Here are the editor's top picks for the week.
Washington Watch: FCC divided on how many players needed in US wireless market
As the Federal Communications Commission prepares to review the proposed merger of T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corp., comments from current and former commissioners indicate stark divisions over how to think about wireless competition. Under former President Barack Obama, regulators at both the U.S. Justice Department and the FCC made clear their view that a four-player market is best for competition. However, members of today's Republican-led FCC, including Chairman Ajit Pai, have said that they may be open to consolidating the No. 3 and No. 4 top U.S. wireless companies.
Data Dispatch: Tech expansion key for Microsoft in cloud war against Amazon
In the rapidly growing cloud-computing business, Amazon.com Inc. remains the market leader, but enterprise software giant Microsoft Corp.'s renewed cloud focus is aimed at narrowing Amazon's competitive edge. Analysts said the companies' latest quarterly results show Microsoft is gaining momentum with its Azure cloud-computing platform. Microsoft spent $3.5 billion during its fiscal third quarter ended March 31 to support current and future cloud offerings.
Data Dispatch: Analysis: Cybersecurity ETFs outperform in 2018 amid sector fragmentation
Specialty exchange-traded funds focused on cybersecurity are outperforming the broader technology sector year-to-date amid heightened interest in the fragmented cybersecurity market from companies, regulators and investors. As of the close of trading May 4, ETF Managers Trust - ETFMG Prime Cyber Security ETF (HACK) and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II - First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) were up about 15% and 13% year-to-date, respectively, compared to a 7% gain for broader technology fund Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) and a 3% gain for the Nasdaq overall.
Evolving solar options to meet cable's distributed powering demands
As cable operators consider renewable solutions, a major hurdle can be the nature of the networks themselves, wrote Derek DiGiacomo, a senior director overseeing energy management at the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, or SCTE.
Upfronts 2018: Telemundo offers single commercial break in 1st part of dramas
The 60-second ad break is available across the network's top-rated, prime-time shows. Comcast Corp.'s Telemundo (US) executives also said the Spanish-language broadcaster has sold out 90% of its inventory for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.