Is AT&T/EchoStar a competitive pitfall for cable?

Change is afoot in the U.S. wireless market with EchoStar’s $23 billion spectrum sale to AT&T—a deal that also has implications for cable operators looking to make their mark in wireless. AT&T’s gain could present a setback for cable companies, increasing their competition while hindering their mobile virtual network operator aspirations, according to BNP Paribas. “We view this as a small negative for the cable industry, as this deal will bolster [AT&T’s] spectrum positioning, giving them growing capacity to offer [fixed wireless access] services,” the firm’s analysts wrote. Not only did cable operators lose another chance to get their hands on spectrum, but the consolidation of Boost also leaves them with fewer options for MVNO arrangements, BNP Paribas noted.