Verizon Amazed All by Not Buying 600 MHz Spectrum

The results of a 600 MHz incentive auction has been declared by the FCC and, a surprising thing is observed. The cellular phone service provider, Verizon, didn’t participate at all! This means that this Government cell phone service firm cannot increase its present coverage with the low-band 600 MHz licenses, which are perfect for reaching inside buildings and covering large geographic areas.

"Verizon cannot comment on the results because the FCC’s mandated quiet period continues to apply until down payments are due, which is not for a couple of weeks," a Verizon spokesman replied when asked why the carrier didn't get any spectrum in the auction. "Verizon is confident, however, in its network position, including its approach to acquiring, managing, and re-framing its spectrum assets to support the network that continues to generate top ratings for customer performance."

Verizon is a well-known Government assisted cell phone company, and its non-participation in the auction is quite surprising. The cellular phone service provider has launched unlimited data plans a few weeks ago that will further affect its wireless network.

Till now, Verizon has been a prime participant in every FCC spectrum auction. In 2008’s FCC low-band spectrum auction, the company’s initial LTE network was set up, i.e. 700 MHz C Block spectrum for about $10 billion.

Verizon has spent around $10.4 billion recently on the midband AWS-3 spectrum, which was auctioned by the FCC around three years ago. The carrier further purchased a midband spectrum in 2011 offered by a group of cable operators.

Verizon’s top management chose not to purchase 600 MHz licenses as they have enormous options when it comes to spectrum. For several years, analysts have talked about the possibility of Verizon signing an agreement with Dish Network.

Now, it has become clear that Dish is spending a lot on its spectrum-collection strategy. The company has been doling out more than $6 billion for additional spectrum.

While Dish has given some hint of using its vast spectrum trove to make some kind of internet-of-things network, possibly with the help of NB-IoT network technology. Many industries believe that Dish may ink a spectrum sale or lease an agreement with a company like one of the large cellular phone service providers, i.e. T-Mobile or Verizon.

See Also: Sprint Cuts Price on Unlimited Data Plan

Verizon might not be interested in purchasing low-band spectrum. It has already bought XO Communications to get high-band, millimeter-wave spectrum licenses. This renowned cellular phone service provider has installed fixed 5G equipment in over 10 cities across the country to offer superfast, and short-range wireless connections.

"What is most interesting to us was VZ was nowhere to be found. While it does have a tremendous amount of 700MHz spectrum (upper C block), we continue to believe VZ's interests lay in the higher band spectrum assets (2GHz and higher)," wrote Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche to investors after the FCC’s auction results were out.

Verizon might not require any additional spectrum in the near future. It might move toward C-RAN network architecture and other modern network technologies, such as two- and three-carrier aggregation, MIMO and LTE-Unlicensed.

Sprint Cuts Price on Unlimited Data Plan

Sprint, one of largest wireless carriers in the US, is betting on its unlimited plan. Feeling the heat from its competitors, Sprint comes with a new pricing plan on its unlimited data. For the service providers who deal with data plans, calling plans, and are providing free government cell phone plans, this big announcement from a leading network operator will prove to be quite welcoming.   

“This new plan continues to offer the best price for unlimited among all national carriers. Verizon and AT&T unlimited plans are 50% more!” the company said. “More than 90% of our customers are already choosing Unlimited,” said Roger Solé, Sprint’s chief marketing officer. “During the past few months, we’ve seen other national wireless carriers offer unlimited plans, but their offers don’t match the value we provide. Within the first year, Verizon’s and AT&T’s unlimited plans will cost consumers at least 50% more,” he further added.

So, when you are searching for free cell phone plans or free government home phone service, it is important that you consider plans from different providers and choose the one that best suits your requirements and offers the best price.

Sprint unveiled its unlimited freedom plan- “It basically extends the savings we were offering as a promotion to new customers until at least June 30, 2018.” Also, the company representative said, “we are eliminating all other rate plans that let customers buy smaller increments of data because 90 percent of Sprint's customers have been signing up for unlimited data.”

Today, there are a number of network operators providing free government cell phone plans to customers based on their eligibility criteria qualification. And, as far as free government home phone service is concerned, you can check out the eligibility criteria on the service provider’s website, however you need to find a reliable service provider who gives you the best advice.

Now, coming to Sprint’s unlimited freedom data, here’s what you need to know-  

• Unlimited data, texts and calls at just $50 for one month for first line
• $40 a month per line for two lines
• $30 a month per line for four lines 

Another move that the network operator made to entice customers and stay above its new emerging competitors is its new plans for customers who do not want data. “Sources say that while Sprint postpaid is dropping consumer tiered data, Sprint Prepaid will have the new role of being an option for customers who do not need a great amount of data and want to save money via adopting a tier of 3 GB or 5 GB,” Jeffrey Moore of Wave7 wrote in a note to subscribers. Also, reports reveal that Sprint prepaid is likely to see a relaunch in the next few weeks. 

