T-Mobile CEO John Legere predicts that four wireless companies in the U.S. will shuffle their CEOs in the next 12 months.
Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure (heading since August 2011), AT&T CEO Randall L Stephenson (since May 2007), Verizon Wireless CEO John G Stratton (since February 2015), Verizon Communications CEO Lowell C. McAdam (since August 2011) and T-Mobile CEO John Legere (since September 2012) are the prominent wireless CEOs in the US.
“With all the rumors swirling around wireless how can I leave this one alone? This time next year, the CEOs heading up wireless companies will not be the same four leading those companies today. Meade, Hesse and De La Vega have gone. It’s the next CEO shuffle! I predict three of the four current CEOs will be shuffled out this year,” John Legere said.
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John Legere’s industry predictions for 2017
The following industry predictions by John Legere have the potential to re-shape the US wireless industry. His predictions are on future of MVNO, cable operator’s wireless push, possible deal between Comcast and Verizon, Google’s wireless business, a new look Dish and TV viewing on phones.
In 2017, Big Cable will reveal their wireless plan through their MVNO deals, and customers won’t be satisfied. Big Cable will have their asses handed to them and will be in full retreat from their MVNO strategy by end of year.
“After all, the last two letters in MVNO are “NO” – as in customers will say “NO, an MVNO strategy is just not good enough, Big Cable.” And for that reason, T-Mobile will say “NO” to MVNO deals with cable companies,” said John Legere.
Technology companies such as Facebook, Apple, Google and Amazon have wireless ambitions. A major new player will jump in and shake up the US wireless market in a major way. Google can be the new wireless major.
Over-the-top and other viewing options are increasing. Twenty-five percent of US households have cut the cable. More than a third of TV viewing is happening on something other than a TV. “I predict the majority of TV viewing will be happening on mobile by end of year,” said John Legere.
There will be a new look Dish. Dish will utilize their spectrum and venture into wireless in a big way. Dish faces revenue declines from linear TV business. “I predict 2017 will mark the end of Dish as we know it. This time next year, they’ll no longer be a standalone entity,” said John Legere.
T-Mobile customers will be first to experience gigabit LTE speeds. T-Mobile won’t be waiting for 5G to do it. T-Mobile rivals are waiting for 5G to offer gigabit speeds.
Salvaging 90s dot coms hasn’t worked out so well for Verizon. Verizon’s head start on their network is basically gone. Comcast really needs a wireless play. The future looks a little rough for Verizon and Comcast as their legacy businesses erode. “Verizon and Comcast will be forced to into discussions about combining two of the most hated brands in America,” said John Legere.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
