#wireless

Just saw one of the fastest thread takedowns I think I've ever seen. It may have been there a minute or two before I saw it but I was in the middle of responding to it when it disappeared. 😂

I guess it was one of the trolls at T bragging about their new AI something or another that was in the news today.

But it got me to thinking.

What are we doing with our wireless network right now?

I have no idea what we've done recently to improve it.

All I hear about is dark fiber, data centers and free AI training for the nation.

And with T getting two big announcements in two days for their 5G improvements, is Dan's plan to actually let the wireless side kind of fizzle out?

Wireless does seem to be the focus of a lot of the layoffs lately unless I am mistaken.

Houston, TX - Thursday, September 24, 2026
In a brief but consequential status conference Thursday morning, the U.S. Bankruptcy Judge signaled that upcoming hearings in the DISH DBS and DISH Wireless Chapter 11 cases may carry significant repercussions for EchoStar Corporation, the parent entity at the center of governance and independence disputes.

The hearing, held ahead of the September 29 confirmation proceeding for the DBS Debtors' prepackaged plan, quickly shifted toward the growing conflict surrounding the Special Committee Report in the DISH Wireless (DWLLC) case. The report, commissioned to evaluate DWLLC's independence and EchoStar's influence, has become a flashpoint between EchoStar and the Unsecured Creditors' Committee (UCC).

Counsel to the UCC, told the court that EchoStar had delivered its proposed redactions to the Special Committee Report just before the hearing. The counsel emphasized that the Independent Special Committee supports the UCC's emergency motion, which argues that EchoStar's conduct has created an urgent need for disclosure. In that emergency motion, the UCC warned that "EchoStar's actions have impeded the Special Committee's ability to operate independently" and that "the estate cannot be protected unless the Report is promptly filed without improper redactions." The counsel reiterated in Thursday's hearing that urgency from the emergency motion, stating that "if we are not able to work through the redactions and get the report on file in the coming days, we will be seeking the court's intervention."

The Judge responded, "I appreciate it." He then cautiously but pointedly emphasized that he intends to honor the existing standstill until the next major hearing on October 2, when the Special Committee Report and related governance issues will be addressed. The Judge added that the October 2 session is likely to be substantially more involved than Thursday's brief update.

"I suspect that that may be a more robust discussion," the Judge said, referencing the October 2 hearing. The Judge continued that the hearing would give him a clearer picture if they were still going to go forward with the emergency hearing on the 8th and as the Judge put it "what the consequences are, of how I may rule and where things stand in that case.”

The judge's reference to "consequences" was interpreted as a signal that findings related to DWLLC's independence, EchoStar's conduct, or the adequacy of redactions of the Special Committee Report could directly influence the separate October 8 hearing, where the UCC seeks standing to pursue claims against EchoStar and authority to conduct Rule 2004 discovery.

Meanwhile, the DBS Debtors reported progress in resolving objections to their confirmation plan, though multiple broadcaster cure disputes remain active on the docket. The Judge instructed the Dish DBS Debtors to file witness and exhibit lists by September 25, and to provide a full status update by September 28, noting that he intends to prepare over the weekend for the September 29 DBS confirmation hearing.

The court also noted that it remains prepared to rule on Comcast's pending motion to intervene, which seeks to participate in DWLLC’s force‑majeure litigation and argues that DISH Wireless is attempting to develop a factual record that could bind other creditors without their involvement.

With broadcaster objections mounting, the Special Committee Report pending, and two high‑stakes hearings scheduled within the next two weeks, the DISH bankruptcy cases appear poised for a decisive turn.

Hey Verizon!!! Are you having a good day? I hope you are having a good day. T-Mobile is having a great day!!!

T-Mobile scores another 5G first, and customers are already reaping the benefits
https://www.phonearena.com/news/t-mobile-5g-sa-roaming_id183512

https://www.visible.com/m/home?CMP=MarketingTactic-KNC_Site-GAW_Funnel-AC_AudienceType-PSP_Audience-BRO_Tactic-BRA_Initiative-BAU_VideoType-NV&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1508394360&gbraid=0AAAAACaP9A_7ywaObV1nv9YIkiYp13YdZ&gclid=CjwKCAjwn67VBhBnEiwAXUIN1fQ67FggrBRQqSQEY4mabf7mY7ydIne5dBED6vgFUfwW_ejaMPc2RBoCRscQAvD_BwE

HOUSTON, Sept. 13 - The DISH Wireless Debtors dropped a sweeping amended plan on Saturday, carving their case away from the DBS Debtors and adding new governance controls as they brace for a high‑stakes courtroom clash over counsel conflicts.

