wireless
BREAKING: CUIT launches UNI-authenticated wireless
By Mikey Zhong
In an email sent to Spectator, CUIT announced that it has instated a new wireless network, which would involve UNI-authentication to increase wireless security. This new wireless system, called “Columbia U Secure”, which is similar in style to Barnard’s WiFi, spans through Morningside Heights and Manhattanville. For more information, read the newsletter CUIT sent out. Access to Columbia’s old, unauthenticated wireless will still be available.
Wondering why use the secure network? http://bwog.com/2011/05/02/mission-critical-encrypted-wireless-now-available/
It’s worth noitng that AT&T, at least, thinks that they’re going to extract more $ out of customers through this merger. At least, that seems to be the message of their presentation to analysts & journalists, as glossed by : But it’s the middle three opportunities that give us pause. Number two is grow ARPU, or average revenue per user. Number three is reduce churn. And number four is expand margins. They could be recast as you’ll pay us more money each month, you won’t leave, and we’ll make more profit on each dollar you pay. Note that AT&T plans to accomplish this despite the acquisition target having lower ARPU & margins than the parent: AT&T is quite explicit about this. The average monthly payout for a T-Mobile data plan is $12.80, while AT&T pulls in an average of $17.50 for its data plans. One goal of the merger is to increase T-Mobile smartphone penetration and data ARPUs, in part through adopting AT&T’s own tiered data plans. T-Mobile’s margins also need to be improved, too, something associated more with being a premium provider and not a value provider. Right now, T-Mobile makes 29.2 percent profit margins, which sounds good until you realize that AT&T makes 40.7 percent.We can have lots of debates about what the rules ought to be that structure the use of wireless spectrum, but I think it’s hard to deny that AT&T believes the merger to have value primarily through its effect of taking out a major competitor, allowing them more market power.