CTIA appoints AT&T's David Christopher as chair

CTIA announced David Christopher, Executive Vice President and General Manager – AT&T Mobility, as its new Board Chairman effective immediately.

Christopher, who previously served as CTIA Vice Chairman, replaces outgoing Chairman Ken Meyers, who earlier announced his retirement as U.S. Cellular President and CEO.  Slayton Stewart, CEO of Carolina West Wireless, will assume the role of Vice Chairman.

“David’s proven leadership and vision will help the U.S. wireless industry build the emerging 5G economy.  We are very lucky to have him as Chairman at this critical juncture,” said CTIA President and CEO Meredith Attwell Baker. “I look forward to working closely with David, Slayton and the rest of the CTIA Board to ensure Americans continue to benefit from world-leading wireless networks. I also want to thank Ken for over 30 years leading our industry and his wisdom and friendship in serving as CTIA Chairman the past two years.”

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CTIA: More mid-band spectrum is needed

CTIA published a new study that compares spectrum released in 14 countries and concludes that U.S. policymakers need to move quickly to bring more licensed mid-band spectrum to power 5G networks.

“This report highlights that U.S. policymakers need to deliver the mid-spectrum they have identified—and do so quickly,” said Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA President and CEO. “We need 350 MHz of spectrum auctioned in 2020. America’s national spectrum strategy—FCC Chairman Pai’s 5G Fast Plan—has been instrumental to date, and I’m confident we’ll make more licensed spectrum available to continue successfully building the U.S. 5G economy.”

Analysys Mason looked at spectrum released between 2017 and 2020, as well as the licensing approach used for each band, and key findings from the benchmarked countries include:

• While nearly all spectrum in other countries has been made available on an exclusively licensed basis, the U.S. is an “outlier” in the amount of unlicensed and shared spectrum being made available.
• The U.S. is the only country that has released mid-band spectrum in the 3 GHz range on a shared or unlicensed basis.
• European countries are making only the lower part (5.925-6.425 GHz) of the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use.
• Following U.S. leadership on high-band, most countries have begun to make or will make a significant amount of high-band spectrum available.
• With the 600 MHz auction, the U.S. was one of the first countries to release low-band spectrum suitable for 5G.

https://www.ctia.org/news/report-international-comparison-licensed-unlicensed-and-shared-spectrum-2017-2020

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CTIA Calls for Mobile Device Theft Prevention Database

CTIA has issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) to create and operate the Mobile Device Information Portal based on the Mobile Device Theft Prevention (MDTP) Working Group's recommendations to the FCC's Technological Advisory Council (TAC).

Using multiple source databases, the Mobile Device Information Portal will provide timely, succinct responses so that consumers and commercial resellers know if a mobile device is reported lost or stolen before they purchase it. In addition, law enforcement will be able to check, and hopefully return, found mobile devices to their authorized users.

By creating a central portal of reported lost and stolen mobile devices, it will help limit the black market resale of these used mobile devices in the United States.

CTIA will oversee the creation and implementation of the Mobile Device Information Portal.

The RFP is available at: http://www.ctiasmartphonecheck.org/

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CTIA Files Lawsuit Challenging FCC's Open Internet Order

CTIA-The Wireless Association, which represents the U.S. wireless communications industry, filed a lawsuit with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today challenging the FCC's Open Internet decision to impose new net neutrality rules and reclassify mobile broadband as a common carrier utility.

CTIA President and CEO Meredith Attwell Baker stated: "CTIA and the wireless industry have always supported an open Internet, which is why these rules will only chill investment and innovation and increase costs for consumers. The FCC ignored that the competitive, constantly innovating mobile broadband industry provides Americans with faster networks and a wide variety of devices and service plans. Instead of promoting greater industry investment in the connected world of tomorrow, the FCC opted to resuscitate a command-and-control regulatory regime, including a process where innovators must first seek permission from the FCC before rolling out new services. In so doing, the FCC usurped the role of Congress and departed from a bipartisan mobile-specific framework to create a new intrusive regulatory framework. CTIA had no choice but to seek judicial review to preserve the regulatory approach that has been instrumental in helping the U.S. become the global leader in 4G services. We are confident that the courts will reject the FCC's overreach for the third time, particularly with respect to mobile broadband services."

http://www.ctia.org

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U.S. Mobile Operators Agree to Device Unlocking

AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless agreed to adopt a voluntary set of six principles for unlocking of consumers’ mobile phones and tablets.

Key principles:

1. Disclosure of unlocking policies to consumers. Carriers agree to make their policies on postpaid and prepaid unlocking of mobile devices easy to understand and accessible.

2. Postpaid Unlocking.  Upon request, carriers will unlock mobile wireless mobile devices or provide information to consumers to unlock their devices.

3. Prepaid unlocking policy. Carriers, upon request, will unlock prepaid mobile wireless devices no later than one year after initial activation, consistent with reasonable time, payment or usage requirements.

4. Notice. Carriers that lock devices will clearly notify customers that their devices are eligible for unlocking at the time when their devices are eligible for unlocking or automatically unlock devices remotely without additional fee. Carriers reserve the right to charge non-customers or former-customers a reasonable fee for unlocking requests.

5. Response time. Carrier will unlock eligible mobile devices within two business days of receiving a request.

6. Deployed personnel unlocking policy.  Carriers will unlock wireless devices for deployed military personnel who are customers in good standing..

Carriers reserve the right to decline an unlocking request if they believe the request is fraudulent or stolen.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-324664A1.doc

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CTIA: CAPEX Hits All Time High for U.S. Operators

U.S. mobile operators invested $30 billion in their networks in 2012, representing an all time high in capital expenditure spending for one year.  This is part of a "virtuous cycle" that is boosting the networking industry and the American economy, said Steve Largent, President of CTIA, speaking at the opening of CTIA 2013 in Las Vegas.

