Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Mobile
    • Networking

    Google Network Could Cost Almost $17 Billion to Build

    By
    Roy Mark
    -
    September 26, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      WASHINGTON—It could cost as much as $12 billion and take as long as three years to build a national wireless network from scratch, Googles Washington telecom and media counsel said Sept. 25. That would be on top of a minimum of $4.6 billion to buy the spectrum.

      Whether the Mountain View, Calif., search and advertising giant wants to spend that much to become a wireless broadband provider is still an open question, Rick Whitt told students at George Washington Universitys Institute for Politics and the Internet.

      “It would cost more money than people think,” Whitt said. “Do we really want to take that leap?”

      Googles interest in obtaining spectrum to challenge traditional wireless providers such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless has sparked intense speculation since the Federal Communications Commission set the conditions for Januarys 700 MHz auction, largely following the suggestions of Google, other technology companies and public advocacy groups.

      The FCC dedicated almost a third of the spectrum available – enough to build a national network – to open access, requiring the winning bidder to allow customers to use the phone or device and applications of their choice on the network.

      The decision, which is already being challenged in court by Verizon, is expected to reduce or eliminate interest in the spectrum from traditional carriers who close their networks to selected devices and services. Like Google, AT&T, Verizon and other carriers have not formally announced their auction strategy.

      “We may line up some other high-tech companies or smaller telecoms. Some of the second- and third-tier companies may be willing to work with us,” Whitt said, adding that Google is willing to talk with “anybody who thinks it makes sense to join us on this.”

      Whitt also said it might make more sense for Google to make another play for a smaller slice of spectrum in the auction or to focus on emerging technologies such as the use of unlicensed spectrum in the interference buffer zones between broadcast channels or, possibly, mesh networks.

      “Google has not made any commitment,” Whitt said.

      The spectrum up for auction will become available in February 2009 after broadcasters desert the analog airwaves as part of the digital television transition. The spectrum is ideal for broadband delivery as it penetrates mountains, walls and other objects.

      Before the FCC conditioned the sale on open access principles, traditional wireless carriers coveted the spectrum as a way to build out and beef up their national footprints. In a Sept. 10 filing with the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Verizon Wireless called the FCC rules “arbitrary, capricious and…contrary to law.”

      Verizon claims the law requires the spectrum to be sold unconditionally to the highest bidder and that open access rules would unfairly favor one business model over another. Whitt said Google believes multiple business models can be successful in the space.

      “Look what happened in the early 1990s with AOLs walled-garden approach,” he said. “They said it was the only way to make money.”

      As for the Verizon lawsuit, Whitt said, “Im a little unclear what theyre doing. Maybe they are trying to cast a little doubt on the [spectrum].”

      Spectrum participants must file paperwork with the FCC by late November.

      Check out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis on mobile and wireless computing.

      Roy Mark

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×