10/10
BellSouth announced it is offering wireless broadband access in Palatka, Fla., for a price as low as $29.95 per month. The new offering marks an expansion of a service BellSouth is operating in Athens, Ga. Separately, the telco said it has struck a deal to use Sprint Nextel's MPLS infrastructure to provide data services for businesses nationwide. International Herald Tribune/Bloomberg
08/01/05
BellSouth
rolls out wireless broadband service
BellSouth has launched a WiMAX service
in Athens, Ga., where the University of Georgia is located. The
company initially plans to target college students but eventually
plans to market the offering to people in the Southeast who can't
get DSL.
CNET
07/27/05
Telecom act
update proposed
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., proposed legislation that could become the
first step to overhauling the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by
increasing competitiveness through easing regulations governing
voice, video and data delivery. Among its elements, The Broadband
Investment and Consumer Choice Act, co-sponsored by Sen. John
McCain, R-Ariz., would eliminate state and local franchise
requirements for telephone companies and all other video providers.
The Washington Post/Reuters
04/13/05
Cingular to offer latest music
downloads
Cingular Wireless said it plans to begin offering a service
that will allow its subscribers to download music singles before or
as they're being released on the radio. Each download would cost
between $1.99 and $2.49.
Wireless Week
03/11/05
FCC approves national standard
for cell phone bills
The FCC yesterday approved a rule that will apply a national
standard to explain charges on cell phone bills. The rule will
bypass individual states' regulations with the aim of making such
bills easier for consumers to understand.
The Washington Post
02/17/05
MPLS demand on the rise
Demand for Multiprotocol Label Switching is skyrocketing and the
focus of MPLS has shifted from the technology itself to the
applications and services it enables, people in the sector say. One
of the hottest topics right now reportedly is the extension of MPLS
into access networks.
Light Reading
02/16/05
Tier 2 carriers look to
capitalize on Ethernet
Tier 2 carriers such as Broadwing and WilTel
Communications Group are scrambling to provide intercity
Ethernet services before Tier 1 carriers get into the game, Light
Reading reports.
Light Reading
02/14/05
Verizon Communications agreed Monday to buy MCI in a cash, stock and special dividend deal worth nearly $6.75 billion. The deal comes two weeks after another Baby Bell, SBC Communications agreed to pay $16 billion in cash and stock for AT&T (Research). Like that deal, it was MCI's stable of business customers and its Internet and data business, more than its traditional consumer long-distance service, that prompted the deal. CNN |
02/03/05
SBC, AT&T detail job cuts
Executives from SBC Communications and AT&T yesterday
said about 13,000 jobs would be eliminated as a result of the merger
between the two companies. Most of the cuts would come from
attrition and redundancy, the companies said.
Chicago Tribune
02/03/05
Survey: Consumers show little
interest in VoIP
Only 13% of consumers are interested or very interested in using
VoIP, and just 43% have heard of the technology, according to a new
survey by Forrester. The survey also found that consumers
want to see $15 or more in cost savings over their current calling
plans before the switch to VoIP.
Network World/Networking Pipeline
02/01/05
Companies take advantage of
dark fiber
Falling costs for unlit fiber and optical networking equipment have
encouraged a handful of companies to build their own fiber-optic
networks from scratch. Although the strategy isn't for everyone,
companies that need more bandwidth and want to save money may be
attracted to the do-it-yourself approach, analysts say.
CNET
01/31/05
SBC to acquire AT&T
The boards of SBC Communications and AT&T have
approved a deal by which SBC will buy AT&T for about $16 billion. If
the deal passes regulatory and shareholder scrutiny, it will create
the largest communications company in the U.S.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
01/27/05
SBC reportedly in talks to
acquire AT&T
SBC Communications is in talks to buy AT&T for at
least $15 billion, according to people close to both companies. A
merger would create the nation's largest phone company.
