Why not buy the Western Wireless GSM network?
Seeing that we now have massive roaming coverage areas (850 and 1900) with western wireless, and western wireless is being bought by another CDMA carrier why not make a play for their GSM network. I know just last year they bought just about all of the T-mobile network in montana and wyoming and T-mobile would be buying it back (probably marked up) but that is only a fraction of the GSM network they own. Probably not a lot of population in these areas but wouldn't it be nice to have coverage in new places and have it actually be owned by T-mobile? From what I've read they also are sitting on tons of unused licenses that can only be used for GSM, what would Alltel want with these? Just a thought.
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I hear Alltel is using them for the roaming agreements to get some revenue when people roam on the network. Definetly could happen though for the reasons you mentioned. What about T-Mobile making a push for the rest of Cell one which is now owned primarily by Dobson?
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IH8SAMSON said:...
Seeing that we now have massive roaming coverage areas (850 and 1900) with western wireless, and western wireless is being bought by another CDMA carrier why not make a play for their GSM network. I know just last year they bought just about all of the T-mobile network in montana and wyoming and T-mobile would be buying it back (probably marked up) but that is only a fraction of the GSM network they own. Probably not a lot of population in these areas but wouldn't it be nice to have coverage in new places and have it actually be owned by T-mobile? From what I've read they also are sitting on tons of unused licenses that can only be used for GSM, what would Alltel want with these? Just a thought.
(continues)
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where is the logic in that? if there is no benefit in owning the network then why doesn't t-mobile just sell all of their network and then launch their brand as an mvno?
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dca said:
...on Sprint's network...
You are a sick puppy. Seek immediate professional help.
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mr_sparkle said:
where is the logic in that? if there is no benefit in owning the network then why doesn't t-mobile just sell all of their network and then launch their brand as an mvno?
The cost of owning a network outright versus using another's network and paying roaming fees. If the cost benefit is better owning a network of course yes. Likewise if just paying to use someone else's network then that's the choice that should be made.
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From the user's end there would definitely be benefits. You would be able to dial voicemail the same way you do on the tmobile network, MMS would work, you wouldn't have to worry about wether or not that roaming partner reports mobile to mobile information to tmobile(most do but not all), you would be able to dial 611 directly, star codes would work properly, and you wouldnt have to wait days or sometimes weeks for call records to be reported back to tmobile(less late billables is always a good thing). Enough benefits or need I go on?
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One thing you need to remember is that this GSM network is not a "seperate" network throughout. For instance, their network here in West Texas is a combination of GSM, CDMA, TDMA and Analog. You can't just seperate it out.
Also, there are no licenses that "must" be deployed using GSM. The only requirements made by the FCC for the 1900 Mhz spectrum is the transmission method must be digital in nature.
Also, there are no licenses that "must" be deployed using GSM. The only requirements made by the FCC for the 1900 Mhz spectrum is the transmission method must be digital in nature.
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