Dish Allocating $1 Billion to Build 5G Network

[rgMekanic]

FierceWireless spotted a recent SEC filing from dish network that states “In March 2017, we notified the FCC that we plan to deploy a next-generation 5G-capable network, focused on supporting narrowband Internet of Things (“IoT”). The first phase of our network deployment will be completed by March 2020, with subsequent phases to be completed thereafter. We may also determine that additional wireless spectrum licenses may be required to commercialize our wireless business and to compete with other wireless service providers.”

There are a few factors working against Dish at the moment, the main being as of right now there is no approved specifications for a "stand alone" 5G network, meaning the only specifications are for those who have an existing LTE network, and wish to expand to 5G. That however is supposed to change later this year, and having even more competition in the wireless market will be a good thing.

During Dish’s earnings call with investors today, Dish’s Tom Cullen said the carrier is “making good steady progress on the network buildout.” He said Dish has already engaged with network equipment vendors, tower providers and chipset and deployment companies to build out its NB-IoT network. He said the company has also increased its workforce dedicated to its wireless effort.

 

[lollerwaffle]

It'll be fun to watch the FreeMarket(TM) solution providers work this out. Seems like everyone who can fire a bottle rocket is getting in on this racket.

 

[WhoMe]

I remember when Dish was a good company. I wouldn't trust them to keep track of my dog and if I was dumb enough to go IOT in my house Dish would be at the bottom of my list of providers. Competition? Well maybe, or they could bully out some real competitors with crap equipment and low prices, then jack of the price once the competition dies off.

 

[Balkroth]

A few radio manufacturers are getting big into this, so it will be interesting to see how this works, since they have a lot of clout to provide people like dish the equipment for it.

 

[Chunder]

Wish we were building a national network like other nations have done and charge companies for the privilege of using and paying to maintain it based on the number of customers they have... Such a waste of resources building 20 different networks locked to one provider.

 

[opfreak]

Wish we were building a national network like other nations have done and charge companies for the privilege of using and paying to maintain it based on the number of customers they have... Such a waste of resources building 20 different networks locked to one provider.

You are so right. We should also only have windows mobile phones, such a waste to have so many different phone manufactures. One car company as well, heck just 4 cars. small, medium, large, truck. So many resource wasted doing anything else.

 

[B00nie]

Where do they need a 5G network when their cables are congested to 10Mbit/s.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

Where do they need a 5G network when their cables are congested to 10Mbit/s.

One of the theories is that 5G will replace the need for most further cable built-out.

While I strongly disagree for myself, given that most people are on mobile devices of some sort, and that laptops will likely get 5G radios in much greater numbers than the 3G WiMax (sp?) and 4G LTE radios were installed, I can see this working alright for a lot of people in terms of connectivity.

 

[DukenukemX]

As long as it's cheap and they don't expect me to replace my wired home internet with it, I'm fine with this.

 

[B00nie]

One of the theories is that 5G will replace the need for most further cable built-out.

While I strongly disagree for myself, given that most people are on mobile devices of some sort, and that laptops will likely get 5G radios in much greater numbers than the 3G WiMax (sp?) and 4G LTE radios were installed, I can see this working alright for a lot of people in terms of connectivity.

I personally am 100% wireless. I have two LTE modems load balanced as my house net and naturally we all have unlimited data plan LTEs in the cellulars. What I've found though is that the real limiting factor in data is capped bandwith at major routing points internationally. I might have 200Mbit/s locally but only 40Mbit/s when hopping over an ocean or two.

I doubt 5G is going to solve that problem, i.e. greed and undersizing bandwith quotas by the ISP.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

I personally am 100% wireless. I have two LTE modems load balanced as my house net and naturally we all have unlimited data plan LTEs in the cellulars. What I've found though is that the real limiting factor in data is capped bandwith at major routing points internationally. I might have 200Mbit/s locally but only 40Mbit/s when hopping over an ocean or two.

I doubt 5G is going to solve that problem, i.e. greed and undersizing bandwith quotas by the ISP.

Very cool! I'm not yet that brave- but decent home internet isn't that expensive for me either.

And I share your concern about service plans. I don't know what carriers will do, but I am suspecting that they might open up a bit once every laptop comes with a 5G modem (and every car, and everything else...).

 

[B00nie]

I was talking about ISP to ISP quotas, not about private service plans. But I know that in many countries unlimited plans are non existant or very expensive. We're lucky to have completely uncapped LTE. I can download at max speed 24/7 if I wanted for 25 eur/month.

 

[SparkedFire]

You are so right. We should also only have windows mobile phones, such a waste to have so many different phone manufactures. One car company as well, heck just 4 cars. small, medium, large, truck. So many resource wasted doing anything else.

Maybe Windows Phone would have had more apps then?