Comments on: Is 4G Via Satellite Destined to Fail? http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/ The Business of Technology Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:55:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Why There Won’t Be Broadband Competition Anytime Soon - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-901681 Why There Won’t Be Broadband Competition Anytime Soon - GigaOM Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:54:26 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-901681 [...] of an alternative network, as it’s doing in the case of M2Z, and did all the way back in 2003 when it waffled over approving the ATC rules that allow a satellite company to offer both terrestrial and satellite coverage. That was supposed [...] [...] of an alternative network, as it’s doing in the case of M2Z, and did all the way back in 2003 when it waffled over approving the ATC rules that allow a satellite company to offer both terrestrial and satellite coverage. That was supposed [...]

]]> By: Qualcomm Marries Satellite and Cellular Networks - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-900791 Qualcomm Marries Satellite and Cellular Networks - GigaOM Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:01:23 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-900791 [...] really surmounted because handsets were big and couldn’t switch over to cell networks. It looked like that would be the case again for a new generation of satellite firms pushing a combined terrestrial and satellite network. [...] [...] really surmounted because handsets were big and couldn’t switch over to cell networks. It looked like that would be the case again for a new generation of satellite firms pushing a combined terrestrial and satellite network. [...]

]]> By: Truly Ubiquitous Broadband is Getting Closer - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-898945 Truly Ubiquitous Broadband is Getting Closer - GigaOM Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:30:36 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-898945 [...] that plans to operate a combined terrestrial and satellite network, would use the phone, but since Terrestar was experiencing financial and management problems, few industry watchers got [...] [...] that plans to operate a combined terrestrial and satellite network, would use the phone, but since Terrestar was experiencing financial and management problems, few industry watchers got [...]

]]> By: PE Firm Pushing for Inmarsat/Skyterra Combo - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-890490 PE Firm Pushing for Inmarsat/Skyterra Combo - GigaOM Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:03:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-890490 [...] such mergers back in March after looking at the number of players trying to make it in the difficult satellite services business, as well as the likelihood of U.S. regulators approving the Sirius-XM merger, which took another [...] [...] such mergers back in March after looking at the number of players trying to make it in the difficult satellite services business, as well as the likelihood of U.S. regulators approving the Sirius-XM merger, which took another [...]

]]> By: Comcast Is Serious About Wireless - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-872668 Comcast Is Serious About Wireless - GigaOM Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:37:12 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-872668 <p>[...] way of offering wireless. A WiMAX joint venture, a buyout of Sprint or T-Mobile, or perhaps some crazy satellite scheme could justify the creation of wireless division at [...]</p> [...] way of offering wireless. A WiMAX joint venture, a buyout of Sprint or T-Mobile, or perhaps some crazy satellite scheme could justify the creation of wireless division at [...]

]]> By: Is 4G Via Satellite Destined to Fail? | Stacey Higginbotham | Voices | AllThingsD http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-872601 Is 4G Via Satellite Destined to Fail? | Stacey Higginbotham | Voices | AllThingsD Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:01:01 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-872601 <p>[...] Read the rest of this post Print all_things_di220:http://voices.allthingsd.com/20080423/higginbotham-2/ Sphere Comment Tagged: 4G, TerreStar Networks, Stacey Higginbotham, GigaOm, Voices, satellite | permalink [...]</p> [...] Read the rest of this post Print all_things_di220:http://voices.allthingsd.com/20080423/higginbotham-2/ Sphere Comment Tagged: 4G, TerreStar Networks, Stacey Higginbotham, GigaOm, Voices, satellite | permalink [...]

]]> By: Josh Auerbach http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-872572 Josh Auerbach Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:50:23 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-872572 <p>It's hard to see how this company succeeds on a standalone basis. No matter how tight their spot beams are, it's going to be hard to deliver a meaningful amount of bandwidth to many devices across a wide area. Think of how spectrum-constrained the cellular carriers felt (until recently, at least), and they have thousands of cell sites, meaning each MHz can be divided spatially thousands of ways. A few (or a few dozen) spot beams covering the US just won't do. That leaves Terrestar, or any satellite provider for that matter, almost completely reliant on the ATC aspect for offering high-bandwidth services -- which then requires the capex and opex of building and operating a cell network covering at least the dense part of the US, i.e., billions of dollars. What to do, then? Maybe marry one of these satellite operators with a licensee for the ill-fated D block, and use the satellite to provide the near-100% land-area coverage the public safety community wants, while using the D-block and adjacent 700 MHz spectrum to provide usable bandwidth in dense areas.</p> It’s hard to see how this company succeeds on a standalone basis. No matter how tight their spot beams are, it’s going to be hard to deliver a meaningful amount of bandwidth to many devices across a wide area. Think of how spectrum-constrained the cellular carriers felt (until recently, at least), and they have thousands of cell sites, meaning each MHz can be divided spatially thousands of ways. A few (or a few dozen) spot beams covering the US just won’t do. That leaves Terrestar, or any satellite provider for that matter, almost completely reliant on the ATC aspect for offering high-bandwidth services — which then requires the capex and opex of building and operating a cell network covering at least the dense part of the US, i.e., billions of dollars.
What to do, then? Maybe marry one of these satellite operators with a licensee for the ill-fated D block, and use the satellite to provide the near-100% land-area coverage the public safety community wants, while using the D-block and adjacent 700 MHz spectrum to provide usable bandwidth in dense areas.

]]> By: kit http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-872460 kit Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:44:49 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-872460 <p>Terrestar is a sham. Its a trading vehicle by Harbinger who manipulates the stock. Best bet is Harbinger takes the company under through bankruptcy and sells the company piecemeal since they own the debt w/Echostar.</p> Terrestar is a sham. Its a trading vehicle by Harbinger who manipulates the stock. Best bet is Harbinger takes the company under through bankruptcy and sells the company piecemeal since they own the debt w/Echostar.

]]> By: Nick http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-872455 Nick Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:29:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-872455 <p>If they're planning on going at it alone, then you're going to see $300 million burned through quicker than you'll know what to deal with. This is seeming like Iridium, Round Deux - albeit without the government bailout at the last moment.</p> If they’re planning on going at it alone, then you’re going to see $300 million burned through quicker than you’ll know what to deal with. This is seeming like Iridium, Round Deux - albeit without the government bailout at the last moment.

]]> By: Curtis http://gigaom.com/2008/04/22/is-4g-via-satellite-destined-to-fail/#comment-872452 Curtis Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:29:17 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=12225#comment-872452 <p>Stacey,</p> <p>I think you've made some very good points. So much so that it saddens me that once again the consumer is the loser here. The FCC should have made part of the 700 MHZ funding part of the capital required to underwrite a competing ATC network. Generally speaking, I believe free markets should determine competition. The exception here is that the FCC controls the available spectrum, combined with massive capitalization costs. Hence an exception should have been made here since the carriers have enjoyed an oligopoly for years, and it only seems fair that these same carriers underwrite a competing wireless network.</p> <p>Again great article, disapointing results.</p> Stacey,

I think you’ve made some very good points. So much so that it saddens me that once again the consumer is the loser here. The FCC should have made part of the 700 MHZ funding part of the capital required to underwrite a competing ATC network. Generally speaking, I believe free markets should determine competition. The exception here is that the FCC controls the available spectrum, combined with massive capitalization costs. Hence an exception should have been made here since the carriers have enjoyed an oligopoly for years, and it only seems fair that these same carriers underwrite a competing wireless network.

Again great article, disapointing results.

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