In The News

[pjw918]

Rather than start a new thread for every news item of possible interest to the Mobilicity forum readers, perhaps a running thread for such posts makes more sense. Many of the items may be informative, but not generate a lot of comment. Might be handy as a kind of repository as well. A major item with significant impact probably should still be posted as a new thread.

[pjw918]

Globe and Mail, Feb 20

Wind Mobile and Public Mobile – two of Canada's smallest cellphone companies – are threatening to sit out the next federal auction of radio waves needed to expand their wireless networks if space isn't set aside for new players like themselves...

[gun26]

If space isn't set aside for the new companies, whether they participate or sit out is irrelevant and amounts to an empty gesture, because they'll be easily outbid by Robelus.

The real issue is that Robelus is allowed to buy spectrum and then sit on it. Apparently Rogers has more spectrum than either Sprint or T-Mobile USA - and both companies are much larger than Rogers, serving a country with 10 times Canada's population.

[Dave114]

The real issue is that Robelus is allowed to buy spectrum and then sit on it. Apparently Rogers has more spectrum than either Sprint or T-Mobile USA - and both companies are much larger than Rogers, serving a country with 10 times Canada's population.

The one slight distinction there - although it still probably doesn't justify this sort of thing - is that much of Canada is sparsely populated or unpopulated. Needed spectrum would seem to be primarily a function of the typical-max urban density they want to serve - for which the density of the GTA or GVA is probably most important (maybe add in Montreal there as well).

[Big Ang]

Apparently Rogers has more spectrum than either Sprint or T-Mobile USA - and both companies are much larger than Rogers, serving a country with 10 times Canada's population.

I heard that Rogers has TWICE the amount of spectrum as Verizon which is the largest cellphone provider in the US.

Rogers/Bell/Telus just want to buy as much as they can to prevent competition from coming in.

[xtachx]

I heard that Rogers has TWICE the amount of spectrum as Verizon which is the largest cellphone provider in the US.

Rogers/Bell/Telus just want to buy as much as they can to prevent competition from coming in.

Rogers has THRICE. (180 Mhz vs 60 Mhz)

[xtachx]

The one slight distinction there - although it still probably doesn't justify this sort of thing - is that much of Canada is sparsely populated or unpopulated. Needed spectrum would seem to be primarily a function of the typical-max urban density they want to serve - for which the density of the GTA or GVA is probably most important (maybe add in Montreal there as well).

Robelus coverage area in Canada is smaller than Verizon. The reason is that not all of Canada has cell service.

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[Dave114]

Robelus coverage area in Canada is smaller than Verizon. The reason is that not all of Canada has cell service.

Well, ya. But how does that affect my argument that spectrum needs are to large extent determined by the typical->maximum density of urban areas they wish to cover?

[Volition]

This auction is way out in 2013, we first have to see if the world will truly end on the end of 2012 or not first!

The auction is in 2012 afaik. The world wont end in 2012.

[UssjTrunks]

Globe and Mail, Feb 20

Wind Mobile and Public Mobile – two of Canada's smallest cellphone companies – are threatening to sit out the next federal auction of radio waves needed to expand their wireless networks if space isn't set aside for new players like themselves...

So Mobi is bigger than those two?

[sable]

So Mobi is bigger than those two?

Mobi will be long gone before the end of the auction.

[0defaced]

Mobi will be long gone before the end of the auction.

how exactly do you figure?

[pjw918]

Globe and Mail, Feb 20

The privately held company, which operates as Wind Mobile, is laying the groundwork to position itself as a “quad play” that would offer service bundles with wireless, home phone, high-speed Internet and, eventually, a suite of “over-the-top” programming for mobile devices.

Although it will likely be a year before the first Wind-branded bundles are available to consumers, an initial rollout would target Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, along with Ontario markets including Hamilton, Oakville, Toronto, Oshawa and Ottawa...

Such plans, however, hinge on Globalive’s ability to purchase sufficient 700 MHz spectrum in the next federal government auction to build a 4G-LTE (fourth-generation long-term evolution) network that would offer the required mobile speeds...

n the interim, Globalive is taking other steps to execute on its bundle strategy. Earlier this month, it received tentative approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to register itself as a proposed Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)...

[Dave114]

Globe and Mail, Feb 20

The privately held company, which operates as Wind Mobile, is laying the groundwork to position itself as a “quad play” that would offer service bundles with wireless, home phone, high-speed Internet and, eventually, a suite of “over-the-top” programming for mobile devices.

I'm a bit confused about this one. What's the value of a wired phone line (vs. something like cable tv) to a customer without unlimited talk time already? (For dead zones enabling customers to send/receive calls on their phone via a local WiFi connection would be useful, but that's different from offering a full second phone line and something that I thought Mobi at least was already trying to develop)

[xtachx]

Well, ya. But how does that affect my argument that spectrum needs are to large extent determined by the typical->maximum density of urban areas they wish to cover?

There is no way that Canada is more crowded than Japan. Rogers alone has 3x spectrum of JP DoCoMo. Bellus together has about 4x.

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