Clayton: Dish will keep spectrum, but remains open to merger

Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH) isn't interested in selling wireless broadband spectrum that it has acquired from TerreStar Networks and DBSB North America that the company hopes to use to market wireless video, high-speed Internet and voice products, CEO Joseph Clayton said Wednesday.

Clayton

"We'd like to keep this in our asset portfolio. Spectrum is a lot like oil and gold and water. You can't have enough of it," Clayton told Bloomberg TV in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Dish, which spent $2.7 billion to acquire S-band spectrum from TerreStar and DBSD, has told the FCC that it wants to build a hybrid network that would allow it market bundles of satellite TV and wireless video, phone and Internet access. It trademarked the brand Ollo to use as a brand for mobile products, and also wants to sell standalone wireless phone and Internet services.

Following the collapse of AT&T's (NYSE: T) deal to acquire T-Mobile in December, there has been some speculation that AT&T could attempt to buy Dish. While Clayton said Dish isn't looking to sell its broadband wireless spectrum, he said company would consider an outright acquisition.

"We're open to all possible options. It's our job to do what's in the best interest of our shareholders. We could be acquired, or we could be the acquirer," Clayton said.

For more:
- see the interview

Related articles:
Dish Network trademarks Ollo for mobile video, high-speed Internet and voice products
Collapse of T-Mobile deal sparks speculation about Dish Network acquisition
Dish Network CEO Ergen: ‘We're just not getting our fair share yet'
Dish Network eyes wireless broadband network to challenge cable
Dish Network pushes for FCC waiver to build wireless broadband network