Wireless Watch 671: Verizon is after the wrong prey

Key Issues:

• MNOs will lose 5G rewards to new entrants if they will not share networks 2
• Verizon must behave like a telco again, but Charter is the wrong prey 11

Comment:

• Apple’s lawsuits: same old rows, or the end of the mobile IPR world? 21
• Xiaomi loses Barra to Facebook VR poaching, another blow to growth 26
• Ericsson’s new chief fails to instil confidence as Q4 sinks to a loss 28
• RJio may have missed its chance to be Free-style disruptor in India 31
• Samsung defies Note 7 fiasco with strong profits, LG should ditch handsets 35
• Qualcomm’s TDK JV should close in April, making it an RF heavyweight 37
• Telecoms and digital giants join hands to keep AI from stalling 39

M&A Watch:

Sprint takes feeble aim at TMO with Tidal deal 40

5G Watch:

US incentive auction’s pace slows to a limp 41

4G/5G Watch:

O2 UK chief calls for new spectrum and planning laws to boost mobile 42

IoT Watch:

Hertz and Telefónica lay foundations of connected car industry in LATAM 43

Spectrum Watch:

New FCC chair: hostile to neutrality but creative on spectrum 45

WiFi Watch:

AT&T chooses Chicago for first smart city pilots 46

Operator Watch:

EE turns to growth and stars in beleaguered BT’s results 47