Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss new developments surrounding DirecTV's shaky deal with TPG, as well as T-Mobile's acquisition of Louisiana BEAD funding and its overall strategy. 00:48 DirecTV's TPG deal falls through 02:55 Are TV satellites obsolete? 04:15 T-Mobile secures large BEAD grant 05:45 T-Mobile's capital allocation strategy 07:00 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, DirecTV, TPG, AT&...
Dec 02, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 220
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by Nancy Clark, President of Verizon Value, to discuss the company's commitment to revitalizing prepaid. 00:24 Verizon's turnaround of prepaid brands 02:51 Brand differentiation 04:47 Straight Talk's branding 05:50 Customer service's impact on strategy 07:36 Blurring of market segments 09:53 Churn success 11:04 Competition assessment 12:07 Distribution networks 12:52 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, c...
Nov 25, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 219
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner break down Q3 earnings from the major players in telecom and cable, and offer predictions for Q4 as well. 00:58 AT&T Q3 overview 2:36 Industry upgrade cycles 04:34 T-Mobile Q3 overview 07:29 T-Mobile vs. Verizon 08:20 Verizon Q3 overview 09:05 Comcast Q3 overview 09:48 Altice Q3 overview 10:00 Cable industry predictions 11:20 Dish Q3 overview 13:19 US Cellular Q3 overview 14:02 Q4 predictions Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid...
Nov 18, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 218
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by Daryl Schoolar to discuss his recent experience at ZTE's 5G Summit & User Congress in Istanbul, Turkey. 00:24 Conference overview 02:36 A global view of the industry 03:51 Telco-to-techno journey 04:40 ZTE's optimization focus 05:53 ZTE company profile 07:27 Total cost of ownership metrics 08:40 ZTE's capacity focus and spectrum issues 12:24 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don ...
Nov 11, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 217
Analysts Brett Clark, Mitch Klaassen, and Roger Entner are joined by Amdocs Group President, Technology & Head of Strategy Anthony Goonetilleke to discuss AI's massive impact on customer service in the telecom industry. 00:42 Businesses are ready for AI results 03:15 Amdocs' Gen AI applications 05:32 Are customers satisfied with AI service? 09:48 AI cost savings as a game changer 12:29 Telecom deserves more credit 13:15 Applications across industries 14:15 AI accuracy is improving rapidly 15...
Nov 04, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 216
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss Verizon's strategy as per their recent Q3 earnings call and sell-side analyst meeting. 00:25 Verizon's Q3 breakdown 01:20 The metrics that truly matter 03:23 Investor Day fiber discussion 05:33 Investor Day FWA discussion 09:18 What's behind bundling? 10:38 Verizon's strategy vs. AT&T and T-Mobile 15:13 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Verizon, earnings, chu...
Oct 28, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 215
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss Verizon's recent acquisition of spectrum from US Cellular and what it means for the telecom industry. 00:25 Details of the deal 02:12 Spectrum properties 02:41 US Cellular's decisions inevitably led to the sale 04:08 The impact of rural markets 05:36 Upcoming elections will impact spectrum policy Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, spectrum, Verizon, US Cellular, AWS, T-Mobile, AT...
Oct 21, 2024•7 min•Season 1Ep. 214
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the ongoing battle over CBRS, spurred by a recent AT&T proposal to shift the band's frequency range. 00:24 CBRS overview 01:24 Military use of CBRS 04:46 The television incentive auction as a useful model 05:24 Power requirements and interference mitigation 07:40 Licensing and interested parties 09:56 Arguments for and against the shift 12:35 The issue's resolution will take time Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cel...
Oct 14, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 213
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss recent announcements regarding Dish, TPG and DirecTV that may result in a satellite TV shakeup. 00:23 Details of the announcements and potential deals 04:24 Is Dish's spectrum truly valuable? 05:46 Challenges persist regardless of the deal 07:14 Charlie Ergen remains an adept businessperson 07:50 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Dish, EchoStar, DirecTV, TPG, AT&...
Oct 07, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 212
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the FCC's recent extension for Dish's buildout requirement, as well as the uphill battle the company faces as a whole. 00:25 Dish's FCC decision overview 03:05 The FCC has flip-flopped on this issue 04:11 Other commitments are already underway 06:20 Dish's network is not its main problem 10:55 The FCC shows Dish considerable leeway 12:10 Other companies are not as lucky 13:30 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postp...
