Riding
closely on the heels of substantial investment in Fourth Generation wireless
infrastructure investment comes a Fifth Generation. Wireless carriers in the United States appear
to have accelerated the rollout of 5G. See, e.g., http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/27/momentum-is-building-for-5g-rollout-ericsson-ceo.html;
https://www.cnet.com/news/verizon-to-hold-worlds-first-crazy-fast-5g-wireless-field-tests-next-year/;
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-27/at-t-boosts-5g-networks-rollout-as-online-video-demand-spikes
There are legitimate reasons not to support network neutrality, or to advocate reforms. But make no mistake: removing “regulatory uncertainty” is a bogus rationale having no real impact on carrier investment strategies.
Hang on.
Aren’t we living an acutely painful world of regulatory uncertainty foisted on
the marketplace by network neutrality zealots?
How can carriers invest substantially in a wireless broadband technology
if regulators are hell-bent to mandate access and openness?
It strikes
me that wireless carriers in the United States and elsewhere can handle
regulatory uncertain and make
prudent investments in next generation network infrastructure.There are legitimate reasons not to support network neutrality, or to advocate reforms. But make no mistake: removing “regulatory uncertainty” is a bogus rationale having no real impact on carrier investment strategies.