Sorry: How do you start a cell phone company?

[Bossmanty]

How can I offer cellular service in my area? I would like to offer a similar service to Cricket which provides UNLIMITED LOCAL SERVICE. I'm new to this, so I would need to start from the top.

[jmccrane]

Well, Cricket actually did build its own network in each of its cities, so you would have to start with tower licensing, approvals, planning, construction, etc. before you could market anything.

Alternatively, you could try to "borrow" another carrier's network.

[Bossmanty]

How would you borrow time on someone else's network?

[jmccrane]

You sign an agreement, like Virgin Mobile has with Sprint PCS. The carrier either gets a lump sum from you in return for access and/or a percentage of revenue from the service.

[RBOCMAN]

Easiest way? Pay a hooker to seduce a tob exec at T-mo/Cingular/At&t (CDMA top brass are deligently gay). Take pix, black mail them outta thier vote and share. Throw in a poison pill motion, takeover the company and thats a days work

[JessFerg]

Originally Posted by jmccrane

Well, Cricket actually did build its own network in each of its cities, so you would have to start with tower licensing, approvals, planning, construction, etc. before you could market anything.

Alternatively, you could try to "borrow" another carrier's network.

We have been trying to start a cell phone company as well and the larger companies keep throwing up road blocks as to how to get connectivity. All we need to know is what are the steps necessary, step by baby step to get this company up and running as a tier 1 (providing our own connectivity) or minimum tier 2 distributor. We have the investors and the financial capability and are not afraid to work as hard as necessary.

could you get a little more in depth as to who one might contact to get such a thing done.

[TelcomJunkie]

1. Get lots of money
2. Buy license, very few of these left. Probably have to buy from an incumbent.
3. Get more money.
4. Pick platform, GSM, CDMA or other.
5. Get more money.
6. Start buildout, locate and build switches and sites.
7. Get more money.
8. Get more money.
9. Argue more with zoning commissions.
10. Get more money.
11. Get delayed.
12. Get more money.
13. Turn half assed network on early so you can start bringing in some return on investment.
14. Look for more money and more customers.
15-28 - Repeat step 14.
29. Eventually make a profit.

[Bill Clinton]

Yea you are late in the game if you want to start a cell phone company. There are already 4 major carriers, some powerful regional carriers, a bunch of strong local carriers, and lots of MVNOs. As for the local unlimited service and what not, that has already been done and Metro PCS/Cricket might expand into your market if they haven't already. I don't want to be negative, but I don't see how you will make it. Sorry for the bad news.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by Bill Clinton

Yea you are late in the game if you want to start a cell phone company. There are already 4 major carriers, some powerful regional carriers, a bunch of strong local carriers, and lots of MVNOs. As for the local unlimited service and what not, that has already been done and Metro PCS/Cricket might expand into your market if they haven't already. I don't want to be negative, but I don't see how you will make it. Sorry for the bad news.

Well said.

Originally Posted by JessFerg

We have been trying to start a cell phone company as well and the larger companies keep throwing up road blocks as to how to get connectivity. All we need to know is what are the steps necessary, step by baby step to get this company up and running as a tier 1 (providing our own connectivity) or minimum tier 2 distributor. We have the investors and the financial capability and are not afraid to work as hard as necessary.

could you get a little more in depth as to who one might contact to get such a thing done.

And sorry, but posting the same general message in three 5 year old threads won't help either.

Try being a reseller.