Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications
Posted: 02/07/12 by Mobile Future Team
State regulators have gathered from across the country this week for the winter meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) here in Washington. Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter participated on a lively panel exploring the exploding demand for mobile connectivity, and what a predicted spectrum crunch means for consumers and the nation’s economy.
Consider the benefits of mobile broadband: constant and instant connectivity with people around the world in the palm of your hand. Near limitless possibilities for innovation and investment. In the U.S., one of the crucial benefits of wireless is the impact on the economy. Researchers Robert Shapiro and KevinHassett concluded that transitions from early wireless networks to more advanced 3G and 4G technology led to some 1.5 million new jobs from April 2007 to June 2011. For every additional 10% increase in adoption of 3G and 4G technologies, 231,000 new jobs may be added in less than a year. Plus, with an additional 500 MHz of spectrum for mobile, the Analysis Group conservatively estimates that we can create 500,000 American jobs and add $400 billion to the nation’s GDP. Spectrum is the lifeblood of wireless, becoming more and more vital to our economy and how we conduct our everyday lives.
No one wants to go back to the days of the ‘busy signal.’ If we don’t reallocate more spectrum for wireless now, the capacity constraints could wreak havoc on the consumer experience - more dropped calls, stalled apps, and slow mobile Internet connections. State and federal regulators alike need to support policies that help get spectrum to those who need it the most – the 300 million wireless consumers.
So what can state policymakers do? Some states have the authority to review secondary market transactions within their state. Timely approval of thosetransactions is necessary so providers can swiftly make the best use of thespectrum that is available to them. Additionally, state regulators can help educate local municipalities. Acting as a resource on the capacity constraints of wireless networks may help to smooth tower siting approvals so providers can build out and expand their networks, allowing consumers to continue to enjoy unfettered access to mobile broadband.
State regulators should also encourage their federal counterparts to act now to free more spectrum for mobile. Congress is working on federal legislation authorizing the FCC to conduct incentive auctions and we strongly urge them to enact legislation quickly. As Jonathan said yesterday, “we need to stop playing games; it can take seven to 10 years to put any new spectrum into not only the pipeline but into commercial deployment. We don’t have time to waste.”
Consumers are demanding a mobile future. Policymakers must act now on these opportunities, before the spectrum crunch becomes a reality and millions of Americans are left waiting for many of the advantages mobile broadband can offer.
Posted: 01/31/12 by Jonathan Spalter
On Capitol Hill today lawmakers discussed the urgent need to address spectrum capacity to meet exploding consumer demand for wireless connectivity. And not a moment too soon. In today’s wireless market, data-intensive mobile devices are gobbling bandwidth at an astounding rate, literally sucking the oxygen out of the wireless ecosystem. In fact, the FCC’s own data shows the U.S. exhausting its current supply of mobile spectrum by 2013.
It’s critical that policymakers move immediately to sustain the pace of mobile innovation and investment in the United States. And one of the more immediate ways they can do is to move ahead now with voluntary spectrum auctions. Implementing a spectrum auction process that is open to all stakeholders will continue to fuel economic recovery and help ensure that consumers will have enough spectrum to meet exponentially growing demand in today’s competitive wireless market.
It is well documented that the expansion of licensed wireless broadband networks and services is driving economic growth, creating jobs, and enhancing productivity. In fact, a study released last week by economists Robert Shapiro and Kevin Hassett indicated the transition from 2G to 3G created almost 1.6 million jobs between April 2007 and June 2011, and the build out of 4G should add over 230,000 new U.S. jobs by the end of this year.
Now is the time for leadership. Policymakers on Capitol Hill, at the FCC and in the Administration must work together to chart a clear path to address the nation's immediate spectrum deficit. More than 300 million wireless consumers are waiting. And the clock is ticking.
