Dish Network eyes wireless broadband network to challenge cable

Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH) may be able to use wireless broadband spectrum it acquired from TerreStar Networks to offer subscribers high-speed Internet services, if it wins approval from the FCC.

On Monday, Dish asked the commission for a waiver to allow build a hybrid satellite-terrestrial network using LTE-Advanced network technology. The satellite TV provider said it plans to offer dual-mode receivers to customers who want to subscribe to both pay TV and high-speed Internet, and single-mode terrestrial receivers to customers who don't want its satellite TV programming.

Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and other Dish cable rivals have relied on selling triple-play packages of video, high-speed Internet and telephone services to recruit and retain subscribers. If the FCC approves Dish's plan, the company could pose a bigger threat to its cable rivals and top DBS provider DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV).

For more:
- see story in FierceWireless

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