Date: 04-08-2008
Verizon and AT&T have decided to roll out their newly acquired licenses from the 700 MHz auction to provide top-notch services in the immediate future. Verizon, which bought the C-block spectrum for $9.6 billion, hopes to get the 4G standard finalized and plans to wrap up network deployment by 2009. Verizon is also planning to launch the Long-Term-Evolution (LTE) network in 2010, while AT&T is aiming for a 2012 release of a new network. Sprint, on the other hand, is planning to launch its WiMax-based network later this year. Meanwhile, Google has declared that the motive behind its bid in the spectrum auction was to force Verizon to bid high enough for the C-block spectrum, and to promote greater openness and options for wireless customers. AT&T also has plans to boost speed and performance with the help of the spectrum by introducing its “High-Speed Uplink Packet Access” (HSUPA) by the middle of this year. Qualcomm, meanwhile, has revealed that it will use eight new licenses to develop its FLO TV mobile broadcasting service.
