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AT&T, Verizon Battle Smaller Carriers Over 700MHz Roaming

Apr 26, 2011, 12:06 PM by Eric M. Zeman

The Federal Communications Commission is holding a workshop today to discuss the interoperability of devices between the different bands of 700MHz spectrum. Larger carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless, say that mandating interoperability will be expensive and lead to thicker, bulkier devices and more costly base stations. Small carriers, such as Cellular South and U.S. Cellular are hoping that the FCC mandates the interoperability so that they won't be squeezed out of roaming deals with the larger carriers. There are at least three major bands of 700MHz spectrum, including Verizon's C Block (class 13), AT&T's C and B Blocks (class 17), and the smaller carriers' A, B, and C Blocks (class 12). Qualcomm said it is planning one chipset to support band 12, and argues that its chips can only support two bands per chip below 1GHz and three bands above 1GHz. Qualcomm says supporting the right set of bands to allow roaming between AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and the smaller carriers would be incredibly complicated and take years to develop. The FCC hasn't said if or when it will make a decision regarding this issue.

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Comments

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This forum is closed.

GettingSleepy

Apr 26, 2011, 12:47 PM

So Verizon and AT&T are afraid of what?

Weren't they planing on allowing the smaller carriers to roam on their network anyway? Isn't Verizon Wireless already having smaller carriers build towers for their spectrum?

CellStudent

GettingSleepy said:
Weren't they planing on allowing the smaller carriers to roam on their network anyway?

You can't roam on towers you don't have matching antennas for. That's like trying to watch TV on your car...
(continues)

...

Azeron

Apr 26, 2011, 1:17 PM

Go Verizon and AT&T

Yeah. Weird. I know. Anyhow, it is good to see the real world stepping in to smack the FCC in the nose. Out of bounds FCC. Know your role. Go block the T-Mobile acquisition. Stay out of data roaming.

MileHigh8710

YES!!! This T-Mobile M&A will be a disaster for innovation in our future. It won't stop it but it will slow it down a lot, that is until the FCC drags their feet long enough and after years be force to break AT&T and Verizon up. That's what will event...
(continues)

CellStudent

What part of "wireless data available to everyone anywhere it exists" (at a reasonable profit margin) is such a bad idea?

Let market expansion come from actual congestion surrounding the desirable product- not by forcing the little guys to make eco...
(continues)

...

Jayshmay

Here, I thought you'd want to see this.

http://m.bgr.com/2011/04/26/sprint-seeks-access-to-c ... »

Azeron

Apr 26, 2011, 1:20 PM

Thank You Qualcomm

"Qualcomm says supporting the right set of bands to allow roaming between AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and the smaller carriers would be incredibly complicated and take years to develop."

For once your ineptitude is a boon.

Versed

Funny, they make gsm 3g phones small and thin which house for gsm bands and 4 umts bands, along with bt, wifi and gps radios and receivers and they are all quite thin. And a few even have LTE radios too.

...

nextel18

I love qualcomm they are a great company. i have their shares too 🙂

...

CellStudent

Apr 26, 2011, 12:49 PM

Seems like an easy solution

Verizon: Class 13
AT&T: Class 17
Rurals: Class 12

Qualcomm says they can only put two classes in one chip.

Mandate two chipset options:

(12 + 13): Rural + Verizon
(12 + 17): Rural + AT&T

That way, the big boys (VZW and AT&T) have to compete on actual network build out (because they can't roam off each other), and the rural carriers can compete on local buildout + roaming partnerships.

Plus, all BigBoys handsets will work on all the rural LTE networks, so roaming revenue into the rurals would be enhanced until AT&T or VZW build up their native networks in the rural areas.

Why would that not work?

Mark_S

Indeed!!!!!!! 🙂

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