The Saturday filing is a full redline of the Amended DISH Wireless Plan and Disclosure Statement. The new filing by White & Case, the lead counsel for the debtors, formally bifurcates the estates and hands insider‑related litigation authority to a newly created Special Governance Committee, a move aimed at defusing objections from the U.S. Trustee and unsecured creditors.

The revisions tighten FCC Trust rules, introduce new claim‑treatment exhibits, and clarify that DWLLC’s intercompany loan claim cannot tap FCC Trust recoveries. The changes however stop short of addressing the U.S. Trustee’s central allegation: that White & Case helped structure the disputed intercompany loan and failed to disclose its role.

The timing of a Saturday drop also follows a wave of Friday Ordinary Course Professional Declaration (OCP) declarations and is expected to draw scrutiny at Monday’s hearing. Creditors may challenge the last‑minute filings show the Debtors scrambling to contain governance fallout and avoid removal of restructuring counsel.

Judge Christopher Lopez will need to decide whether parties need more time to review the redlines or proceed directly to argument. A separate Sept. 23 hearing will determine whether DWLLC can remain a debtor‑in‑possession or whether a trustee is needed to take control of the Wireless estate.

The amended plan marks the most aggressive restructuring shift since the merits‑track split, but it remains unclear whether the changes will satisfy the US Trustee's concerns regarding lead council and the creditor's pressing for independent oversight.

I'm hearing there could be reduction/consolidation for Sr. Directors/Directors this week. Music will stop. How many seats will remain? Consolidate more areas? Any intelligence?

A couple of the leaders that “retired” have been near the top of the wireless organization pyramid for a long time. Does anyone know whether this is the just the usual game of leadership musical chairs or whether effective change is coming?

Frontier = fiber-optic internet, TV/streaming, and phone service, mainly for residential/small business, historically stronger in certain regional/rural fiber buildouts.
• Verizon = wireless service (phones, tablets) plus its own home internet (Fios fiber, 5G Home Internet), historically stronger nationwide, especially for mobile.
• Now combined: Since the acquisition, Verizon has been bundling the two — for example, offers combining Frontier fiber internet with Verizon mobile plans, like free months of fiber plus discounted phone lines.

CNXX stock, CharlieE from Dish Wireless, PeterA from Boost Wireless, what are these former wireless CEOs doing now.

99 year leases on 1f to VZW.. frontier purchases. Selling dark fiber, how long before the wireless side is divested? Clearly they keep reducing non union employees numbers to make it a much more appealing sell and locking in the fiber leases secures revenue. The ducks are in a row

SpaceX's first earnings call (Aug 2026) after its June IPO, where President Gwynne Shotwell and CEO Elon Musk announced plans to build a real terrestrial mobile network, not just satellite-to-phone backup service, putting them in direct competition with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

The core plan

• SpaceX is acquiring 65 MHz of spectrum from EchoStar (~$17B deal) that includes rights to build ground-based ("terrestrial") service, not just satellite.
• Instead of building traditional giant cell towers, SpaceX wants to turn existing Starlink satellite dishes (already on rooftops) into small cellular base stations ("femtocells") — cheap and already deployed.
• Musk argues this could give better/higher bandwidth coverage than today's carriers, especially since dishes have unobstructed sky/ground views.
• Shotwell claims the upgraded system (new spectrum + next-gen satellites) will be "100x better" than current Starlink Mobile. New satellites start launching next year (2027), with service beginning end of 2027.
• Shotwell won't disclose the buildout budget — she says the femtocell approach lets them scale spending gradually instead of huge upfront capex.

