tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2789017239427251571.post8727196610677738266..comments2024-03-12T00:16:08.021-06:00Comments on Wireless Noise: News, Rumors and Arguments: Don't Overlook the Small GuysOz Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17298717393298238178noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2789017239427251571.post-32177864985185454632011-01-10T20:59:16.488-07:002011-01-10T20:59:16.488-07:00Absolutely! There is indeed a danger of having ju...Absolutely! There is indeed a danger of having just 2 wireless carriers in this country. If the Top 4 are smart, they'll keep buying out the smaller players. Metro & Cricket probably need to combine to survive, and the writing is on the wall for US Cellular. Fortunately, many of the smallest carriers are operated as a wireless arm of a local communications company who really doesn't need to get out of the wireless business. They are indeed viable, but everything has it's price. A half dozen of these very small companies have fallen in the last 2 years to offers too good to refuse.<br /><br />Our aim is to somehow support the small carriers in an effort to delay the inevitable so we don't end up paying monopolistic prices. That situation already exists in other countries.<br /><br />Our support for small carriers is based as much on their higher level of service and attitude. If they lose that, then we're all doomed.Oz Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17298717393298238178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2789017239427251571.post-82401533451990115242011-01-10T18:12:33.362-07:002011-01-10T18:12:33.362-07:00I know you're a fan of the smaller carriers, B...I know you're a fan of the smaller carriers, Bill. However, I'm curious as to what you think about the long term viability of some of these smaller carriers, especially the ones that have built out quality networks. At&t and Verizon have largely gotten to where they're at by swallowing up smaller carriers. Well that and anti-competetive lobbying, but that's another discussion. Anyway, if at&t and Verizon keep growing like gangbusters and Sprint and T-Mobile keep floundering, it seems reasonable that as a last ditch effort to stay relevant, that they might start emulating the top two carriers and start trying to buy up a number of the remaining regionals to expand their coverage in order to better compete. Do you think there's any likelihood of that scenario happening?CookieMonsternoreply@blogger.com