DirecTV’s been talking for a while about its idea to create a nationwide broadband wireless network. It’s supposed to detail its plans sometime before the end of March, having already said it was in talks with rival Echostar about partnering on the network.
But in a Wall Street Journal article today about DirecTV’s new video-download service, its CEO says “it’s not clear” if the company will actually build a network, and will only do so if the move makes sense.That sounds like some pretty serious backtracking. …It’s hard to imagine that DirecTV would come this far and talk its plans up so much, only to back out at the last second — so who are they posturing for?
Maybe DirecTV is just angling to get a better deal from Sprint or Clearwire. Or maybe that means someone else will build and operate the WiMAX network (in the 2007-2008 time frame).Murdoch’s MySpace is Mobilizing with Helio (a virtual cell phone operator). The SK/Earthlink partnership is now called Helio. Helio could also run DirecTV’s WiMAX.
Helio could sublet WiMax spectrum from Sprint and Clearwire, then run their own virtual Mobile WiMAX operation, just like their cellular business. SK Telecom knows WiBro…they launch this June in Seoul (working with Intel). Earthlink, meanwhile, needs a last mile option…they could run the ISP and VoIP business. EarthLink is bundling ISP services with both DirecTV and EchoStar.
Intel’s Viiv and Microsoft’s MediaCenter would want to be in this game. They could use the Asian connection. Mobile television? Intel likes the open DVB-H standard. That means a Modeo link.
What’s that…a quinella?
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