What about the other players? As the world's largest mobile-phone service provider, Vodafone could enter the bidding. It shares the same GSM technology as AT&T Wireless in its non-U.S. global markets. However, it owns 45 percent of Verizon Wireless, and that could represent a stumbling block.
Once the air is cleared over the AT&T Wireless auction, the status of the remaining smaller players is likely to be resolved. With about 10 percent market share, Sprint PCS would likely become an attractive acquisition target. With its underlying CDMA technology, Sprint would appeal to Verizon Wireless, which also utilized CDMA. T-Mobile's 8 percent market share would be a logical fit for the AT&T Wireless-Cingular-DoCoMo group, because its infrastructure technology is also GSM-based.
Nextel Communications has its own unique technology, making it difficult to integrate with any of the other major mobile-phone players. However, Nextel, which has about eight percent market share, has seen its stock rise rapidly in recent months, perhaps giving it the currency to bid for AT&T Wireless.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
