Latest news with #spectrum
Phone Arena
21 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
EchoStar pays $500M to stay out of bankruptcy and to buy time for FCC talks
An 8-K filing made by EchoStar indicates that the parent company of the nation's fourth largest wireless carrier, Boost Mobile, and Dish Network, plans on making a debt-interest payment on Friday of more than $500 million. The payment is actually due on Monday and by paying the $500 million, EchoStar gets to delay filing for bankruptcy although it will not make a second payment due July 1st. EchoStar hopes that by making one of the two payments due in the coming week, it has bought itself some time to negotiate with the FCC. The regulatory agency's Chairman, Brendan Carr, has previously threatened to take away some of EchoStar's spectrum licenses. The second interest payment due July 1st, which EchoStar won't pay, comes to $114 million and by refusing to make the payment, a 30-day grace period is triggered. While EchoStar has enough cash on hand to make both interest payments on time, the company is holding off on one of them in order to gain some leverage in negotiations with the FCC. Carr wants EchoStar to give up licenses on spectrum that he says the company isn't using. The FCC Chairman said, "It's my view that right now, we are really working hard to make sure this valuable public resource of spectrum is put to use. No new news to break, but I think the status quo needs to change. There's lots of different paths forward there and all options are still on the table at the FCC." -FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Former FCC chief of staff Blair Levin, who now works as a policy analyst at New Street Research, says that Carr wants to "force a reallocation of spectrum from EchoStar to others." What Levin is talking about is the 2 GHz spectrum licensed by EchoStar which FCC Chairman Carr asked EchoStar about in a letter. Carr wants to know exactly how often EchoStar is using the 2 GHz band. The reason why Carr is so interested in EchoStar's 2 GHz usage is because Elon Musk's SpaceX has its eyes on the 2 GHz spectrum because it is superior for satellite to cellphone communications than the airwaves that SpaceX uses now. The FCC chairman had no comment about a meeting he supposedly attended at the White House earlier this month with President Donald Trump and EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
The Verge
a day ago
- Business
- The Verge
Trump's ‘big beautiful bill' could mean slower Wi-Fi for you
The Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill, backed by President Donald Trump, removes protections for unlicensed spectrum that broadens the capacity of the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. This could result in slower Wi-Fi speeds. Under the bill, which may be voted on at the end of this week, the FCC would sell off some of that spectrum to mobile carriers such as AT&T, which could use it to improve the speed of their mobile data. The bill includes a provision requiring the FCC to auction 800MHz of spectrum, including bands allocated by the FCC in 2020 for unlicensed use. The version of the bill that passed the House excluded the band of frequencies between 5.925 gigahertz and 7.125 gigahertz, which includes 6GHz; however, there's no such exclusion in the Senate version. The FCC could be 'forced to sell off as much as half' of the unlicensed spectrum currently in the 6GHz band, according to Public Knowledge. Senator Cruz, chair of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, says this new spectrum auction will help prepare carriers for the next 'wireless leap.' However, as recently as this month, AT&T stated that it has 'no pressing need' for additional spectrum. One thing a spectrum auction will do is generate more revenue for the government to offset the tax cuts in the bill. Removing this spectrum from unlicensed use could negatively impact the 6GHz Wi-Fi band, which added a huge swath of capacity to Wi-Fi when former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai made 1,200 megahertz of spectrum available for unlicensed use in 2020, during Trump's first term. The 6GHz band is used by Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 to deliver faster speeds over wider, 1200MHz channels (Wi-Fi 6 uses up to 160MHz-wide channels), increasing the speed and reliability of Wi-Fi, especially with tri-band routers. The 2.4GHz and even 5GHz bands are becoming increasingly congested as we rely more and more on Wi-Fi in our homes and businesses. Devices that use 6GHz benefit from a wider, less congested 'super highway' to travel on, which reduces latency and increases speeds. Devices like newer Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Pixel devices, as well as newer MacBooks, iPads, and Lenovo ThinkPads, can use 6GHz, as well as Xbox series X and S, and some Samsung and LG TVs. Wi-Fi 6E is also being adopted by smart home devices, as it facilitates faster communication. In a letter to Cruz and the other committee members, urging them to keep the 6GHz band unlicensed, the Wi-Fi Alliance states that the 6GHz band is 'the foundation for Wi-Fi's continued development and growth' as well as playing 'a pivotal role in enabling technologies of the next decade, including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, augmented and virtual reality.' The letter was signed by Apple, HP, Comcast, Amazon, and Meta, among others. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is in favor of selling off portions of the unlicensed spectrum.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Craig-Hallum Reiterates a Buy Rating on Anterix (ATEX)
Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX) is one of the 13 Small Cap Stocks Analysts Are Bullish On. On April 10, Craig-Hallum analyst George Sutton maintained a Buy rating on Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX) without a price target. The company's fiscal Q3 2025 results showed cash and cash equivalents of $28.8 million as of December 31, 2024. It also reported around $147 million of contracted proceeds outstanding, with $34.0 million received from Oncor Electric Delivery Company in January 2025 and $1.0 million received from Ameren Corporation in October 2024. A technician working on an aerial view of a critical infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of the company's utility services. Management is projecting an approximately 20% operating expenses run rate reduction for fiscal 2026. Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX) also has an estimated $3 billion pipeline of prospective contract opportunities across 60+ potential customers. Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX) is involved in commercializing spectrum assets to allow targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers for the deployment of private technologies, broadband networks, and solutions. The company's solutions include Private LTE and Active Ecosystem. While we acknowledge the potential of ATEX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Anterix Inc (ATEX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Cash Position and Strategic Growth ...
