Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner break down Q3 earnings for AT&T and T-Mobile, exploring strengths, weaknesses, and what the numbers reveal about their future as industry leaders.

00:00 Episode intro

00:25 AT&T Q3 overview

02:59 Convergence as a key strategy

04:35 T-Mobile Q3 overview

05:27 Price increases and free lines

07:35 AT&T CapEx and rural strategy

09:02 T-Mobile's network leadership

09:27 AT&T and Verizon's new ad campaigns

11:26 Which metrics are trustworthy?

13:38 Networks are meeting customer needs

15:38 Verizon Q3 predictions and episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, earnings, AT&T, net adds, convergence, fiber, Frontier, spectrum, T-Mobile, cable, FWA, ARPA, network, satellite, Starlink, Verizon, Comcast, Nielsen, churn, Ookla

Analysts

Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss Verizon’s appointment of Dan Schulman

as  its new CEO, exploring what his leadership could mean for both the company and its competition.

00:00 Episode intro

00:39 Dan Schulman as new Verizon CEO

03:16 Schulman's experience aligns with Verizon's strengths

06:44 Pricing and customer service predictions

08:40 Building upon Verizon's corporate legacy

09:45 Competing in a crowded telecom industry

11:27 Recon's future insights and episode wrap-up

Tags:telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don

Kellogg, Roger Entner, Verizon, Dan Schulman, Sampath, Priceline, PayPal,

myPlan, AI, customer service, T-Mobile, AT&T, Frontier, cable, Mint, FWA,

convergence

Analysts Don Kellogg and Daryl Schoolar discuss the recent ZTE Global Summit & User Congress, including insights on the practical use of AI, 6G development, and global network standardization.

00:00 Episode intro

00:27 ZTE event overview

01:40 Current and future AI network applications

05:44 How much AI is too much?

06:13 The state of the international market

07:56 Operators need the “next big thing”

09:01 ZTE's Pre6G prototype and 6G development

11:38 Prognosis for global network standardization

13:37 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Daryl Schoolar, ZTE, AI, network, automation, LLMs, microloans, gaming, video, China, 5G, slicing, private networks, B2B, 6G, hardware

Analysts Don Kellogg and Jake Hawkridge discuss the recent Wireless Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, highlighting the five new inductees, their career milestones, and how the industry has evolved.

00:00 Episode intro

00:26 Ceremony overview

01:22 The 2025 inductees

01:49 Ken Horowitz's career highlights

02:17 Jesse Russell's career highlights

03:09 Elizabeth Sachs's career highlights

03:29 Tom Stroup's career highlights

03:43 Neville Ray's career highlights and T-Mobile's network evolution

06:36 T-Mobile was well-represented at the ceremony

07:30 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Jake Hawkridge, Wireless Hall of Fame, Wireless History Foundation, Ken Horowitz, Jesse Russell, Elizabeth Sachs, Tom Stroup, Neville Ray, pagers, spectrum, Bell Labs, regulation, satellite, T-Mobile, network, 5G

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the upcoming appointment of Srini Gopalan as CEO of T-Mobile and what it means for the future of the company.

00:00 Episode intro

00:24 Srini Gopalan's background in telecom

01:48 What company aspects might benefit?

02:53 The evolution of T-Mobile's leadership

03:55 T-Mobile's fiber strategy poses challenges

06:02 The new CEO is a solid choice

06:33 Satellite plans as part of Un-carrier moves

07:20 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, T-Mobile, Srini Gopalan, Deustche Telekom, Un-carrier, fiber, John Legere, Mike Sievert, BEAD, U.S. Internet, copper, satellite, Verizon, AT&T, AST, Elon Musk

Analysts Don Kellogg, Daryl Schoolar, and Jake Hawkridge discuss the recent Ericsson analyst event focused on enterprise strategy and AI innovation.

00:00 Episode intro

00:29 The Ericsson event focused on enterprise solutions

02:22 Solutions included private networks, 5G, and AI applications

04:42 Aduna for standardizing network APIs

06:48 Private network applications are focused on industry

08:11 Network APIs and 5G laptops

09:44 Development strategy and 5G deployment

12:48 Private networks are gaining traction

13:55 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Daryl Schoolar, Jake Hawkridge, Ericsson, Vonage, private networks, 5G, AI, Aduna, industry, APIs, broadband, core network

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by Tim Farrar, president of TMF Associates, to unpack SpaceX's $17 billion purchase of spectrum from EchoStar, and to discuss the current state of telecom's satellite segment.

00:00 Episode intro

00:26 SpaceX's purchase of spectrum from EchoStar

02:51 Paying with equity may cause issues

05:43 Potential uses of the spectrum

08:45 The future of AWS-3

10:36 What was Charlie's strategy?

13:40 Mint succeeded where EchoStar failed

15:22 EchoStar's failed to convince consumers

15:43 Will Elon market effectively?

17:15 The future of AST

17:58 Contract billing details are crucial to end results

18:53 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Tim Farrar, TMF Associates, satellite, Charlie Ergen, Dish, EchoStar, Elon Musk, Starlink, spectrum, SpaceX, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, DTC, BEAD, AWS-3, AWS-4, FCC, 5G, network, MIMO, Mint, Boost, AST

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the pending sale of EchoStar's spectrum assets, who stands to benefit, and the role of regulators in shaping the market.

*Note: This episode was recorded 9/5/2025 before the SpaceX acquisition of EchoStar's spectrum assets on 9/8/2025.

00:00 Episode intro

00:25 The sale of AWS-4

02:03 Who will buy AWS-3 and 700 MHz?

03:54 Dish's path forward depends on regulators

05:30 Fourth-largest operators traditionally struggle

07:54 MMOs vs. MVNOs

08:39 A failing venture can be a success

10:28 Will spectrum go to good use?

10:49 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Dish, EchoStar, AT&T, AWS-4, Elon Musk, Charlie Ergen, Starlink, FCC, AWS-3, 700 MHz, Verizon, spectrum, T-Mobile, satellite, MVNO, Peter Adderton, Rakuten, network, MMO

Analysts Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, and Daryl Schoolar discuss the recent event at the T-Mobile Executive Briefing Center and Innovation Center in Bellevue, WA, highlighting the company's evolving business strategies and innovative technology applications.

00:00 Episode intro

00:29 EBC first impressions and company strategy

03:10 Effectiveness of the EBC

04:03 Catering to the relationship aspect of sales

05:33 T-Mobile's technology advantages

08:42 T-Mobile events are well-rounded

11:00 Slicing and private networks

14:20 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Daryl Schoolar, T-Mobile, L4S, 5G Advanced, slicing, 5G Standalone, Verizon, AT&T, satellite, T-Priority, gaming, private networks

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner are joined by Angela Rittgers, President of AT&T Prepaid and Cricket Wireless, to discuss Cricket’s operations, recent updates, growth plans, and the increasingly blurred lines between prepaid and postpaid.

00:00 Episode intro

00:26 Angela's move to Cricket

03:00 Cricket's approach to wireless

05:00 Atlanta's impact on Cricket

05:45 Cricket's new plans focus on unlimited data and hotspots

07:39 Prepaid and postpaid are blending

11:45 Cricket's plan for growth

12:28 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Angela Rittgers, AT&T, Cricket, Boost, Virgin Mobile, John Dwyer, Atlanta, plans, data, hotspots, multiline, devices, value, network, churn