCC fight, an omen down under
by Ed GubbinsAugust 12th, 2009
As the new FCC Chairman focuses “relentlessly” on competition, he cannot have failed to notice the recent admission of Australian carrier Telstra that it has engaged in anti-competitive practices, denying rivals the legal right to interconnect by falsely claiming there was no room for new equipment in seven exchange facilities – an admission that came only after the departure of its former chief executive officer, Sol Trujillo.
Known for his adversarial relationship with unions and the government (which owned the company just four years ago and still owns a large part), Trujillo will be remembered by Australians as “the one who took on the government and lost,” one analyst said. As the former CEO of US West, Trujillo must have been shocked to learn that a Fortune 500 company can take on the government and lose. Now Australia is barreling ahead with an ambitious plan to build a $34-billion open nationwide network, dramatically changing Telstra’s tone and inspiring others around the globe. (more…)
No Comments Related Topics: 3G/4G, All Stories, Broadband Stimulus, Broadband/FTTX, Global, Mobile Apps, Regulation, Residential Services, Wireless |
Sprint adds WiMax to WiFi router as it prepares to expand 4G coverage
by Kevin FitchardAugust 5th, 2009
As Sprint (NYSE:S) prepares to expand its 4G footprint beyond Baltimore, it is tweaking its product portfolio to take advantage of the enhanced speeds of Clearwire’s WiMax network. It has begun selling dual-mode WiMax-EV-DO versions of Novatel’s MiFi personal hotspot and the business-targeted CradlePoint wireless broadband router, both of which redistribute capacity from mobile broadband connections to multiple WiFi devices. (more…)
2 Comments Related Topics: 3G/4G, All Stories, Broadband/FTTX, Business Services, Mobile Apps, Residential Services, WiMAX, Wireless |
Clearwire’s latest 4G wave targeting smaller cities
by Kevin FitchardAugust 3rd, 2009
Clearwire (NASDAQ:CLWR) has launched its WiMax service in 10 new markets, but they aren’t the big cities like Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle listed on Clearwire’s earlier announced deployment schedule. Instead it’s turning on its Clear 4G service in Killeen, TX, and Bellingham, WA, smaller cities that individually don’t add much to its total tally of pops covered, but taken collectively could grow substantially its footprint. (more…)
No Comments Related Topics: 3G/4G, All Stories, Residential Services, WiMAX, Wireless |
ALU CEO hints at business unit sales, more co-sourcing deals
by Kevin FitchardJuly 30th, 2009
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU) CEO Ben Verwaayen isn’t done tinkering with his company yet. After selling off its stake in defence contractor Thales and entering into a major alliance with HP (NYSE:HPQ) to sell integrated communications and IT solutions, Verwaayan said there are plenty more plans in the works for more co-sourcing deals, the possibility of outsourcing some of its own product development and even the sale of some of its product divisions. (more…)
No Comments Related Topics: 3G/4G, All Stories, Broadband/FTTX, Business Services, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC), IMS, Residential Services |
TWC wards off telco, Web competition
by Sarah ReedyJuly 29th, 2009
Time Warner Cable’s (NYSE:TWC) biggest competitive threats are coming from telcos offering pay TV services, consumers turning to online content and wireless operators who still control of the voice market. In its second-quarter earnings today, the second-largest cableco outlined its strategies to fend off all three competitors, but acknowledged that it will be a tough battle. (more…)
No Comments Related Topics: All Stories, IPTV, Residential Services, Service Delivery, Video |
Cox preps for 3G build
by Kevin FitchardMarch 26th, 2009
Cox is outsourcing the design and construction of its new 3G network to Berliner Communications Inc. (BCI), a service vendor that has been advising operators and building wireless networks for 14 years. BCI will help Cox with the unique task of building a CDMA network at 700 MHz, licenses that Cox won at last year’s FCC auction. (more…)
2 Comments Related Topics: All Stories, Residential Services, Wireless |
Aktino hails 100 Mb/s over copper (lots of copper)
by Ed GubbinsMarch 24th, 2009
Aktino, which sells Ethernet-over-copper gear for line-bonded broadband, today announced plans to double the rate/reach performance of its products. Starting in May, Aktino’s gear will deliver “up to 100 Mb/s on just five copper pairs (80 Mb/s on four copper pairs).” On five copper pairs, Aktino’s range for 100 Mb/s is 4,000 feet, the company said. And using eight pairs, the range for 100 Mb/s is 9,000 feet.
(more…)
3 Comments Related Topics: All Stories, Business Services, Residential Services, Video, Wireless |