Why analysts are skeptical

• 65 MHz is tiny next to what AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon collectively hold (over 1,000 MHz).
• One analyst (Craig Moffett) says without an MVNO deal from an existing carrier, Starlink can't realistically be "competitive" in the next 5 years — and the Big 3 have all declined to do MVNO deals with Starlink.
• The Big 3 are pooling spectrum/resources in a joint venture partly to blunt this threat.
• The podcast (Recon Analytics) gives a more detailed, more bullish-but-nuanced technical theory: SpaceX will likely buy 800 MHz spectrum (from a company called Grain, originally from Dish/T-Mobile swap) for wide rural coverage on tall "macro" towers, then densify using its EchoStar/AWS spectrum, and eventually buy upper C-band spectrum for cities — all timed around the 2027 5G-NTN satellite standard. Their view: SpaceX will dominate rural coverage and be a real disruptor, but won't fully replace AT&T/Verizon/T-Mobile as a nationwide equal within the next several years.
• The IEEE ComSoc "Analysis & Opinion" piece (AI-assisted) argues the most likely outcome isn't a full carrier build-out or acquiring a carrier, but a hybrid: buy spectrum + selectively lease/acquire small assets, build only where economically justified, and lean on satellite for the rest — because SpaceX's capital is increasingly being pulled toward AI data center spending instead.

Bottom line: SpaceX/Starlink is signaling serious intent to become a real, direct competitor to the wireless carriers — not just a satellite backup service — using spectrum it's acquiring and a low-cost "distributed small station" approach rather than traditional towers. Nearly everyone agrees this is a real threat (all three carriers' stocks dropped after the earnings call), but there's real debate over the timeline (2027 vs. 2030+) and whether it ever becomes a true fourth national carrier versus a strong niche/rural player that pressures the incumbents.

How to separate the real signals from the hype: Starlink's business opportunity is narrower than marketing suggests.Large businesses (72%) are most receptive to Starlinkaugmented ISPs. Midsize (62%) and small businesses (44%) less so 12
27% of small businesses stay with bad providers because there are no alternatives—this is Starlink's strongest directsales case Starlink wins in coverage gaps, not headtohead competition with fiber/cable in dense areas.. Direct toDevice (D2D) is technically real—but limitedFrom measurement based research (arXiv, May 2025): ~4 Mbps per beam in outdoor conditions—functional for basic services, far below terrestrial averages.
Service progression is gradual:

1. Text messaging
2. Limited voice/lowrate data
3. Basic web in uncovered areas
4. Higher speeds later (more satellites, spectrum)
   Reality check: D2D works, but it's not 5G replacement territory yet.. Spectrum sharing is the real battleground Starlink doesn't want Cband auctions—it wants to share spectrum This a "power play"—if SpaceX gets this, what stops them from getting any spectrum they want? Wireless industry (CTIA) wants auctions; Starlink wants flexible sharing frameworks
   This is about regulatory strategy. Carrier partnerships are pragmatic, not strategic surrender.TMobile's SuperBroadband (5G + Starlink) uses satellite as failover/backup 2
   AT&T/Verizon's joint satellite initiative is technical alignment, not a defensive wall 5
   Carriers retain customer relationships; Starlink becomes infrastructure layer
   Carriers aren't folding—they're hedging.
   Physics constraints: limited spectrum per beam, shared capacity, lineofsight requirements
   Starlink lacks: retail distribution, billing infrastructure, customer support at carrier scale
   Current capacity: ~4 Mbps vs. terrestrial 5G at 100+ Mbps 3
   Starlink complements coverage; it doesn't replace dense networks.
   D2D messaging market is modest—Apple's Globalstar deal costs ~$100M/year for global coverage 6
   Economic return unclear on D2D investments
   Regulatory hurdles remain significant (some countries ban terrestrial spectrum use from space).D2D is a coverage feature, not a standalone business model.
   Carriers own spectrum, customers, and terrestrial infrastructure
   They can diversify (AST SpaceMobile, OneWeb, etc.)
   Dependency would commoditize carriers—they'll resist.Carriers will use Starlink selectively, not surrender control.Starlink will monopolize satellite telecom" Starlink has a huge lead but won't monopolize the global market:
   Competition from: Amazon Kuiper, OneWeb/Eutelsat, AST SpaceMobile, traditional GEO providers.Starlink leads, but the market is multiplayer.What's actually happening is subtler but more important:Starlink's biggest opportunity: filling coverage gaps + backup connectivity. Not replacing fiber/cable in competitive markets.Carrier channels (TMobile, Comcast) can reach enterprise accounts Starlink can't efficiently
   Cband spectrum request is a "power play" to establish precedent for spectrum sharing 4
   D2D market size far smaller than fixed broadband opportunity.
   Wireless industry shouldn't pop champagne yet on Cband. Outcome uncertain; compromises possible (some spectrum for exclusive use, some for satellite sharing)
   Starlink is becoming infrastructure layer that carriers may rent. Regulatory flexibility (spectrum sharing, buildout waivers) is the key variable Coverage gaps and backup are the nearterm sweet spots
   What to watch:
   FCC decisions on spectrum sharing and buildout requirements
   Carrier responses (partnerships vs. competitive satellite investments)
   Actual D2D performance as more satellites deployThe shift is from "satellite vs. telecom" to "satellite as part of telecom"—but that's a gradual evolution, not a sudden takeover.