Posted: 01/26/12 by Mobile Future Team
This report examines how the next wave of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and other connected devices will further accelerate mobile opportunity and exacerbate the looming spectrum crunch. The report authored by Jim Kohlenberger, former White House policy advisor and Mobile Future advisory board member, points to a nation on the verge of a wireless-driven technological revolution fueled by a vast sea of breakthrough connected devices offering astonishing new digital opportunities.
Click here to read The Internet’s Third Act: The Connected Device Decade.
Posted: 11/15/11 by Mobile Future Team
Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter sent a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction urging the Committee to call for voluntary spectrum auctions to meet growing consumer demand, reduce the deficit and spur lasting economic recovery and job creation.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 10/20/11
Join Mobile Future, wireless entrepreneurs and key policy makers for a fast-paced discussion of the opportunities for continued investment and innovation in the mobile space. Hear experts delve into key issues and trends, including panel discussions on:
Big Market Opportunities: From the Apps economy, to new uses of mobile in healthcare or other key sectors, where are the next big opportunities in the mobile space?
Preparing for the Mobile Future: With all eyes focused on wireless innovation and new business opportunities, what are the key building blocks needed to ensure that innovation and growth continue in today’s vibrant mobile ecosystem?
Speakers include:
Jonathan Aberman, Founder & Managing Director, Amplifier
Mary Brown, Director of Government Affairs, Cisco
Peter Corbett, Founder & CEO, iStrategyLabs
Paul de Sa, FCC Strategic Planning & Policy Bureau Chief
Rick Kaplan, FCC Wireless Bureau Chief
Jim Kohlenberger, President, JK Strategies
Sanjay Macwan, Assistant Vice President, AT&T Chief Technology Office
Catharine McNally, Founder, Keen Guides
Doug Naegele, President, Infield Health
Jonathan Spalter, Chairman, Mobile Future
Bryan Tramont, Managing Partner, Wilkinson, Barker & Knauer
Also, enjoy cutting edge demonstrations from:
Posted: 10/05/11 by Mobile Future Team
The fall Mobile Future Forum will be held in Washington on Tuesday, October 25. The event will bring together forward-looking technology and communications innovators, apps developers as well as key policy leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges in today’s wireless sector.
For more details, click here.
Posted: 09/12/11 by Mobile Future Team
The Obama Administration signaled its intention to include a measure to expand wireless coverage and increase mobile spectrum as part of the American Jobs Act. Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter responded to the measure, stating:
“We applaud the President’s recognition of the crucial role mobile broadband can play in spurring job growth and boosting the nation’s economy. Recent data shows that making additional spectrum available for wireless will lead to 500,000 new jobs in America. We strongly encourage lawmakers to make more wireless spectrum available quickly to meet exploding consumer demand, fuel our technology-driven economy, and unleash investment and new economic opportunities.”
To read the full statement, go here.
Posted: 08/24/11 by Mobile Future Team
Today, Mobile Future and Roger Entner of Recon Analytics, released a new report, What’s It Worth To You? Comparing Wireless Pricing in 14 Countries. The analysis finds that Americans consume more than five times the wireless services at more affordable rates than those in key countries around the world.
“Never has it been cheaper and more affordable for Americans to take full advantage of all that mobile connectivity has to offer,” Entner said. “Putting both voice and data spending together, Americans pay more than $4 less per month on mobile communications than they did three years ago, all while enjoying faster speeds and increased utility through more applications and tools. That is a remarkable value given the exponential growth in recent years in U.S. mobile Internet use.”
Among the key findings of the report, the United States is:
- #1 in Overall Value: From 2007 to 2010, consumer spending on wireless voice and data combined has dropped more than $4 per month.
- #1 in Lowest Per-Minute Costs: U.S. consumers get significantly more “bang for their buck” with one minute of average work earnings buying 19 minutes of talk time – nearly four times more than the second most affordable country, Finland where one minute of work buys 5 minutes of talk time.
- #1 in Mobile Voice Usage: In 2010 Americans talked 875 minutes per month on their mobile devices—more than the next two most talkative countries combined—Canada (375 minutes) and Israel (360 minutes).
