t-marco
09-24-2007, 02:20 PM
hey guys, i found this articule on phone scoop.
T-Mobile's 3G Delay Government Related
Today, 8:43 AM source: RCR News
T-Mobile's planned 3G build out scheduled for this year is on hold because the federal government is still using the portions of spectrum that T-Mobile USA won in last year's AWS auction. T-Mobile spent $4.2 billion to acquire 120 licenses in the 1700 MHz band, and reportedly offered the federal government an additional $50 million to move off of that spectrum sooner rather than later. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez noted that law enforcement and homeland security agencies are using that spectrum for mobile surveillance devices and relocating them to other spectrum has been problematic. T-Mobile is the only one of the four major wireless network operators not offering 3G services in the U.S., which it needs in order to remain competitive in the market.
The relocation process is subject to an arrangement whereby the government will use $1.1 billion from the $13.7 billion total in AWS auction proceeds to fund the transfer of government wireless operations from the 1710-1755 MHz band to other frequencies under varied timelines that stretch up to six years.
As such, it is unclear whether the federal government is actually behind in relocation efforts, or simply moving too slow to suit T-Mobile USA and others.
"Bidders participated knowing they didn't have full details about the government's ongoing use of the spectrum. Therefore, the companies could have chosen not to participate," aid John Kneuer, head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Bush administration's point man for AWS relocation.
T-Mobile's 3G Delay Government Related
Today, 8:43 AM source: RCR News
T-Mobile's planned 3G build out scheduled for this year is on hold because the federal government is still using the portions of spectrum that T-Mobile USA won in last year's AWS auction. T-Mobile spent $4.2 billion to acquire 120 licenses in the 1700 MHz band, and reportedly offered the federal government an additional $50 million to move off of that spectrum sooner rather than later. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez noted that law enforcement and homeland security agencies are using that spectrum for mobile surveillance devices and relocating them to other spectrum has been problematic. T-Mobile is the only one of the four major wireless network operators not offering 3G services in the U.S., which it needs in order to remain competitive in the market.
The relocation process is subject to an arrangement whereby the government will use $1.1 billion from the $13.7 billion total in AWS auction proceeds to fund the transfer of government wireless operations from the 1710-1755 MHz band to other frequencies under varied timelines that stretch up to six years.
As such, it is unclear whether the federal government is actually behind in relocation efforts, or simply moving too slow to suit T-Mobile USA and others.
"Bidders participated knowing they didn't have full details about the government's ongoing use of the spectrum. Therefore, the companies could have chosen not to participate," aid John Kneuer, head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Bush administration's point man for AWS relocation.