CHICAGO, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Verizon Communicatons Inc. (NYSE: VZ), Vodafone Group plc. (Nasdaq: VOD), Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) and AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T).
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Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:
Is It a Duopoly in Telecom?
Competition sometimes creates strange bed fellows. Last week, this proverb was proved when Verizon Wireless entered into a spectrum purchase and products resell deal with SpectrumCo. Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communicatons Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone Group plc. (Nasdaq: VOD), and SpectrumCo, a consortium of U.S cable giants Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC), and Bright House Networks, are arch rivals.
But most importantly, does this deal has the ability to transform the U.S. telecom market structure into a duopoly, especially when FCC and Department of Justice are raising several questions regarding the proposed merger of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) with T-Mobile USA.
A Duopoly in Disguise
Major concern for the U.S. regulators regarding the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger is that this deal may ultimately result in duopolistic situation for such a crucial infrastructure sector such as telecommunications, thereby affecting the interest of the general public. Now considering the Verizon Wireless and SpectrumCo deal, we believe a product reselling agreement with cable MSOs will enable Verizon to offer wireless, wireline, high-speed broadband and video services almost throughout the U.S. Similarly, cable operators can also bundle their existing offerings with Verizon's 4G LTE services.
SpectrumCo won FCC auction for AWS spectrum in 2006. For five long-years, they kept this precious wireless infrastructure inactive and is now selling it at a premium of 29%. The one who are at the receiving end will be the common people. Secondly, a reselling agreement may result in a tacit agreement between Verizon and cable operators to rig prices for their overlapping products. This will ultimately affect the government's target of fair competition.
An approval for AT&T – T Mobile deal will definitely lead to a duopoly in the telecom market. Further, even if the deal never sees the light, AT&T still has several options to cope up with Verizon.
It will be highly interesting to watch regulator's decisions regarding these two proposed deals. The AT&T - T Mobile deal is a direct merger, whereas Verizon – Spectrum Co. deal is an indirect merger of a broad- based telecommunications landscape. A major characteristic of the telecommunications industry is the huge barriers to entry due to scarcity of spectrum. It is not easy to establish a new telecom carrier since it will require government permission to transmit voice, data, and video on public airwaves. Spectrum licenses are limited and therefore quite expensive. Under this scenario, regulator's decision holds the key to shape up this market.
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