c2,
<< 1xRTT overlay of GSM MAP ... It could also be useful should a number of CDMA/GSM carriers merge. >>
I certainly agree it would be useful for them assuming that the overlay provides the proper degree of interoperability between the 2 core networks. Telefonica is in this boat. others could be.
It is however a very small opportunity.
VoiceStrean has gobbled up the larger GSM carriers in the US (Omnipoint, Ariel, Powertel) other than BellSouth Mobility and PacBell which are part of Cingular.
There are perhaps another 15 smaller GSM carriers in the US, but those are most likely to be swallowed eventually by VoiceStream or Cingular or AWS, because they fill holes where VoiceStream or Cingular have no direct coverage or where AWS has limited spectrum.
There isn't much GSM to grab in Latin America that isn't controlled by TIM or Telecel, and what there is will progress with GSM.
MEA is pretty solidly GSM, and I don't see much chance of a CDMA operator making acquisitions there.
The 2 3GSM carriers in Japan sure aren't interested in 1xRTT, as they are the most zealously committed to WCDMA.
Reliance might want to convert GSM properties in India.
That brings us back to Unicom, Telefonica, and Telstra and perhaps one or 2 others.
The trick is to get 1xRTT commercialized in order for it to have any significance . to us shareholders, IMO.
This commercialization certainly has significance to Qualcomm shareholders.
There is some speculation that Unicom will overlay GSM MAP and forgo GPRS expansion. However, there is also much speculation that when IMT-2000 licenses are awarded that Unicom will migrate their GSM properties to UMTS (WCDMA & TD-SCDMA) and migrate their cdmaOne/cdma2000 networks up the cdma2000 path.
Best,
- Eric - |