The Washington Post/Associated Press
01/26/05
SBC's profit falls in Q4: SBC Communications reported fourth-quarter net income of $754 million, compared with $905 million a year earlier. The company said the decrease reflects a jump in severance and pension costs and higher expenses at Cingular Wireless. Bloomberg
01/25/05
BellSouth's income rises: BellSouth said its fourth-quarter net income was $1.47 billion, up from $787 million a year earlier. Journal and Constitution (Atlanta)
12/17/04
ITC Deltacom's merger with FDN is terminated, Network Telephone to follow suite. Click here for official announcement.
12/15
FCC Overrules UNE-P Bell, Qwest, and Verizon will no longer be required to re-sale local analog line service to resellers at a competitive rate. As of February 1st. 2005 there will not be any new customers accepted onto this platform and existing users have roughly 14 months to transition off the service. FCC.GOV http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-231344A1.pdf
12/15
Sprint, Nextel directors
approve merger plan
The boards of Sprint and Nextel Communications
approved a plan to merge the two companies. If the $35 billion deal
is completed, it would create the third-largest mobile phone
operator in the U.S., behind Verizon Wireless and Cingular
Wireless.
Find out more about the merger here http://sprintnextel.mergerannouncement.com/
12/15
Analysis: What's next for
Nextel
It's not clear what awaits Nextel Communications' 18,000
employees now that the Northern Virginia-based mobile provider's
merger with Sprint has been officially announced, but
analysts and former employees suggest the combined company will have
issues in terms of harmonizing different technologies, different
customer bases and different corporate cultures. Sprint CEO Gary D.
Forsee is expected to move to Nextel's Reston, Va., facility, a
sign, analysts say, that the deal is imagined as a true merger, and
not an acquisition.
The Washington Post
12/13
$35 billion Sprint-Nextel
merger may close this week
The merger between Sprint and Nextel Communications
could be completed this Wednesday, creating a new company with 39
million mobile subscribers, making it the third-largest mobile
operation in the U.S. While there appears to be nothing holding up
the deal, there is some speculation that other carriers could make a
bid for either company.
The Wall Street Journal
11/29
VoIP gear shipments up in Q3
A report by Dittberner Associates says softswitch IP port shipments
rose 51.2% over the third quarter. Nortel Networks was the overall
leader in total shipments, the report says.
Telephony Online
11/22
Congress approves
three-year Internet tax ban
Congress voted Friday to ban state and local governments from taxing
Internet transactions for another three years. The legislation bars
taxation on a wide range of Internet-related services, including
online commerce and dial-up and broadband connections.
San Jose Mercury News/Associated Press
10/28
How It Works: Broadband
over power lines
Broadband over power lines, or BPL, is joining cable and DSL as a
way to wire homes for high-speed Internet access. In its latest "How
It Works" feature, The New York Times looks at the technology behind
sending data through an ordinary electrical outlet.
The New York Times
10/26
FCC approves Cingular's
acquisition of AT&T Wireless
The FCC approved Cingular's $41 billion acquisition of
AT&T Wireless, paving the way for the creation of the nation's
largest mobile phone operator with just over 47 million customers.
As part of the FCC's approval, Cingular must meet a number of
conditions including selling off assets in at least eight states.
The Department of Justice approved the deal yesterday, but with
different conditions. Under the Justice Department's plan, Cingular
would have to divest assets including wireless spectrum in 11
states.
The Wall Street Journal/Associated Press
10/13
Supreme Court
says no to UNE appeal
The Supreme Court upheld a decision to get rid of the federal
regulations that required incumbent carriers to provide access to
their networks at reduced prices. The court declined to hear an
appeal by AT&T Corp., MCI and others that argued they
need discount network access to remain competitive.
The New York Times/Reuters
10/11
Bells upgrade copper lines
The Bell companies are rolling out high-speed fiber-optic services
to millions of households capable of delivering numerous
applications including video. The upgrades could help the Bells save
billions in operating costs in the long run, as well as challenge
cable in the video market, analysts say.
