April 2013

UK speeds up signals on 5G introduction

Just weeks after the end of the long delayed auction of 4G spectrum, British policy makers are already turning to plans for the next generation of superfast mobile broadband that will be called, inevitably, 5G.

Ofcom, the communications regulator, will this week launch an industry consultation about freeing radio frequencies for 5G internet services many times the speed and capacity of today’s best 4G networks. The early start to 5G planning signals determination by policy makers and industry to avoid the delays that have seen the UK fall behind many other developed countries in rolling out 4G services. It also reflects fears of a future capacity crunch in the airwaves as rapidly growing usage of mobile broadband devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, increases pressure on networks.

Urgent need to improve mobile networks

There are few who can argue against the rapid increase in data use in most countries around the world. This has led to an urgent need to improve mobile networks so that they can withstand the sharp increase in demand for internet on the move, particularly given the emergence of mobile devices as the main means for internet access. Although 5G has different meanings for different countries and organizations, the term can generally be taken to mean the next generation of high-speed and ultra-reliable internet access that can accommodate data-heavy applications such as high-definition video, as well as other future technologies not yet developed.

Ubiquitous and high-speed 5G services could, according to industry experts, support always-connected mobile devices that host multiple applications from high-definition video streaming to navigation aids and social media. Better networks will also continue to underpin the growth of smartphone and tablet use, as well as applications such as mobile TV and gaming. Much of the innovation associated with 5G will be unseen by consumers, with devices simply better able to utilize constrained spectrum in a way that will not only improve services but reduce the environmental impact of doing so. So-called “machine to machine” communication will also become more important, with utilities hooked up to constantly updated national networks, household appliances able to talk to owners and health monitoring systems connected to local hospitals.

House Dems rally against CISPA over concerns about privacy protection

A group of House Democrats circulated a letter calling on lawmakers to oppose a controversial cybersecurity bill up for a vote this week unless additional privacy protections are adopted into the measure.

Four Democratic members say the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) as written "would undermine the interests of citizens and their privacy" despite the addition of five privacy-focused amendments adopted to the bill last week. They argue that the amendments do not go far enough to ease their concerns. "Without further amendments to protect privacy and civil liberties, we cannot support the bill," the House Democratic lawmakers write in the "Dear Colleague" letter. "The bill has improved from earlier versions, but even with the amendments adopted, CISPA unacceptably and unnecessarily compromises the privacy interests of Americans online," they add.
Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) signed the letter.

MetroPCS Board Backs Deutsche Telekom's Improved Offer

MetroPCS Communications said its board has unanimously approved the amended terms of its proposed merger agreement with Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA.

MetroPCS will reduce the combined company debt issued to Deutsche Telekom by $3.8 billion to $11.2 billion, a move the carrier said creates additional financial flexibility and significantly increases the combined company's equity value. Deutsche Telekom has agreed to lower the interest rate on the T-Mobile debt by half a percentage point. The amendment also extends the lock-up period for Deutsche Telekom-owned stock to 18 months from six. A shareholder vote on the proposed merger is scheduled for April 24. Now Deutsche Telekom's strategy is to strengthen T-Mobile through the MetroPCS merger, which would give it new customers and valuable rights to the airwaves. The merged entity's publicly traded stock could give Deutsche Telekom an avenue to sell down its stake in T-Mobile over time.

Ergen: Mobile Video Driving Sprint Proposal

Dish Network chairman Charlie Ergen said the proliferation of mobile video is one of the biggest drivers of his pursuit of wireless giant Sprint Nextel, adding that his $25.5 billion bid is like the closing two minutes of a Seinfeld episode, when the earlier seemingly disparate 28 minutes finally come together.

It wasn’t the first time Ergen used the Seinfeld analogy – he used it in 2011 when his wireless plans were first taking shape. Back then, analysts and investors were wondering aloud why the satellite giant was spending billions on accumulating wireless spectrum. Back then he said that the investment community would have to wait and see what the final two minutes of this particular Seinfeld episode would be. On April 15, he removed the veil. “This isn’t something that we just thought of yesterday,” Ergen said. “…This is the culmination of a lot of years of work, where we’ve been putting a lot of things in place, whether it be the purchase of spectrum in auctions, the acquisition of Sling Media, all those things come together now with the merger with Sprint, to make a very unique, powerful company.”

Sprint’s tough choice: Dish might be a more attractive suitor than Softbank

Dish Network’s bid for Sprint presents Dan Hesse and Co. with an interesting choice.