Contracted Proceeds: $116 million from spectrum sales agreements with Encore and LCRA. Milestone Payments: $44 million from Encore and $8.5 million from Amin. Additional Cash Received: $34 million from accelerated spectrum delivery. Cash Position: Over $47 million in cash at the end of Q4 FY25. Outstanding Contracted Proceeds: Approximately $150 million, with $80 million expected in fiscal '26. Operating Expense Reduction: $4 million reduction in operating expense run rate from the first half of fiscal '25. Debt: No debt reported. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Signs with ATEX. Release Date: June 25, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX) has successfully optimized its cost structure, resulting in a $4 million reduction in operating expenses, enhancing efficiency and cash flow. The company is oversubscribed on its $250 million accelerator program, indicating strong demand for its 900 megahertz LTE spectrum. Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX) has no debt and closed the fourth quarter with over $47 million in cash, providing a strong financial position. The company has contracted spectrum covering 93% of Texas counties, creating a replicable regional deployment model nationwide. Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX) has approximately $150 million in outstanding contracted proceeds, with $80 million expected in fiscal '26, providing clear visibility and confidence in future cash flow. The strategic review process led by Morgan Stanley is ongoing with no predetermined outcome, creating uncertainty about future strategic directions. There is potential competition from other spectrum choices, such as the 800 megahertz band, which could impact Anterix Inc (NASDAQ:ATEX)'s market position. The company's market cap is currently low, which may affect its ability to leverage financial markets for growth. The transition to a 5x5 megahertz offering is still in progress, which may delay some potential customers who require this capability. Despite strong demand, the utility industry's typically slow decision-making process could delay the realization of new contracts and revenue. Q: Can you provide more details on the oversubscription of the $250 million accelerator program? Are there multiple players involved, and how are customers approaching this? A: Scott Lang, CEO: We are very pleased with the response to the accelerator program, with over a dozen utilities participating. The demand for private LTE 900 megahertz is strong, and negotiations are active. The utilities are engaged and in discussions, which is remarkable progress for the utility industry within a single quarter. Q: Have utilities begun engaging with partners as part of the accelerator program? A: Scott Lang, CEO: Yes, other companies have participated in the program. Ryan Gerbrandt, COO, added that partners like Ericsson, Nokia, and GE have joined, offering bespoke products to support and accelerate utilities' decision-making processes. Q: How might the 5x5 megahertz opportunity affect utilities' decisions to join the program, especially if they require it for their launch? A: Scott Lang, CEO: Utilities have not hesitated to join with the current 3x3 offering, which is sufficient for their needs. They are excited about the 5x5 plan, which enhances their confidence in the current offering's capabilities. Q: What is the strategy if Grain Management acquires 800 megahertz spectrum and targets utilities in regions where you have spectrum? A: Scott Lang, CEO: We are confident in our position with 900 megahertz, proven deployments, and strong economics. While 800 megahertz could be an alternative, we believe we will remain the preferred choice for utilities due to our comprehensive offerings and market leadership. Q: Do you have a goal for how much you would like to add to your contracted proceeds in the next 12 to 18 months? A: Timothy Gray, CFO: Our internal goals are to grow from the $116 million achieved last year, our best year yet. We believe the accelerator program will help us achieve significant growth in contract proceeds, although we are not providing specific numbers. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Is EchoStar (SATS) Stock Soaring Today
Shares of satellite communications company EchoStar (NASDAQGS:SATS) jumped 48.2% in the afternoon session after reports revealed that President Donald Trump wants the company to resolve its dispute with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over its spectrum licenses. This development is important for EchoStar, as it grapples with financial difficulties. Contributing to its troubles is the FCC's investigation into whether the company has been fulfilling its spectrum usage obligations. Is now the time to buy EchoStar? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. EchoStar's shares are extremely volatile and have had 33 moves greater than 5% over the last year. But moves this big are rare even for EchoStar and indicate this news significantly impacted the market's perception of the business. The previous big move we wrote about was 3 days ago when the stock dropped 5.9% on the news that the major indices pulled back (Nasdaq -1.3%, S&P 500 -1.1%) as Israel carried out significant strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, dramatically escalating fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East. This development sent crude oil prices surging, as investors feared potential disruptions to global oil supply and a wider regional conflict. EchoStar is up 8.6% since the beginning of the year, but at $24.70 per share, it is still trading 20.9% below its 52-week high of $31.23 from February 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of EchoStar's shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $792.17. Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we've identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