See Also: Verizon, Cellular Phone Service Launching a New Streaming TV Service

“Currently, few Sprint stores have Sprint Prepaid displays (and boxes are empty when there are display,” sources reveal. “Stores do have small signs offering unexplained prepaid discounts on iPhone 5S units, but reps are mostly unable to articulate this offer.” Reports confirm that the carrier may extend Sprint Prepaid to its postpaid smartphone lineup, however, which would help address that challenge.

To conclude, Sprint, a well-known service provider offering free government cell phone plans, is making every move carefully in order to gain customer base and pace up with the rising competition.

Verizon, Cellular Phone Service Launching a New Streaming TV Service

Verizon is a Government cell phone service provider that has maintained a good reputation in the market by delivering satisfactory assistance and alluring cellphone services to its customers. Now the company is going to unveil an online bundle of TV channels. According to Bloomberg News, Verizon took this step to compete with the other cellular phone service providers, namely AT&T, Sony, and Dish Network. All of these content providing companies have similar offerings. 

According to the report, the anonymous streaming assistance may come with copious channels, and by released as an app in this summer.

Today, the number of Americans who are spending time watching video on mobile devices have been escalated significantly. Media and telecom companies are considering the fad among people using mobile devices to watch videos. To meet the growing demands, these cellular phone service providers are offering smaller bundles of cable content over the internet. They are also looking for effective strategies to cover their losses in the conventional cable TV subscriptions. An effective way to balance out the losses is by targeting Americans who are not subscribed to pay TV.

There is a high probability that the elite Government cell phone service provider Verizon,may be the latest prime benefactor to deliver live TV over the internet. Although Comcast has also participated in the race, they have made their move towards a streaming TV product by safeguarding streaming rights to different channels that have a relationship with them.

See Also: Cell Phone Service Firms T-Mobile & Sprint Favor Signal Booster Plea

The renowned Dish Network has already launched SlingTV. Sony is not behind in this game! It has introduced Vue in the market. Well-known Google has announced YouTube TV, but it has not launched yet. Each of these companies offer various channels in the price range of $20 to $70 per month.

The Government cell phone service provider, Verizon, has tested online video earlier as well. They launched Go90 service in 2015 to target younger audiences by delivering access to short-form videos. However, a full cable replacement app would certainly be a much larger responsibility.

Cell Phone Service Firms T-Mobile & Sprint Favor Signal Booster Plea

T-Mobile and Sprint both are reputed Government cell phone service providers, known for delivering outstanding services to their customers. They have introduced a gamut of alluring and pocket friendly cell phone and internet plans.

T-Mobile is the third largest wireless network operator in the United States. The German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom (DT) is its majority shareholder. Whereas Sprint Corporation is the fourth largest mobile network operator in the United States, and serves 59.5 million customers, as of January 2017. It provides wireless voice, messaging, and broadband services through its diverse subsidiaries under the Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless brands.

These giant cellular phone service firms filed their support for a plea to simplify personal use restrictions of signal boosters. The Government cell phone service providers retorted to a request for public comments of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the petition filed by Wilson Electronics, who is a signal booster industrialist.

Objective of the petition

The appeal purpose is to offer customers open access to signal boosters provided that they register signal boosters with their local service providers. Additional to network subscribers, this appeal would also include public institution, public safety entities, and businesses to use signal boosters with some restrictions.

In their filings, both Government cell phone service providers, T-Mobile and Sprint, said that facilitating personal use restrictions on signal boosters will enable the placement of ingenious signal boosters. This will aid in augmenting the advantages of using signal boosters without the negative effects of interference on the cellular networks. Apart from these cellular phone service firms, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance and the Telecommunications Industry Association have also filed in favor to the Federal Communications Commission. While another renowned Government cell phone service providers, Verizon and AT&T have not filed their comments yet on this petition.

The Government cell phone service providers T-Mobile, Sprint and other regional carrier US Cellular have sold signal boosters to subscribers. The smaller networks consider signal boosters as an efficient way to give competition to the elite communication networks like Verizon and AT&T. Both these cellular phone service firms have maintained a good name in the market by delivering exceptional services. 

See Also: Verizon, an Elite Government Cell Phone Service Provider Brings Back the Unlimited Plan

The lesser known networks have a smaller infrastructure, causing a blotchy service, particularly in the outlying areas. Signal boosters enables a stronger signal for the subscribers in such areas.

Who is using signal boosters?

Apart from individual users, public safety entities and public institutions also use these signal boosters. Emergency services, such as fire departments, first responders, and police crews use signal repeaters expansively. Police departments use signal boosters in cases of cellular signals that do not penetrate buildings, making it unreliable to connect important calls. Fire departments use them to connect to remote communities with poor or mottled coverage. The rural communities’ subscribers can also use signal boosters to interconnect with emergency services and relatives, especially in case they are at the peripheral areas of carrier coverage.