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  • AT&T Buys FLO TV Spectrum to Help Push 4G Network Along
    by
    Michael Essany
    Published on 12-20-2010 10:42 AM
    16 Comments Comments



    In early 2010, reports first surfaced that AT&T was interested in acquiring Qualcomm's FLO TV spectrum. On Monday, AT&T - the exclusive carrier of Apple's iPhone in the United States - announced that the purchase is a done deal, although the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. AT&T anticipates closing the sale during the second half of 2011.

    Qualcomm is selling the wireless spectrum licenses in the Lower 700 MHz frequency band to AT&T for $1.92 billion. The result for AT&T is the ability of the wireless carrier to accelerate its 4G network plans. According to AT&T:

    As part of its longer-term 4G network plans, AT&T intends to deploy this spectrum as supplemental downlink, using carrier aggregation technology. This technology is designed to deliver substantial capacity gains and is expected to be enabled with the completion of 3GPP Release 10. AT&T expects to begin deploying this spectrum once compatible handsets and network equipment are developed.
    As a consequence of the deal, FLO TV will effectively go under in March 2011 - a reality many expected and thought wise since October when Qualcomm publicly stated it would suspend sales of devices for FLO TV. "FLO TV has been a thorn in investors' sides for a long time," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon told the Wall Street Journal, noting that Qualcomm has nothing to be ashamed of (it made a return on its investment of roughly $700 million for the spectrum). "I'm glad to see them get out of it."

    Wall Street Journal
    This article was originally published in forum thread: AT&T Buys FLO TV Spectrum to Help Push 4G Network Along started by Michael Essany View original post
    Comments 16 Comments
    1. turdsmoka's Avatar
      turdsmoka - 12-20-2010, 10:53 AM
      is FLOTV dead?
    1. ajones330's Avatar
      ajones330 - 12-20-2010, 11:42 AM
      Is this even real 4g????
    1. akosko01's Avatar
      akosko01 - 12-20-2010, 11:49 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by ajones330 View Post
      Is this even real 4g????
      Technically nothing that exists today is real 4G.
      The definition of 4G includes speeds around 100MBS. Verizon is calling LTE 4G because it is the next generation. T-Maybe is calling their network 4G and it is the EXACT SAME network as AT&T. IMO this is t-mobile saying "the general public is too stupid to know the difference so we will just call our network 4G"
    1. sh33436's Avatar
      sh33436 - 12-20-2010, 11:49 AM
      4g next year let see
    1. EskimoRuler's Avatar
      EskimoRuler - 12-20-2010, 12:00 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by akosko01 View Post
      Technically nothing that exists today is real 4G.
      The definition of 4G includes speeds around 100MBS. Verizon is calling LTE 4G because it is the next generation. T-Maybe is calling their network 4G and it is the EXACT SAME network as AT&T. IMO this is t-mobile saying "the general public is too stupid to know the difference so we will just call our network 4G"
      I was wondering if t-mobiles network was actually 4G. I don't have knowledge of what makes a network 4G so I wasn't sure
    1. z6joker9's Avatar
      z6joker9 - 12-20-2010, 12:24 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by akosko01 View Post
      Technically nothing that exists today is real 4G.
      The definition of 4G includes speeds around 100MBS. Verizon is calling LTE 4G because it is the next generation. T-Maybe is calling their network 4G and it is the EXACT SAME network as AT&T. IMO this is t-mobile saying "the general public is too stupid to know the difference so we will just call our network 4G"
      ITU just caved to advertising pressure, and is now saying that hspa+ counts as 4G (along with what verizon and sprint were claiming to be 4G). WTF? Oh well, looks like AT&T now has the largest 4G network... Guess I'll get prepared for an icon update and marketing blitz, along with plenty of questions from my non-techie friends.
    1. jonathan1683's Avatar
      jonathan1683 - 12-20-2010, 03:25 PM
      What is sprint then with its first 4G phone? I didnt know this either and I am an above average user so their marketing is working well.
    1. trent_behunin's Avatar
      trent_behunin - 12-20-2010, 04:25 PM
      technically "4g" stands for 4th generation technology. So even though there are 4g parameters of 100 mbs any new radio transmission technology that is not EVDO (Verizon and Sprint) or HSPA (AT&T and T-Mobile) is technically 4g. So Sprints new WIMAX is 4G even though it only has speeds of around 20 mbs if your lucky
    1. Buffolus's Avatar
      Buffolus - 12-20-2010, 06:15 PM
      Yes just the name is !!!!!
    1. CaptainChaos's Avatar
      CaptainChaos - 12-20-2010, 06:22 PM
      So when are we going to see the next round of Verizon vs AT@T commercials? Lol
    1. AUSTIN3:16's Avatar
      AUSTIN3:16 - 12-20-2010, 08:16 PM
      I like the new commercials that say "AT&T- America's fastest mobile broadband Period"
    1. Cer0's Avatar
      Cer0 - 12-20-2010, 09:02 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by turdsmoka View Post
      is FLOTV dead?
      Yes. They killed it off.

      In consideration of the FLO TV service ending on
      March 27, 2011 we are offering a rebate on FLO TV devices.
      Source: On FLO TV
    1. ADF's Avatar
      ADF - 12-20-2010, 10:36 PM
      That's great!! A crappy company buys another crappy companies spectrum.
    1. steve-z17's Avatar
      steve-z17 - 12-20-2010, 10:44 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by CaptainChaos View Post
      So when are we going to see the next round of Verizon vs AT@T commercials? Lol
      Lol, let's hope soon!

      Movin' right along with 4G
    1. jsweeney800's Avatar
      jsweeney800 - 12-20-2010, 11:18 PM
      They don't even have real 3G. How are they going to have 4G
    1. akosko01's Avatar
      akosko01 - 12-21-2010, 08:25 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by z6joker9 View Post
      ITU just caved to advertising pressure, and is now saying that hspa+ counts as 4G (along with what verizon and sprint were claiming to be 4G). WTF? Oh well, looks like AT&T now has the largest 4G network... Guess I'll get prepared for an icon update and marketing blitz, along with plenty of questions from my non-techie friends.
      AT&T is getting away from referring to "g's" because it is confusing the consumer. Especially when all the other carriers are calling 3 different technologies and speeds 4G.