Praise for regulators in US


Posted on February 27, 2014  /  2 Comments

They say mergers are coming in both India and Sri Lanka. I’d prefer clear guidelines rather than discretion, for reasons like this.

A rash of consumer-friendliness has broken out across the mobile data industry. Over the last year, the four major carriers — AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile — have cut prices and offered greater flexibility in how they sell their voice, text and broadband services. The industry could be on the verge of an all-out price war.

Who is responsible for this blessed state of affairs?

Credit must go to the United States government.

In 2011, officials at the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department moved to block AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile. That kept the struggling, fourth-place carrier alive as an independent firm. And it led John J. Legere, T-Mobile’s flamboyant, foul-mouthed chief executive, to brand his company the “uncarrier,” and inaugurate a string of measures that have turned every accepted practice in the mobile business on its head.

Report.

2 Comments


  1. Dear Rohan – hope you remember me, Ibrahim Ahmad, Group Editor, Voice&Data. Hope you are doing fine ?

    Voice&Data is doing its annual conference and awards on 12 March at The Oberoi, New Delhi where some of the key speakers include Sam Pitroda, MF Farooqui (Secy, DoT), Marten Pieters (Vodafone); RK Upadhyay (BSNL); Sanjay Kapoor (ex Airtel); Himanshu Kapania (Idea); Gurdeep Singh (RCom); Dmitry Shukov (MTS); Arvind Bali (Videocon); Jagbir Singh, (Airtel); Sumit Chowdhury (Reliance Jio); NK Gupta (BSNL); Sameer Dave (Aircel); Ashish Pachory (Tata Tele);
    Ashwani Khillan (MTS); Hariom Rai (Lava); Manoranjan Mohapatra (Mahindra Comviva); Sanjay Sharma (Amdocs). More details at http://www.tlfindia.in

    I would be very happy to invite you for this and also explore some role, if you are interested.

    Let me know. Regds, Ibrahim

    1. Dear Ibrahim,

      Yes, I do recall.

      I will be in Delhi area 6-15 March. Participating in ICRIER event on 7th and so on. But 12th is bad. We have an invitation-only small event at the Meridien, featuring Professor Martin Cave and several others. Presenting some case studies of relevance to the Bharat Broadband initiative. I have to be there the whole day.

      Pity that we’re overlapping with you. Would have been better for both if we had prior coordination.

      So, sorry. Another time.

      –Rohan