AT&T Technology Chief Insists T-Mobile Deal Won't Stifle Innovation

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AT&T’s technology chief insists that the company’s planned $39 billion deal to buy T-Mobile USA will spur, rather than squelch, innovation.

“I think it is quite the opposite,” CTO John Donovan said, speaking at the VentureBeat Mobile Summit in Sausalito (CA). Donovan reiterated AT&T’s case that the deal offers one of the few short-term ways to improve use of limited spectrum, a key driver for innovation. However, Donovan noted that many of the factors that are choking wireless networks, including his own, can't be improved as quickly as people would like. He echoed the observation raised by Verizon network VP Nicola Palmer that one of the big challenges is trying to get city and landlord approval for improvements to individual cell sites. One of the possible solutions, smaller micro-cells known as femtocells, has some benefits, but is not the cure-all that some would argue.


AT&T Technology Chief Insists T-Mobile Deal Won't Stifle Innovation