Why just wait, let’s act! Crown Castle’s nationwide portfolio of communications infrastructure provides an ideal platform to accelerate Starlink’s vision of a hybrid satellite and terrestrial network. By integrating Starlink equipment and direct-to-cell technology at select Crown Castle sites, SpaceX could rapidly expand coverage, reduce deployment costs, and improve resilience without the time and capital required to build an entirely new terrestrial footprint.

For Crown Castle, the partnership would create a new source of long-term infrastructure demand as wireless networks evolve beyond traditional macro towers. Instead of viewing satellite connectivity as a competitive threat, Crown Castle could position itself as the preferred infrastructure partner for next-generation hybrid communications.

Together, the companies could:

• Extend reliable connectivity into rural and underserved communities.
• Strengthen emergency and disaster-response communications.
• Reduce cellular dead zones through integrated satellite and terrestrial coverage.
• Accelerate deployment of direct-to-cell services using existing infrastructure.
• Create a scalable model for the future of global wireless connectivity.

A partnership would allow each company to leverage its core strengths: Starlink’s advanced satellite network and Crown Castle’s extensive terrestrial infrastructure. The result could be a faster, more cost-effective path to building a truly seamless communications network than either company could achieve independently.

We don’t want to wither away right? Can someone please get this going - both in Texas it makes sense!

Look what do we have in the Gartner MQ leader. Well yeah switching and wireless, but what else?

Not SASE, and his you want to drink some water and what pipe BS.

How long has he been in charge of product with no innovation leadership??

Just promoting himself sadly

This doesn’t apply to any other BUs but confirmed no LRs in August for Wireless. Holding on to Wi-Fi 8 and MCG for dear life. The AI stuff is just window dressing but it opens doors so they will keep at it. Lotsa openings in India, but hiring there is slow.

Email went out announcing that the AVP for Wireless Supply Chain will transition to the N&T Fiber team in September.

I wonder what the next few weeks of shuffling and reorgs will look like.

It's not exactly a startup since it's been around for a while, but I'm still a bit uncertain about its future. Would you take the risk?

AT&T recorded 367,000 fiber net additions and 279,000 fixed wireless net additions. Fiber connections rose 22.8% year over year to 12.87 million, while fixed wireless connections climbed 77.4% to 2.61 million. Thank you JS and RTO!!!

July has been talked about for 2 months now as the "big one" but will it be and who's getting hit? Wireless? Wireline? Retail? I know we will find out next week, if true, but if anyone is aware please share. Thanks.

In addition PE Firm acquiring Wireless Maritime(Cruise Ships)

to maintain the towers. The general contractor then hires cheap, underpaid, unsafe, and sometimes undocumented labor to maintain the towers. VZ knows this, but can claim ignorance (we hired E/// to maintain it, not our problem....). Willful ignorance on the part of VZ. Happening across the country.

https://wirelessestimator.com/articles/2026/verizons-move-on-carolina-west-wireless-gives-fcc-chairman-carr-a-clear-leverage-point-on-contractor-commitments/

Directly from the article:
Ericsson, which Verizon selected as a preferred supplier despite that company having eliminated its entire U.S. field services operation in October 2023 — laying off approximately 750 employees — has no self-performing crews and will subcontract the work it has been awarded. That subcontract market is where undocumented workers, misclassified 1099 labor, and suppressed safety standards are most concentrated.