The New York Times
10/04
SBC
rolls out messaging service in 13-state territory
SBC Communications has launched a $10.95-a-month service that
will allow subscribers to access e-mail, wireless, fax and landline
messages via a single mailbox.
The Dallas Morning News
09/28
Bank of America turns to Cisco for
VoIP deployment
Cisco has won a contract to provide switching gear for
180,000 new Internet phones Bank of America is deploying
throughout its U.S. offices. The deal puts the bank among the
largest users of VoIP and reinforces a trend toward businesses
switching to the new technology.
The Wall Street Journal
09/27
TVIP is on the way
Television over Internet protocol, or TVIP, is taking hold in
Europe, and is likely to be coming stateside in the near future,
experts say. Multimedia Research Group, a consultancy,
estimates there will be 15.6 million TVIP viewers by 2007, compared
with a few hundred thousand today.
Wired
09/27
Nortel names marketing chief
Nortel Networks Corp. named 43-year-old Clent Richardson as
chief marketing officer. The veteran of T-Mobile and Apple
Computer says his job is to "polish the brand" of the
telecommunications-equipment supplier.
The Wall Street Journal
09/22
BellSouth, others join MPLS/FR
Alliance
The MPLS and Frame Relay Alliance said BellSouth and the
Defense Information Systems Agency had joined the group. Huawei
Technologies, Telefonica, Seranoa Networks and
Data Connection have also joined, the Alliance said. The group's
members work to advance the adoption of MPLS and frame relay
technologies.
Telephony Online
09/21
Three Bells join Brand X appeal
BellSouth, SBC
Communications and
Verizon Communications yesterday joined the Department of
Justice in the effort to overturn a recent court ruling that could
make cable-modem service subject to open-access requirements. The
three Bells reportedly are concerned that the ruling, if allowed to
stand, will diminish the FCC's authority to establish a deregulatory
approach to high-speed services.
Multichannel News
09/21
Nextel seeks revisions to spectrum
deal
Nextel reportedly is seeking more credit for the airwaves it
will have to give back to obtain a swath of new spectrum from the
FCC. The deal Nextel is proposing could save the company about $700
million, a report says.
The Washington Post
09/21
SBC embraces Internet calling to
secure business clients
SBC Communications
will build an Internet-based phone system for 50,000 employees of
Ford Motor Co. The deal, which will be announced today, shows
how aggressively SBC is pursing business clients as it diversifies
from its local-calling business.
The Wall Street Journal
09/17
BellSouth works hard to restore
service
With three recent hurricanes pounding the Southeast, BellSouth
officials have worked hard to maintain and restore service. As of
yesterday, service had been reactivated for all but 50,900 of the
775,000 customers whose phones went out during Hurricane Frances.
The Wall Street Journal
09/16
Powell recommendation on
Cingular-AT&T deal likely this month
Cingular Wireless, the second-biggest mobile phone operator
in the U.S., won't have to wait much longer on a decision concerning
approval of its $41 billion purchase of AT&T Wireless Services.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell says he expects to make his
recommendation on the deal to the rest of the regulatory board this
month.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Bloomberg
09/13
Nortel CEO says industry
consolidation is likely
William Owens, chief executive officer of Nortel Networks,
says a wave of mergers is coming for telecommunications equipment
providers. Owens hopes to get Nortel, which faces continuing
problems from past accounting practices, ready for the change. "If
we are able to solve the basics of doing business, then we will
participate effectively in the consolidating of the business," he
said.
The New York Times
09/13
Analysis: BellSouth adopts more
aggressive strategy
BellSouth, known for its conservative approach to business,
has begun expanding aggressively into new markets. Central to
BellSouth's strategy is a new fiber-optic network designed to help
it compete with cable rivals.