Sep 30, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 211
Analyst Don Kellogg is joined by Roger Entner in person to discuss the recent T-Mobile Capital Markets day, which they both attended. 00:10 Don and Roger are live in San Francisco 00:30 Roger's thoughts on the event 02:40 Cash flow projections and German involvement 04:02 Fiber growth projections 5:10 Guest speakers and AI 07:12 T-Mobile's overall message 08:17 Network speed and satisfaction 11:11 Network slicing and government contracts 14:10 FWA improvements and cable implications 15:23 T-Mobi...
Sep 23, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 210
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by AT&T's Chris Sambar, JR Wilson, and John Wojewoda, who are live from Cape Canaveral, to discuss AST's latest launch and what it means for ground-to-satellite communication by mobile users. 00:24 AST's latest launch and satellite communication capabilities 02:54 Emergency and first responder applications 04:25 All phone users should benefit 05:02 Limitations of satellite communication 06:45 Spectrum usage & coverage gap reduction 07:29 D...
Sep 16, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 209
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by Srinivasa Kalapala, SVP of Technology and Product Development at Verizon, to discuss the exciting developments in satellite technology that will soon be available to the average user. 00:25 Verizon's partnership with Skylo for emergency satellite communication 02:30 Possible expansion from emergency use and limitations 06:14 Verizon's satellite strategy 07:50 Verizon's partnership with AST 08:43 Consumers favor mobile operators for satellite 11...
Sep 09, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 208
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the prepaid landscape, including the moves cable is currently making within the segment. 00:23 Prepaid deals show competition is alive and well 02:42 Prepaid as a transitional product 04:30 Who needs an unlimited plan? 06:43 Cable is taking advantage of plan shakeups 09:54 Cable & FWA 12:38 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Verizon, Visible, Cricket, Mint, ch...
Sep 02, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 207
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner examine the current state of Mint Mobile as well as where the company may be headed following its recent acquisition by T-Mobile. 00:24 Mint has been a success story overall 02:07 Mint's D2C model yields high satisfaction 04:23 Which consumers choose Mint? 05:39 Mint as a price and value leader 06:42 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Mint, T-Mobile, Consumer Cellular, D2...
Aug 26, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 206
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss earnings from three major companies, issues surrounding fold and flip phones, and some key executives departing the industry. 00:25 T-Mobile's earnings overview 01:12 T-Mobile and pricing parity with other carriers 05:34 T-Mobile's perception vs. reality 08:23 Dish is still struggling 11:14 Altice is persevering despite challenges 12:18 Google Pixel 9 Fold release controversy 14:24 Flip and fold phones have a major flaw 17:07 Executive turnover in th...
Aug 19, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 205
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss who will win in the ongoing competition between cable and wireless. 00:23 Innovation in the telecom industry 04:59 Initial un-carrier disruptions 05:57 Recon Analytics data facilitates innovation 06:54 Cable has taken the lead at innovation 10:04 FWA looms large for cable 12:38 Cable's leadership is slow to take action 13:17 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, cabl...
Aug 12, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 204
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner examine insights gained regarding Starlink's operation and make predictions for its future as a service provider. 00:25 Survey results for Starlink 04:34 Starlink's router is top quality 05:28 Survey cNPS (net promoter) scores reveal a new hierarchy 09:24 Starlink's website and gaming performance 10:20 Starlink's value for price 11:02 Comcast Business will offer Starlink to enterprise customers 12:31 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireles...
Aug 05, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 203
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner break down Q2 earnings from Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Charter. 00:44 Verizon's Q2 earnings 03:09 AT&T's Q2 earnings 04:48 Comcast's Q2 earnings 05:53 Charter's Q2 earnings 07:40 Industry Q2 earnings overview 08:30 Convergence is happening 08:57 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, earnings, Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, Charter, FWA, fiber, net adds, ACP, churn, con...
Jul 29, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 202
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the FCC's new plan that may require carriers to unlock devices much sooner rather than later. 00:25 FCC plan details and carrier implications 03:11 Most people don't understand unlocking 03:44 Why are devices locked anyway? 06:03 Predictions if implemented 07:26 Carriers differ greatly on the issue 10:22 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, FCC, unlocking, spectrum,...