- #1 in consumption: Americans consume more wireless minutes, messages and data than anywhere else while paying less than nearly all the countries surveyed.
“American consumers are leading the world in embracing the mobile future, and the value they receive for their hard-earned dollar is the envy of the world,” said Mobile Future Chair Jonathan Spalter. “This is a testament to the intensely competitive nature of the U.S. mobile marketplace and the untapped potential that still exists to create jobs and move our innovation economy forward if we take the right policy steps today, particularly in the spectrum arena, to continue the rapid expansion of the mobile Internet here in the United States.”
To read the full statement, go here.
Posted: 05/27/11 by Jonathan Spalter
Part of what makes America a global leader—from innovation, to our economy to our democracy—is the notion that we can always do better. It’s an important principle that keeps us on our toes and pushing the boundaries of progress. Currently in the world of mobile innovation, much attention is rightly focused on ensuring our nation keeps its competitive edge with the world—while reaping the many benefits of intensive wireless competition for consumers here at home.
From speculation about the Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming annual report on wireless competition, and the debates about the proposed purchase by AT&T of T-Mobile, we hear from many corners that our nation can do better. While I believe that is always the case, I fear that getting lost in the debate is the critical acknowledgement that our nation has the most competitive wireless market on earth. From innovative devices to exceptional value on our monthly bills to the boom in applications, our nation leads the world. And, while we push to make continued progress, it’s equally important that we stop and recognize the many things we’re already getting right.
In the early years of wireless, competition could be measured by a simple yardstick: How many carriers were in the market? That remains an important question, but many new ones deserve equal time. In today’s rich, diverse, and ever innovating mobile ecosystem, the benchmarks are far more complex and rapidly shifting. From applications and devices to new business models and market players, assessing the rapidly expanding mobile marketplace is a far more complex endeavor.
As important competition debates get underway, here are six things to consider:
1) 5+ National Carriers. Let’s start with the old stand-by—number of carriers—and face the elephant in the room: Even with an AT&T-T-Mobile merger, the vast majority of Americans will have no less than 5 national carriers to choose from—before you even get to the nimble regional players who are establishing a strong foothold in key markets today.
2) The Price is Right. Think about how you use your mobile device today versus just three years ago. U.S. consumers enjoy the lowest wireless per-minute voice prices in the world and have options to add data for as little as $15 a month. It all adds up to real value.
3) Diverse devices, diverse choices. Americans can choose from more than 630 devices supplied by at least 32 manufacturers... and counting. Our mobile hungry public is a magnet for intense competition in this segment of the marketplace, as well. The latest evidence? The early success of the iPad proved the viability and size of the fast-emerging tablet market and—thanks to competition—many other market players are joining the fray, including Samsung, Blackberry, Motorola and other tech heavyweights.
4) Apps Abound. It began with the introduction of Apple’s app store in 2008. Today, U.S. wireless customers can access nearly 1 million mobile applications from 26 competing apps stores. This marketplace has seen astronomical growth -- more than 10 billion app downloads from the Apple store alone by last count -- and is just getting started. By 2015, the “apps economy” is projected to generate $38 billion in sales—those are real jobs and economic opportunities flowing primarily to the U.S.
5) New Entrants, New Rivalries. With the current environment of constant innovation, new and serious competitors are emerging. Many in the tech world are closely watching Microsoft’s purchase of Skype. Is the Redmond company on the fast track to becoming the next major wireless provider? Will this new combination catalyze the nascent video chat market? Another potential disruptor is the recent claim of Google’s Eric Schmidt that the company’s Android phone wallet “could replace your credit card.” The mobile payment market barely exists in the U.S. today, but it is likely to take shape quickly and have far-reaching implications throughout the mobile ecosystem.
6) Customer Satisfaction. And let’s not forget what consumers themselves have to say about their mobile experience: 92% of U.S. wireless customers tell the FCC they are satisfied with their mobile service. Those are boffo numbers for any heavily used retail offering and a strong indication that value, innovation and choice abound.
