F--- Verizon and Cingular. I hope Google wins. They certainly have the $$ to do so. I believe Cash & Equiv was $12 billion last quarter. Given how important this is to both sides though, I wouldn't be surprised if it went even higher than that.
Could not agree more. To the carriers, this is about more than a chuck of spectrum, it about maintaining the way they do business.
I know Google has the funds, but VZW has to calculate the effect of profitability over an entire organization, not just a subsection of spectrum. As such they may be willing to bid much more than the spectrum is actually worth. Google's stakes don't appear to be quite as high, though it would make a nice platform for G-Phones, and they could lease out spectrum for tower access.
I think Google's stakes are higher than most people think. Unless net neutrality laws are passed, Google could be forced to pay a the telcos a bigger chunk in order to use their pipes. I don't think it's any surprise that they have been buying up dark fiber and looking into buying their own wireless band. I think of it as a power plant who does not own their transmission lines (which may be the case for some companies). A little vertical integration? Just another way to grow, control costs in the long run, etc.
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F--- Verizon and Cingular. I hope Google wins. They certainly have the $$ to do so. I believe Cash & Equiv was $12 billion last quarter. Given how important this is to both sides though, I wouldn't be surprised if it went even higher than that.
Could not agree more. To the carriers, this is about more than a chuck of spectrum, it about maintaining the way they do business.
I know Google has the funds, but VZW has to calculate the effect of profitability over an entire organization, not just a subsection of spectrum. As such they may be willing to bid much more than the spectrum is actually worth. Google's stakes don't appear to be quite as high, though it would make a nice platform for G-Phones, and they could lease out spectrum for tower access.
Too complicated, I'm crawling back under my rock.
I think Google's stakes are higher than most people think. Unless net neutrality laws are passed, Google could be forced to pay a the telcos a bigger chunk in order to use their pipes. I don't think it's any surprise that they have been buying up dark fiber and looking into buying their own wireless band. I think of it as a power plant who does not own their transmission lines (which may be the case for some companies). A little vertical integration? Just another way to grow, control costs in the long run, etc.