Jul 22, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 201
On their 200th episode, analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss T-Mobile's pending auction of 800 MHz spectrum and what entity may ultimately end up purchasing it. 00:27 T-Mobile's forced sale of spectrum 02:28 Potential uses for the spectrum 02:54 Why Dish won't buy 03:37 Auction details 04:08 This band is not particularly useful 05:00 Possible public utility use 06:41 What carriers actually need 07:18 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellula...
Jul 15, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 200
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the landmark Chevron deference Supreme Court case and what it means for the future of telecom. 00:23 Chevron deference overview 03:33 Politicization of the process 04:18 Power shifts away from agencies 05:00 Relevance of the Telecom Act 06:19 Settled law is no longer settled 06:55 Predictions for the industry Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Supreme Court, Chevron deference, re...
Jul 08, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 199
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss Verizon's recent rebranding, complete with a new logo and ad campaign as well as features for both consumers and business. 00:24 Verizon's rebranding overview 1:47 Expanding use case focus 4:28 myHome and bundling streaming 8:05 Handset trade-in program 09:18 Will AI drive phone purchasing again? 11:47 Verizon Access deals and giveaways 12:58 Verizon Business Complete's end-to-end smartphone management 14:30 Episode Wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommuni...
Jul 01, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 198
Analyst Don Kellogg receives an update from Roger Entner and Daryl Schoolar, who are attending the Digital Transformation World conference in Copenhagen. 00:25 Overview of the conference 04:06 Practical AI use cases 07:27 Cloud native is crucial for operators 08:24 Corporate culture is a sticking point 09:10 How should outages be treated? 10:22 Event wrap-up https://dtw.tmforum.org/ Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Daryl S...
Jun 24, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 197
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss Microsoft's Azure for Operators shakeup, as well as Carlos Slim's new interest in a European telecom. 00:30 Microsoft to quit Affirmed and Metaswitch 02:20 Comparisons to Google 03:31 Microsoft is usually more persistent 06:09 Predictions for virtualized cores and cloud for telco 06:59 Carlos Slim takes a stake in BT 08:52 Predictions for BT Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Mic...
Jun 17, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 196
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss Verizon's recent wireless plan updates, as well as Nvidia's acquisition of spectrum to test Open RAN. 00:25 Verizon's new plan updates may reduce churn 02:11 Prepaid and retail struggles continue 04:03 Verizon's overall strategy 04:28 Nvidia's spectrum acquisition and Open RAN predictions Note: “Roger erroneously added that OpenRAN efforts only began to stabilize once Dish Network brought on established open RAN vendor Samsung, “which took over a lot...
Jun 09, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 195
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss T-Mobile's recent acquisition of most of US Cellular's assets, including what this means for customers and the other carriers as well. 00:24 Roger's overview of the deal 03:53 What the deal doesn't include 07:16 Don's analysis of customer behavior 09:27 Carrier strategies going forward Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, U.S. Cellular, T-Mobile, spectrum, HHI, Herfindahl Hirschman...
Jun 02, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 194
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by fellow Recon Analytics analyst Mitch Klaassen to discuss Ericsson's recent smart factory analyst event. Don and Roger then delve into a T-Mobile price increase as well as the increasing focus on convergence within the industry. 00:36 Smart factory overview 03:19 The push for American tech manufacturing 04:14 T-Mobile raises prices on legacy plans 06:28 Carriers have too many plans 08:09 The “march upward” toward premium plans 10:17 Convergence ...
May 27, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 193
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by fellow Recon Analytics B2B analyst Jake Hawkridge to discuss the results of a recent survey on how businesses use FWA. 00:35 Overview of the survey 03:15 Speed tier FWA focus 04:12 Prioritization FWA focus 04:48 Primary reasons for businesses choosing FWA 07:18 HFC vs. fiber 09:28 Satisfaction with FWA 10:29 FWA bundling 11:26 Episode wrap-up Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entn...
May 20, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 192
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by Jonathan Chaplin from New Street Research's U.S. Communications Services Research Team to discuss the current and future states of broadband, cable, Dish, and more. 00:55 Jonathan's take on broadband's recent decline 04:48 Roger's analysis of broadband 06:39 Jonathan's no-growth 2024 outlook 07:36 Roger's slightly optimistic 2024 outlook 09:04 Don's FWA predictions 10:49 Cable's culture is problematic 17:19 FWA's value vs. cable 21:08 T-Mobile'...
May 13, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 191
