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Daily news and top headlines for broadband communications engineering and design professionals
Dish leapfrogs Softbank with $25.5B bid for Sprint
April 15, 2013 1:53 pm | by Ben Munsen, Wireless Week | News | CommentsDish Networks' $25.5 billion merger bid for Sprint represents a 13 percent premium over the value of Softbank’s current offer. Softbank’s bid, valued at approximately $20 billion, would put the Japanese cellular giant in control of 70 percent of Sprint.
Motorola connects Howard Community College with POL
April 15, 2013 12:41 pm | Product Releases | CommentsColumbia, Maryland-based Howard Community College is using Motorola Mobility’s passive optical LAN (POL) platform to provide IP connectivity in its new Heath Sciences building. The fiber-optic network will serve more than 1,500 Ethernet ports, and was designed and deployed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
Comcast strikes Ethernet accord with Nationals
April 15, 2013 12:35 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsComcast Business announced today that it has signed a multi-year deal with the Washington Nationals to provide its Ethernet services in the ballpark. The Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) line from Comcast serves as the backbone for Wi-Fi and other data services at Nationals Park.
EU signs off on Liberty Global’s deal to buy Virgin Media
April 15, 2013 12:28 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsThe European Commission announced this morning that it had put its stamp of approval on Liberty Global’s $23 billion purchase of Virgin Media. The European Commission found that the deal, which was announced earlier this year, didn’t raise any competitive concerns.
From NAB: Broadcasters wary of spectrum plans
April 12, 2013 2:13 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsBroadcasters lost access to spectrum in the transition to digital TV in 2009, and are worried they'll lose more under in a complicated reverse auction. The U.S. wants to clear 500 megaHertz of spectrum by 2020, with 120 mHz coming from TV stations.
NBC Sports democratizes streaming
April 12, 2013 1:51 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsCablevision, Comcast Xfinity TV, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS customers are the first to receive NBC Sports Network content, with more to come. NBC, NBC Sports Network and Golf Channel plan to stream more than 4,000 hours and 1,000 events and programs in 2013.
DoJ signs off on Moto/Arris deal
April 12, 2013 12:29 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsArris announced this morning that the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) had signed off on its $2.235 billion deal to buy Motorola Mobility’s Home division from Google.With the DoJ stamp of approval in hand, Arris has cleared all of the regulatory hurdles and expects the transaction to close “on or about April 17.”
Broadcasters counter Aereo with aerial dongles
April 11, 2013 1:55 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe miniature TV antenna picks up free, mobile broadcast signals. It attaches to iPhone and iPad power ports and extends about 7 inches, allowing users to view live local TV channels at not-quite-high-definition quality. The antenna doesn't sap a user's data plan or rely on Wi-Fi signals, but it does need to be recharged.
Cogeco’s Q2 buoyed by ABB acquisition
April 11, 2013 1:37 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsThe MSO reported finishing the quarter with a total of 2.48 million, with 1.9 million Canadian customers and half a million U.S. customers (ABB). In the American cable services segment, PSU increased by 7K in the quarter, with growth in both television and internet subscribership.
Report: NTT top telecom service provider for spending, revenue
April 11, 2013 1:04 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsWhen it comes to revenue and capital expenditures, NTT still ruled the telecom service provider roost worldwide last year, according a recent study. Infonetics Research’s report said the world’s top-three service providers in 2012 by revenue were, in order, NTT, AT&T and Verizon.
TWBC expands fiber reach in Staten Island
April 11, 2013 12:54 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsIn order to better serve businesses, Time Warner Cable Business Class (TWCBC) has expanded its fiber-optic build out in the New York City area to the West Shore of Staten Island. TWCBC partnered with the Staten Island Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC) to bring faster data speeds into the West Shore area.
Microsoft ratchets up ad assault on Google
April 9, 2013 12:44 pm | by Associated Press | News | CommentsMicrosoft is skewering Google again with scathing ads that say as much about the dramatic shift in the technology industry's competitive landscape as they do about the animosity between the two rivals. The missive that began Tuesday marks the third phase in a 5-month-old marketing campaign that Microsoft Corp. derisively calls "Scroogled."
Cox’s Wilson to retire at yearend
April 9, 2013 12:16 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsCox Communications chief content negotiator Bob Wilson will retire at the end of this year after a 34-year career with the company. Wilson joined Cox in 1979 in its Atlanta headquarters. At the time he was one of 45 employees that helped support Cox’s 500,000 customers
Ericsson to acquire Microsoft Mediaroom
April 8, 2013 12:53 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsMicrosoft will invest its full attention on the Xbox as a vehicle for its consumer TV strategy. Ericsson, meanwhile, further solidifies its position in the IPTV market, picking up ongoing support for Mediaroom customers, including AT&T (U-verse), Deutsche Telekom (Entertain), Telefonica, Telus (Optik TV), and Swisscom.
Facebook barges into Google turf
April 5, 2013 2:41 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFacebook Home, the new application that takes over the front screen of a smartphone, is a bit of a corporate home invasion. Facebook is essentially moving into Google's turf, taking advantage of software the search giant and competitor created.
