Light Reading Podcasts Ookla's Mike Dano on spectrum sagas and WBD dramas
Dec 23, 2025
Join Mike Dano, lead industry analyst at Ookla and former mobile expert, as he dives into the fascinating world of mobile networks and spectrum dynamics. He discusses the impact of mid-band spectrum on U.S. infrastructure compared to Canada, and why the EchoStar-SpaceX deal is a game changer. Mike also considers Starlink's potential entry into mobile services and the implications for terrestrial strategies. Additionally, he analyzes the intense bidding between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros. assets and its potential effects on the film industry.
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Unified Data Lake Reveals Network Truths
- Ookla aggregates multiple datasets (Speedtest, RootMetrics, DownDetector, Ecahow) into a unified data lake for richer network analysis.
- Mike Dano uses that combined dataset to surface performance and deployment trends not visible in single-source reports.
Carriers Poised To Host Sovereign AI
- AI and data sovereignty are top priorities for carriers and analysts heading into 2026.
- Telecoms may host localized AI models and data centers to meet country-specific sovereignty demands.
Midband Drives Today; Upper C Fuels 6G Era
- Mid-band releases like C-band materially improved U.S. mobile speeds and coverage as seen in Ookla data.
- New large auctions (upper C‑band) likely won't affect deployments until years later, shaping a longer-term 6G timeframe.