There are too many posts on this board expressing animosity between the wireless and wireline sides of the business. If you’re contributing to this animosity, you should stop! It’s silly! I’ll explain why below.

One recurring theme is that wireless couldn’t survive without wireline. Way back when, all wireless operators used T-1s and DS-3s and that generated quite a bit of revenue for the LECs. As capacity needs increased, they shifted to fiber about 20 years ago. There are a lot of fiber providers so wireless is no longer dependent on wireline but getting fiber from your own company is better for the balance sheet. Would you rather we paid AT&T for fiber?

It’s also true that wireless was initially financed by wireline but so what? Wireline saw an opportunity and they took it. T-Mobile was financed by investors outside of wireline and they’re doing just fine.

In short, wireless would do just fine without wireline and wireline would do fine without wireless but they are better together because there are significant synergies including bundling services. So stop this silliness! There’s enough drama and nonsense in the company and you don’t need to add to that.

Starlink/SpaceX will be going after every cable and fiber ISP customer as early as this year. AST SpaceMobile which we have like a 2% stake in (Somebody somewhere in AT&T had a brain) will be going after the wireless customers as early as next year. Rocket Lab and Space X in the satellite payload biz. Rocket Lab and SpaceX beaming solar energy back to the ground. Meanwhile AT&T employees will be monitoring their presence reports. Is 7.7 hours enough? Good news. 6.7 is enough!

https://seekingalpha.com/pr/20523544-at-and-t-makes-19-billion-commitment-to-bring-high-speed-connectivity-to-california

I heard that the Cisco Wireless team was also affected due to low revenue in last layoff. Do you have any idea about the current situation with Cisco Spaces, Meraki, and the DNAC team?

https://youtu.be/VYaMPUHoQJ0?si=067YVl9oQ2XkEukG

A lot of chatter around layoffs, but it seems that they are going to just starve out and fire folks in the B2B Mid Market space. Unattainable quotas, 30 day PIP process, calls for 75% of our time which limits finding real deals within our base. Over 22 years with the company, I cost more than most of my peers. I would be a natural layoff candidate. Would love to hang for a RIF, but I do not think they are ever going to let us go like that when they can get rid of us all free.

Anyone see it differently?

The wireless industry does not traditionally have a great reputation when it comes to being transparent. That was the basis of T-Mobile’s entire Un-carrier strategy, which forced Verizon and AT&T to drop what used to be the mainstays of how the industry charged.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/verizon-ceo-admits-apologized-huge-172100197.html

https://youtube.com/shorts/RZzdS6PArYw?si=cRm6Isbud72QKxZy

Since the beginning of this week the signal has dropped to one or two bars. Is there something up with our Fem to cell repeaters?

Happy former 30 year employee and current interest is only as an investor. Verizon needs to become a pure play Consumer focused company Wireless/Internet. Parts are worth more than the sum. Verizon Business would be one example. Sell it and other lower margin businesses to PE markets. Regulated side is more difficult to divest due to the obvious reasons.

Insider here.
If you're in wireless, GET OUT. NOW.
No joke.

Verizon is now offering a better deal than Xfinity mobile or Spectrum mobile.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/verizon_frontier-is-joining-verizon-activity-7422324405147598849-GOkc

We now go back to our regularly scheduled programming of hating on Verizon and its leadership

Ericsson, T-Mobile, Telefónica Announce Early 2026 Job Cuts

https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/2026-layoff-tracker

Ericsson announced 1,600 job cuts in Sweden on January 15. This represents a 12% reduction in its home country workforce. T-Mobile also quietly reduced sales positions nationwide, as reported on January 12. Telefónica plans up to 5,000 layoffs, mostly in Spain, by year-end. The company will offer $3 billion in compensation to affected employees.

layoffs/store closures if anyone’s aware? I hear traffic is non existent

Where are all the wireless people who tell us how much better they are than landline today? Working to fix this outage I hope

Nope.

https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/att-hunt-more-345-ghz-spectrum

What else T does and should do to survive the next 20 years?