Dish to sell spectrum if network plans fail
BY Wire Reports
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
2/13/13 at 2:37 AM
Dish Network Corp. will sell its spectrum if current plans to find a partner to create a wireless network don't work, Chairman Charles Ergen says.
Dish has "billions of dollars of spectrum" that could become available, Ergen said this week at a conference in Dana Point, Calif.
Englewood, Colo.-based Dish is seeking to create a wireless network that can deliver video, voice and data to its customers. Ergen said a network is essential to Dish's plans to deliver video to its satellite television subscribers both inside and outside the home.
If efforts to partner with a wireless company aren't effective, "We would admit we failed and try a new approach," Ergen said. "We would hang a 'for sale' sign on the spectrum."
Dish is offering $3.30 a share for a minority stake in wireless carrier Clearwire Corp. But that is complicated by Clearwire's directors agreeing to a takeover by Sprint Nextel Corp. in December.
Sprint offered $2.97 a share for the portion of Clearwire it doesn't already own.
"We're serious about" the Clearwire offer, Ergen said.
"Sprint will have to do more to keep us out."
Associated Images:
Dish Chairman Charles Ergen: If Dish can't find a partner, "We would admit we failed and try a new approach," he said.
|
