Google reportedly in talks with Dish Network on launching new wireless service

Google has recently been in talks with satellite-TV provider Dish Network about partnering to create a new wireless service, according to people close to the situation. It’s worth noting that they also said the talks weren’t advanced and could ultimately not amount to anything, and Google isn’t the only company that Dish has been talking with, but the possibility of Google entering direct competition with the likes of Verizon and AT&T is pretty exciting.

In 2008, Dish Network acquired wireless spectrum, and for the past year has been attempting to find a partner to begin building a wireless network. When asked about the negotiations, Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen did not comment directly on Google, but said they had been in talks with companies interested in the industry who don’t currently have a wireless business. He also said it would be easier to partner with a company that had some infrastructure already established. (Google Fiber, anyone?) A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.

Google has been trying to push its influence and bring high-speed internet to more and more people, and it’s not too far-fetched to think buying wireless spectrum is something Google may consider. Google’s entire business is built around people using Google products to browse the web. The more people that have cheaper, faster access to the web are more people that are Google customers. And from an economic standpoint, faster, cheaper services mean more competition, which means better choices for consumers. Win-win situation.

Like I said earlier, these talks may end up falling through and it won’t mean anything. But, hey, if Google managed to get a wireless service going, I can guarantee I’d be one of their first customers. Anybody else feel that way?

source: Wall Street Journal