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Dish Network's nationwide satellite broadband service could be ready to launch soon
While the various strands of Dish Network's "Seinfeld strategy" have yet to come together officially, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal are reporting it could be ready launch satellite-based high speed data services nationally as soon as September or October. This would be separate from the service based on ViaSat's Exede that's available in some areas, and Bloomberg's sources say it could accommodate up to 2 million customers right away through a satellite Echostar launched in June, although more satellites may be needed to add more customers. Other than hooking up data connections for customers in rural areas, it would let Dish compete directly with data / TV bundles offered by wired pay-TV providers. Of course, this is all dependent on a favorable ruling by the FCC on its technology -- you can just ask LightSquared what happens if that doesn't work out.
Dish buys TerreStar and DBSD, inches towards LTE future
DBSD North America and TerreStar Networks probably aren't the first two companies you think of when talking about cutting edge broadband, but they're integral to Dish Network's LTE plans. Both companies were in dire straights, with TerreStar declaring bankruptcy in 2010 and DBSD filing for Chapter 11 in 2009. But, Dish doesn't want them for their customer base or portfolio of services -- it wants their spectrum. The FCC approved the transfer of the spectrum last week, but did not grant the company a waiver to immediately start using its new radio real estate to start broadcasting LTE signals. Still, it was a good enough sign for the satellite company, which completed the purchase of the two properties. Now it just has to put those plans to expand into broadband and cellphone service into action.
Dish Network files 'Ollo' trademark for planned LTE-Advanced service, GPS takes a deep breath
Dish just finished firing off a 67-page letter to the FCC petitioning for the right to use its 2GHz spectrum for LTE-Advanced. Now, two recently filed trademark applications are tipping us off to a potential name for the satellite operator's planned 4G network, known as "Ollo." According to the company's filings, this brand would encompass both future equipment and services, huddling smartphones, tablets and a triple play of services under the same umbrella. The hybridized network still has significant hurdles to overcome before it gets a greenlight -- namely, a proven lack of LightSquared-like GPS interference. But, it appears the company's confident its newly acquired holdings will pass Go, delivering heretofore unseen downlink / uplink speeds to subscribers. As ever, we'll keep a close watch on this as it develops.
Dish Network letter to the FCC says its LTE plans can help bring broadband to every American
High speed data connections available from Fairbanks to Miami? We can get with that, and Dish Network hopes the idea will appeal to the FCC as well so it can deploy its hybrid satellite/LTE network. Despite the hurdles faced by LightSquared's similar technology, DailyWireless reports Dish claims its network will have no such issues. Other wireless companies are asking for more details before the feds let Dish use the technology it has put together from its purchases of DBSD and Terrestar. We'll keep an eye out for the FCC's response, for now if you need more info on the playing field you can check the source link, or dive directly into Dish's 67-page letter.
Dish Network offers $1 billion to buy a bankrupt satellite/antenna company for reasons only it knows
Dish Network has agreed to buy DBSD, a company currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection that's reportedly working on a system to tie together satellite and ground-based antenna communication for wireless phone and internet service, pending approval by the FCC. Dish pegs the purchase price at approximately $1,000,000,000 (subject to certain adjustments) including the interest on DBSD's debts. Exactly what its plans for the company are remain a mystery, as The Hollywood Reporter quotes mystified analysts like Craig Moffett suggesting theories including wireless internet service, mobile TV, or an integrated satellite/phone/TV bundle to compete with cable operators. SpaceNews.com has the most extensive breakdown, from Dish's initial $45 million investment back in 2009, to the recent FCC decision on a similar hybrid service from LightSquared that may have caused DBSD's spectrum & technology to suddenly become much more valuable. Whatever it is, they considered it worth writing an awful large check for, although we can't help but wonder if they couldn't have broken some of that money off to deal with this whole TiVo issue.
