AT&T paid $1.6 billion to own the next generation of wireless

For all intents and purposes, it looks like AT&T is going to own a majority of 5G wireless connections in the US. The company has announced that it has acquired Straight Path Communications for $1.6 billion. Not familiar with the name? That’s totally understandable. “Straight Path is the largest commercial holder of the 39 GHz spectrum, with about 95 percent of the total licenses commercially available, as well as a significant holder of 28 GHz in major markets, including New York and San Francisco, ” the company’s website reads. “This acquisition will support AT&T’s leadership in 5G, which will accelerate the delivery of new experiences for consumers and businesses like virtual and augmented reality, telemedicine, autonomous cars, smart cities and more, ” according to the statement from AT&T . Specifically, the telco pointed to beaming DirecTV Now to customers over a fixed 5G connection as an example of what’s capable here. Last July, FierceWireless pointed out that while the 37/39 GHz spectrum had bandwidth advantages over the more commonly used 28 GHz range, anyone licensing the former would need “between 44 and 46 percent more spectrum” to offer the same type of coverage the latter provides. With this acquisition that shouldn’t be an issue for AT&T. That’s assuming the purchase is green-lit by the Federal Communications Commission, of course. Given the FCC’s newly frigid stance on net neutrality, the approval likely won’t be much of an issue. So maybe the folks in Austin and Indianapolis will get to give the network a try when the speedy (400Mbps or better) service starts testing there later this year. Source: PR Newswire , Straight Path

See more here:
AT&T paid $1.6 billion to own the next generation of wireless

Verizon FiOS streaming no longer counts toward your data cap

Since chairman and net neutrality skeptic Ajit Pal dropped an FCC investigation into data-free ” zero-rating , ” it’s full speed ahead for carriers on unlimited video streaming. Verizon is piling on with its FiOS Mobile App, which now lets you to stream some 140+ channels, recorded DVR shows and movies on the go without impacting your wireless data cap. The new deal applies to FiOS internet and TV subscribers on Verizon’s 5GB, Small, Medium and Large plans. The app is likely a response to AT&T’s recent wireless plans that let you stream DirecTV Now with no data hit as long as you have both a qualifying mobile and DirecTV Now plan. T-Mobile offers DirecTV and Hulu with no data hit, too, though it has also used the offer to slam rival AT&T. Verizon recently resurrected its Unlimited plan as well, again following the lead of AT&T and T-Mobile. Interestingly, zero-rated FiOS streaming is not included with the Unlimited plan, according to fine print on the company’s FiOS Mobile App page on iTunes, as spotted by The Verge . Instead, it counts toward the 22GB cap — so if you stream lots of TV and exceed it, your speeds could be throttled. Verizon already zero-rated its Go90 video streaming app last year, something that perked up the ears of net neutrality advocates. While free video data sounds like a great thing, organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and ACLU believe that by prioritizing their own content over rivals like Netflix, carriers are creating an uneven playing field. As such, they and other groups wrote the FCC urging it to not eliminate net neutrality rules created in 2015 . “In order to promote continued economic, social, and political growth and innovation, it is imperative that the Internet remain open and accessible to all people in the future, ” the petition says. Source: Verizon

Original post:
Verizon FiOS streaming no longer counts toward your data cap

T-Mobile Is Adding 11 More Services to Its Unmetered Music Freedom

T-Mobile’s Music Freedom , a program that allows you to stream music from select services without it counting against your data cap, has been around since June last year. As of today, there’s 11 more services you can use without worrying. Read more…

More here:
T-Mobile Is Adding 11 More Services to Its Unmetered Music Freedom

World’s most beautiful beach glows like millions of stars at night

Flickr user hala065 brings us these otherworldly images of a beach in the Maldive islands that glows with millions of pinpoints of glowing blue. The light from these bioluminescent phytoplankton looks like a fantastic starry sky somewhere deep in the universe. It’s mesmerizing. Read more…        

Read More:
World’s most beautiful beach glows like millions of stars at night