Google Going to Set Up its Own Mobile Network

Google is reported to have held preliminary discussions that could lead to it setting up its own wireless network in the USA, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The internet giant, which has just started deploying its own landline internet service in the USA has held talks with satellite-TV provider Dish Network, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Dish Network is said to be in discussions with several companies, so the move to develop a mobile service would seem to be driven by Dish, with Google as a partner, rather than a Google driven business proposal.

Dish Network acquired a block of radio spectrum back in 2008 and has repeatedly said that it was looking to utilise that for its own wireless network, but has struggled to find a partner for the project.

In an interview with the WSJ, Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen declined to comment on Google specifically, but said some of the potential partners he has considered include companies “who would like to be in the industry” and currently don’t have a wireless business.

Time is however running out for Dish Network, as potential existing smaller wireless networks themselves merge into larger companies, and thus become too large to secure an agreement without regulators blocking the deal.

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