The New York Times
09/08
CLECs to merge
ITC^DeltaCom
yesterday said it plans to merge with FDN Communications and
Network Telephone. The combined company would have 120,000
business customers across 45 Southeastern markets.
Telephony Online
09/07
Verizon offers ultrafast broadband
Verizon Communications has unveiled a new DSL service that
offers data downloads of up to 3 megabits per second and uploads of
786 megabits per second. The service will be available initially in
12 East Coast states and will be extended to other areas later this
year, the company said.
CNET
08/23
FCC ruling freezes rates Bells charge
for phone lines
The Federal Communications Commission issued a ruling Friday
freezing for six months the rates the Bells charge rivals to lease
their local phone networks. The FCC commissioners plan to draw up
permanent rules that can withstand judicial scrutiny during the
six-month period.
The New York Times/Bloomberg
(free registration) (8/23),
The Wall Street Journal
(subscription required)
08/17
Sprint unveils new streaming-video
service
Sprint PCS
has introduced a new multimedia message service that gives the
company's Vision subscribers access to more than 600 new
15-frames-per-second streaming video clips per day. Subscribers will
have the option of signing up for a "basic cable" package with four
channels, while the premium package includes content from CNN,
Fox Sports and The Weather Channel.
RCR Wireless News (Denver, Colo.)
08/12
Cingular, AT&T Wireless one step
closer to completing merger
Cingular Wireless has cleared one U.S. Department of Justice
hurdle on its way to finalizing a merger with AT&T Wireless,
as the DOJ has decided to roll back licensing restrictions
implemented in 2000. "Cingular and its parents are continuing to
cooperate with the DOJ in its review of the transaction. We expect
the deal to receive all necessary approvals in the fourth quarter,"
a Cingular spokesman said.
Wireless Week
08/11
MCI alters peering plan
MCI is rolling out a "virtual" peering plan. The plan affords
ISP customers the option of sharing peering connections with each
other without having to use the same data center.
Telephony Online
08/09
SBC rolling out faster upload speeds
SBC Communications
has put into motion a program to increase the upload speeds of its
basic DSL Express from 128 kb/s to 384 kb/s and its premium DSL Pro
from 384 kb/s to 512 kb/s. "Over the last year or two, you've been
seeing a flurry of new gadgets and cameras, all of which customers
are using to upload pictures and content," an SBC spokeswoman said.
"We increased our speeds in order to continue to provide our
customers with one of the best broadband services available."
Telephony Online
08/09
Sprint offers price break for service
problems
Sprint Corp. announced a plan to offer its business wireless
customers up to 30% of that month's recurring charges free if
service does not meet company standards. Sprint promises 99.9%
network availability and a 98% completion rate on all calls
attempted within its network.
08/05
Wi-Fi phones becoming a reality
Mobile phone makers are planning to release handsets that can roam
seamlessly between traditional networks and Wi-Fi networks later
this year. The hybrid phones, which can handle both data and voice
with ease, could create new opportunities for wireless and wireline
companies, as well as an interesting new option for consumers.
CNET
08/03
Bells cut retail rates
Verizon, SBC
and BellSouth are aiming to recapture market share by cutting
retail rates for local service. A TNS Telecoms study shows that, in
the second quarter of this year, the Bell companies increased their
share of the home-phone market for the first time in five years. The
price cuts have raised some concerns among state regulators, but the
Bells say new entrants, such as cable and IP telephony, have made
the marketplace more competitive.
The Wall Street Journal
08/02
Siemens picks BlackBerry
Siemens' new SK65 handset licenses BlackBerry
technology to provide e-mail accessibility. Separately, Siemens
squashed rumors that it will divest its
mobile
division.
Wireless Week
(7/26)
Verizon Wireless signs deal with Motorola
Verizon
Wireless
has signed a
three-year
deal to buy
telecom
equipment supplied by Motorola. Per the deal, the mobile
carrier will use Motorola's architecture in several
markets.
Internetnews.com