The CAPEX spending by U.S. operators accounted for 25% of all wireless network CAPEX worldwide.  It also represented an investment of $94 for each mobile subscriber in the U.S., compared to a global average of $16 per subscribers by other mobile operators worldwide.

Largent said the virtuous circle has enabled the U.S. to leap ahead in mobile technologies.  The biggest LTE networks are now in the U.S.  The mobile platforms developed in the U.S. are second to none.  And the ecosystem of app developers is stronger in the U.S. than anywhere else.

Largent also spoke of the urgency to make additional spectrum available in the U.S. market.  He expects that it the ambitious target of adding 500 MHz of spectrum for commercial is realized by 2020, it could increase the nation's GDP by $800 billion.

Finally, Largent previewed the much larger "SuperShow" that CTIA is planning in partnership with IFA for September 2014.

http://www.ctia.org

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CTIA: U.S. Mobile Operators Invested $30.1 Billion in 2012, up 19%

The U.S. wireless providers increased their annual network investments from $25.3 billion in 2011 to $30.1 billion in 2012 (up 19 percent), according to CTIA-The Wireless Association's semi-annual survey. CTIA represents the U.S. wireless communications industry. The investments represent approximately 25% of the world's total wireless capital expenditures fo 2012 , even though the U.S. has only five percent of the world's wireless users.

"The wireless industry invested billions of dollars to improve their networks and their customers' coverage in 2012, fueling the 'virtuous cycle' of innovation. New devices, apps and content were developed so consumers could take advantage of the faster network speeds and capabilities. That's why the U.S. leads the world in wireless innovation and competition," said Steve Largent, President and CEO, CTIA. "

Some highlights of the CTIA's year-end 2012 annual survey of U.S. mobile operators:

• Wireless subscriber connections: 326.4 million (102 percent penetration); 2011: 315.9 million (3.3 percent increase).
  
• Total prepaid / pay-as-you-go subscribers: 76.4 million (23.4 percent of subscribers); 2011: 71.7 million (6.6 percent increase).
  
• Wireless network data traffic: 1.468 trillion megabytes; 2011: 866.8 billion (69.3 percent increase).
  
• Active smartphones and wireless-enabled PDAs: 152.1 million; 2011: 111.5 million (36.4 percent increase).
  
• Wireless-enabled tablets, laptops and modems: 22.3 million; 2011: 20.2 million (10.2 percent increase).
  
• Minutes of Use (MOU): 2.2999 trillion; 2011: 2.2955 trillion (4.4 billion minute increase or .2 percent).
  
• SMS sent and received: 2.19 trillion; 2011: 2.3 trillion (4.9 percent decrease).
  
• MMS sent and received: 74.5 billion; 2011: 52.8 billion (41 percent increase).

http://www.ctia.org/advocacy/research/index.cfm/AID/10316

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CTIA Plans "Super Mobile" Consolidated Show in 2014

CTIA-The Wireless Association announced plans to consolidate its two mobile trade shows in the United States into a single "super" event in 2014.  The first CTIA super mobile show, CTIA 2014, will take place Sept. 9, 10 & 11 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

CTIA will continue to host CTIA 2013 and MobileCON 2013 separately while incorporating super show programs as a springboard to the changes in 2014. 

"The wireless industry is evolving rapidly and there is a need to have a show that centers on the entire global mobile ecosystem in a way that hasn't existed among the current shows, which is why CTIA 2014 will be unique. The mobile revolution is positively affecting nearly every industry, such as M2M, connected home, media and advertising, money and global consumer electronics, and CTIA 2014 will serve as a worthy platform to showcase those companies and individuals that are leading this charge and will be a valuable resource for anyone wanting to be a part of this innovative industry," said Rob Mesirow, CTIA Vice President and Show Director. "In addition, the timing of the 2014 show will deliver the perfect stage for companies to debut mobile consumer products and services for the annual holiday buying season."

www.ctiashows.com

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CTIA: U.S. Wireless Penetration at 104%, Data Traffic up 123% YoY

There were 21 million new mobile subscriptions in the U.S. during 2011, bringing the total number of mobile connections to 331.6 million, a 7% rise and reflecting a 104% penetration rate for the nation, according new figures released by CTIA.


"Americans' love for mobile products and services continue to grow. Our survey shows yet again that we are choosing to have more than one wireless device, including smartphones, tablets and e-readers, which is why the wireless penetration rate is almost 105 percent. Yet as the President, bipartisan members of Congress, FCC Chairman and Commissioners and other policymakers have repeatedly advocated, the U.S. wireless industry must have access to more spectrum so we can continue to improve our nation's economy and meet our consumers' demands. While the spectrum identified in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation was a great start, there is much more work to be done," said Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA.

Some highlights of the report:

• Wireless network data traffic: 866.7 billion megabytes; Dec. 2010: 388 billion megabytes (123 percent increase)


• Active smartphones and wireless-enabled PDAs: 111.5 million; Dec. 2010: 78.2 million (43 percent increase)


• Number of active data-capable devices: 295.1 million; Dec. 2010: 270.5 million (9 percent increase)


• Wireless-enabled tablets, laptops and modems: 20.2 million; Dec. 2010: 13.6 million (49 percent increase)


• Minutes of Use (MOU): 2.296 trillion; Dec. 2010: 2.241 trillion (2 percent increase)


• SMS sent and received: 2.304 trillion; Dec. 2010: 2.052 trillion (12 percent increase)


• MMS sent and received: 52.8 billion; Dec. 2010: 56.6 billion


• Average local monthly wireless bill (includes voice and data service): $47.00; Dec. 2010: $47.21

http://www.ctia.org

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