Americans get an incredible amount of value and innovation from their mobile experience. And, in no small measure, credit is due to policymakers who for the past couple of decades have gotten it right by taking a light-touch approach to regulation. Their vigilance today is admirable—and appropriate. But it doesn’t change the fact that American mobile innovation remains the envy of the world and there’s no reason to believe consumers won’t continue to enjoy these mobile benefits and opportunities going forward. Without a doubt, we must stay on our toes to continue the success story, to continue to innovate, and to continue to stay competitive globally. But key to maintaining our edge is recognizing the extraordinary competition that has carved it so sharply to date.
Jonathan Spalter, chairman of Mobile Future, has been founding CEO of leading technology, media, and research companies, including Public Insight, Snocap, and Atmedica Worldwide. He served as an advisor to and spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration.
Mobile Future is a 501(c)(4) coalition comprised of and supported by technology businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. For a full list of members and sponsors and to learn more about the coalition, go to www.mobilefuture.org.
Follow Jonathan Spalter on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mobilefuture
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 05/19/11 by Jonathan Spalter
Smartphones, tablets and an ever-expanding array of mobile gadgetry have become ubiquitous in society. In ways large and small, we all bear witness every day to the fact that modern life is being transformed by the power of the Internet in the palms of our hands.
What makes it all possible? A pivotal resource with an elusive definition. In geek-speak we call it spectrum. But what IS spectrum? In a nutshell, it is the essential 'invisible infrastructure' that makes all mobile connectivity possible. Without allocating more spectrum for mobile, our nation's appetite for wireless could outstrip capacity in as little as three to four years.
Today, Mobile Future is releasing a video, "Spectrum: Fueling the Mobile Future," that seeks to explain why we need more spectrum to power the ongoing expansion of the mobile Internet, and the strong stake our nation's 300 million wireless consumers have in what has so far been a highly technical and inside-Washington debate about the future of this critical resource.
What's driving the sense of urgency? Fast-expanding mobile connectivity is poised to power the next wave of American innovation and job creation. Ensuring there's adequate spectrum to keep pace is essential to the quality and reliability of mobile service that consumers take for granted today.
A few key facts about the coming (yet easily avoided) mobile capacity crunch:
- Smartphones Set the Stage. Smartphones, with their robust and appealing capabilities, generate 24 times more data traffic than a basic feature cell phone--putting vast and quickly escalating strain on existing mobile network capacity;
- Tablet Torrent. As consumers quickly embrace additional devices, led by iPads and other tablets, these devices generate 120 times the data traffic of basic cell phones;
- Everyone's Smart. By next year, more than half of all new phones purchased will be smartphones, exponentially driving up demand for adequate spectrum; and
- Everything Connects. By 2014, 70% of all consumer electronics (not to mention medical, education, public safety and business tools) will connect to the mobile Internet.
Too little spectrum leaves too few options for the mobile innovation community: Unreliable service and performance, potentially higher connectivity costs and even rationing of wireless services. The good news? It doesn't have to be that way. If Washington takes the right steps, right now, to constructively address the spectrum crisis and meet fast-expanding consumer demand, we can have all the wireless Internet we need to keep the mobile future bright.
Today, over 300 million American consumers take their mobile connectivity for granted. And, 90% of us feel so strongly about this connectivity that we keep our favorite device close to our hearts--literally within arm's reach 24 hours a day. To keep mobile connectivity working for all of us, it's time to raise our voices and be clear to our nation's leaders: We need spectrum now.
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Follow Jonathan Spalter on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mobilefuture
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Tags: Congress, Consumer Awareness, Consumer Benefits, Innovation, Mobile Future, Mobile Future Board, Jonathan Spalter, News, Smartphone, Spectrum, Wireless Devices, Wireless Innovation, Looming Spectrum Crisis