Comments on: Out of the box? https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2012/10/16/out-of-the-box/ Satellites, spectrum and other stuff Tue, 03 Feb 2026 21:36:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: TMF Associates MSS blog » It’s complicated… https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2012/10/16/out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-1028 TMF Associates MSS blog » It’s complicated… Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:31:38 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=3733#comment-1028 [...] put this spectrum to use for the benefit of consumers”. After all DISH appears to have had a potential deal with Clearwire on the table for several months, held up only by delays in the FCC’s approval (which were [...] [...] put this spectrum to use for the benefit of consumers”. After all DISH appears to have had a potential deal with Clearwire on the table for several months, held up only by delays in the FCC’s approval (which were [...]

]]> By: TMF Associates MSS blog » Things to do in Denver when your deal’s dead… https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2012/10/16/out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-999 TMF Associates MSS blog » Things to do in Denver when your deal’s dead… Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:41:56 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=3733#comment-999 [...] only has the Softbank deal enabled Sprint to escape from the box DISH had been trying to put it in, but by buying McCaw’s stake in Clearwire, and indicating [...] [...] only has the Softbank deal enabled Sprint to escape from the box DISH had been trying to put it in, but by buying McCaw’s stake in Clearwire, and indicating [...]

]]> By: Sprint’s investment designed to scare off Clearwire suitors » India Telecom Tracker https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2012/10/16/out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-998 Sprint’s investment designed to scare off Clearwire suitors » India Telecom Tracker Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:47:00 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=3733#comment-998 [...] more: - see this Fitch release - see this BTIG blog post (reg. req.) - see this TFM Associates blog post - see this Bloomberg article - see this Analysys Mason [...] [...] more: – see this Fitch release – see this BTIG blog post (reg. req.) – see this TFM Associates blog post – see this Bloomberg article – see this Analysys Mason [...]

]]> By: timfarrar https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2012/10/16/out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-996 timfarrar Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:49:23 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=3733#comment-996 Given that Eagle River did a back room deal with Ergen that enabled DISH to snatch DBSD away from Harbinger and MetroPCS back in March 2011, it seems plausible that they could have also have been playing a role in any prospective Clearwire-DISH deal (remember also that Pendrell, formerly ICO, is focused on IP rights for DRM/mobile video distribution, which would potentially play a major role in a DISH LTE network deployment). It seems hard to imagine that Sprint would buy McCaw's CLWR equity so quickly unless it was to derail an impending DISH-CLWR deal (which would have been waiting for what is presumably an imminent FCC AWS-4 approval - and if that had been secured earlier the deal would perhaps have been announced by Ergen at PCIA). Could Clearwire still go ahead and do a deal with DISH if FCC approval comes through shortly? That is perhaps theoretically possible (because Sprint won't actually be nominating a majority of board seats), but if Sprint is holding out the prospect of <a href="http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprint-despite-majority-stake-we-dont-control-clearwire/2012-10-22" rel="nofollow">buying Intel and Comcast's stakes within the next 30 days</a>, then that seems to be a pretty good way to ensure that Clearwire's other board members don't go against Sprint's wishes. With respect to MVDDS, perhaps this could provide additional capacity for wireless backhaul (or distribution of streaming video?) in a DISH network deployment (after all, much of Clearwire's network currently uses wireless backhaul). But now the question is more likely how/whether a DISH network deployment can be done at all without the Clearwire assets, and if anyone is prepared to back a new entrant if the four existing national players are all in relatively good financial shape. Given that Eagle River did a back room deal with Ergen that enabled DISH to snatch DBSD away from Harbinger and MetroPCS back in March 2011, it seems plausible that they could have also have been playing a role in any prospective Clearwire-DISH deal (remember also that Pendrell, formerly ICO, is focused on IP rights for DRM/mobile video distribution, which would potentially play a major role in a DISH LTE network deployment).

It seems hard to imagine that Sprint would buy McCaw’s CLWR equity so quickly unless it was to derail an impending DISH-CLWR deal (which would have been waiting for what is presumably an imminent FCC AWS-4 approval – and if that had been secured earlier the deal would perhaps have been announced by Ergen at PCIA).

Could Clearwire still go ahead and do a deal with DISH if FCC approval comes through shortly? That is perhaps theoretically possible (because Sprint won’t actually be nominating a majority of board seats), but if Sprint is holding out the prospect of buying Intel and Comcast’s stakes within the next 30 days, then that seems to be a pretty good way to ensure that Clearwire’s other board members don’t go against Sprint’s wishes.

With respect to MVDDS, perhaps this could provide additional capacity for wireless backhaul (or distribution of streaming video?) in a DISH network deployment (after all, much of Clearwire’s network currently uses wireless backhaul).

But now the question is more likely how/whether a DISH network deployment can be done at all without the Clearwire assets, and if anyone is prepared to back a new entrant if the four existing national players are all in relatively good financial shape.

]]> By: clytle33 https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2012/10/16/out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-995 clytle33 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:13:30 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=3733#comment-995 Tim, Any thoughts on DISH purchase of remaining Top 40 market MVDDS spectrum from AMCX/Cablevision. With control of top 40 markets and path to ownership on other markets, can this downlink capacity be used with DISH existing spectrum? Or since all the interference issues were with DISH/DTV (if it really was an issue), do you see potential two-way usage. I also heard that FCC was looking at using MVDDS spectrum for wireless backhaul. Thanks for your comments. Chris Tim,

Any thoughts on DISH purchase of remaining Top 40 market MVDDS spectrum from AMCX/Cablevision. With control of top 40 markets and path to ownership on other markets, can this downlink capacity be used with DISH existing spectrum? Or since all the interference issues were with DISH/DTV (if it really was an issue), do you see potential two-way usage. I also heard that FCC was looking at using MVDDS spectrum for wireless backhaul. Thanks for your comments.

Chris

]]> By: telcominvestor https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2012/10/16/out-of-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-994 telcominvestor Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:46:03 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=3733#comment-994 Tim- Any additional thoughts on Dish/Clearwire after all the dust has settled. Seems to me that Sprint merely moved the economic needle slightly above 50% from 48% by purchasing McCaw's interest... Or was this entirely about blocking Ergen? From my understanding, Clearwire remains independent as has the flexibility to continue to structure deals with their spectrum, but I am assuming Sprint did not just pay $100 million to acquire a small incremental percentage because they had nothing better to do with that capital... what gives? I should point out that Eagle River first notified the other shareholders on the 13th, which means they were a party to the Sprint/Softbank deal getting done. Tim-
Any additional thoughts on Dish/Clearwire after all the dust has settled. Seems to me that Sprint merely moved the economic needle slightly above 50% from 48% by purchasing McCaw’s interest… Or was this entirely about blocking Ergen? From my understanding, Clearwire remains independent as has the flexibility to continue to structure deals with their spectrum, but I am assuming Sprint did not just pay $100 million to acquire a small incremental percentage because they had nothing better to do with that capital… what gives?

I should point out that Eagle River first notified the other shareholders on the 13th, which means they were a party to the Sprint/Softbank deal getting done.

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