Google and US DTH provider Dish Network have reportedly discussed partnering up to provide a new wireless service that would take on the big US mobile operators.
Talks were held in the last few weeks but are at a very early stage and could amount to…
Google and US DTH provider Dish Network have reportedly discussed partnering up to provide a new wireless service that would take on the big US mobile operators.
Talks were held in the last few weeks but are at a very early stage and could amount to nothing, reported the Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the discussions.
In an interview with the WSJ, Dish chairman Charlie Ergen said the company had considered partners that were looking to enter the wireless industry. He did not mention specific companies.
Google declined to comment on the report.
However, the search giant has made some tentative steps into building a network through its Google Fiber project, currently restricted to Kansas City. Should the group want to build a significant network it certainly has the cash reserves to do it: US$45.7bn according to its Q3 results.
For its part, Dish has been on the hunt for a partner following its acquisitions of bankrupt satellite firms TerreStar Networks and DBSD (ICO) North America in 2011.
Dish bought those assets for a combined US$3bn primarily to get its hands on their spectrum – the purchases gives it 40 MHz of 2GHz S-band frequencies which could be used to deploy a terrestrial LTE network. However, the satellite company has said that it would not be able to deploy such a nationwide network without a partner.
The FCC also has yet to grant Dish permission to use the spectrum to provide terrestrial services, with a ruling on this expected before the end of the year.
Separately, Dish has recently said it is open to a merger with its DTH rival DirecTV as the US satellite broadcasting market becomes saturated. Ergen said last week that a deal might cut the mustard with the FCC this time around after regulators blocked a tie-up in 2002.