Analysts point out that Softbank has more than enough money to counter Dish’s $25.5 billion bid, but money aside Dish would make a much better strategic fit for Sprint. Softbank offers much-needed investment to the still struggling No. 3 U.S. wireless operator. But Dish doesn’t just bring cash; it’s got 4G spectrum and a huge pay TV network to boot.

Informa Telecoms & Media Principal Analyst Mike Roberts lays out all of the advantages of a Sprint-Dish marriage: “First and most importantly, Dish could combine its 2GHz LTE spectrum with the LTE spectrum of Sprint and Clearwire to build one of the strongest LTE spectrum portfolios in US, which would be the foundation for a powerful new competitor in the US telecoms market. Second, using Sprint’s newly-modernized mobile network would give Dish a cost-effective way to deploy LTE in its 2GHz spectrum and meet the FCC’s rollout requirements. Third, if the deal goes ahead, Dish and Sprint could quickly offer TV, broadband and mobile bundles to compete more effectively with larger integrated telecoms players such as Verizon and AT&T.”

The More Mobile Devices You Have, the More Valuable Mobile Content Becomes

Smartphones aren’t simply transforming the manner in which media is delivered and consumed; they’re transforming its value, as well. The Boston Consulting Group argues that mobile devices are far more than just enablers of media consumption.

In a new report, “Through the Mobile Looking Glass,” BCG notes that consumers’ perceived value of online media increases as they purchase additional mobile devices. According to the firm’s research, there is a 41 percent increase in perceived media value when consumers add a second mobile device to their collection, another 40 percent increase when they add a third, and a 30 percent increase when they add a fourth. In other words, people with more mobile devices value the media they get through them more than those with fewer devices. Makes sense, right? You get more value out of your HBO subscription if you’re able to finish that “Game of Thrones” episode you started watching on your TV set on your iPad while commuting home from work. And if your iPad battery runs out on that trip and you can finish it on your phone? More value still, right?

Senate panel to take up e-mail privacy bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee will mark-up legislation on April 18 that would require police to obtain a warrant to search e-mails and other private online content.

Under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986, police only need a subpoena, issued without a judge's approval, to read emails that have been opened or that are more than 180 days old. Privacy advocates argue the law is woefully out of date and that police should need a judge-approved search warrant, based on probable cause, to view any private online messages. S.607, offered by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), would amend ECPA to require a search warrant regardless of how old the email is. "Safeguarding Americans’ privacy rights is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue— it is something that is important to all Americans, regardless of political party or ideology," Leahy said

Google Fiber Springs Into Action

With winter behind it and spring in the air, Google Fiber is gearing up to extend its broadband and video service packages to almost two dozen "fiberhoods" in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas.

For the spring, Google has set deadlines for 18 fiberhoods on the Kansas side, with customers in four areas – Plaza at Speedway, Stony Point, Melrose and Rainbow Ridge – having until May 30 to make their service selections, before wrapping up spring sign ups on June 20. In Missouri, Google Fiber has pegged May 23 sign up deadlines for the Wornall Homestead and Crossroads fiberhoods. The installation process is already underway in four fiberhoods in Missouri (Crown Center, Midtown, Sunset Hill and South Plaza West; and in seven areas in Kansas (Hanover Heights, Dub’s Dread, Piper Schools, Delaware Ridge, Painted Hills, Open Door, and Arrowhead).

The Health IT Performance Challenge

Never before has the value proposition behind information technology investments in health care been so important.

A performance-based reimbursement landscape requires IT infrastructures that contain costs and boost quality. Three metrics in Title III of the 2010 Affordable Care Act -- value-based purchasing, the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program and hospital acquired medical conditions -- establish a new paradigm for reimbursement at the federal level, where health care organizations must compete for a piece of the pie. This helps to ensure government is reimbursing for the best care available, but the smallest quality gap or error could impact a hospital’s performance ranking and, subsequently, payment.

Competition will likely get more intense if only those with perfect scores reap the benefits. Simply put, much is at stake for health care providers and there is little room for error. To meet the aggressive quality and cost metrics, IT infrastructures that are supported by clinical decision support applications and drive standardization of industry best practices must become a priority. Leveraging limited budget resources will depend on the way health care facilities use clinical decision support technology. That includes tailoring treatment plans for a specific patient and doctor through a combination of CDS tools -- including data-driven alerts, filtered referential information, order sets for specific diagnoses, care plans, surveillance technology and smart documentation forms.

Benton

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