The Week with Roger

Latest Episodes:

This Week: 300th Episode with Craig Moffett on Convergence and Fiber Economics Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner celebrate the 300th episode of the show by welcoming telecom legend Craig Moffett, co-founder of Moffett Nathanson, to discuss all things convergence, including the current state of fiber buildouts, evolving bundling strategies, and what market cycles may be signaling for the future.

00:00 Episode intro

01:00 Convergence and the state of the fiber buildout

04:52 Density and overbuilding

06:15 Diminishing buildout returns

09:45 Data center demand and labor questions

11:16 Aerial vs. buried deployment cost concerns

13:43 Is bundling actually profitable?

18:05 Fiber growth at the expense of wireless

20:51 Broadband price compression may signal a coming crisis

23:29 What will future buyouts look like?

25:38 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Craig Moffett, convergence, fiber, FWA, cable, Starlink, BEAD, Cox, Charter, rural, buildout, density, data centers, Verizon, AT&T, Fios, bundling, ILEC, T-Mobile, copper, VoIP, buyouts

This Week: Verizon’s New Network Leader and the Growing AI Memory Crunch Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner examine the newest leadership shakeup at Verizon, as well as explore the escalating computer memory crunch and its potential ramifications for the telecom industry.

00:00 Episode intro

00:37 The latest Verizon leadership changes

02:37 International legal complications involved

03:17 The timing of the transition

03:46 Implications for the company

04:52 The systemic memory crisis is intensifying

06:47 Surging AI demand is driving profound changes

07:31 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Deutsche Telekom, Verizon, Abdu Mudesir, Joe Russo, Germany, Europe, network, NTIA, memory, shortages, RAM, supply chain, AI, routers, Apple, iPhone

This Week: 5 Gig Cable, BEAD Shakeups, and the Starlink Opportunity Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner examine the key domestic telecom developments of the week, including rural cable upgrades, recent BEAD turbulence, the buzz surrounding the Starlink IPO, and more.

00:00 Episode intro

00:25 Mediacom Next-Gen network upgrades

02:07 Cable is steadily improving its reputation

02:54 Speed and reliability are both crucial

03:59 Several BEAD providers are stepping back

05:03 Satellite may swoop in on the market

05:49 New research on consumer choice dynamics

07:29 Upcoming reports on Starlink's future

08:59 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Mediacom, spectrum, DOCSIS 4.0, cable, fiber, Comcast, Charter, FWA, BEAD, rural, satellite, Starlink, Leo, New Street Research, IPO

This Week: Modular Pricing, Network Strain, and California's Copper Standoff May 26, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner unveil insights from Fiber Connect 2026 on data centers and material shortages, and discuss AT&T's new Build-A-Plan rollout as well as their legal fight to sunset legacy copper networks in California.

00:00 Episode intro

00:25 Fiber Connect data center insights

02:51 AI video is driving network requirements

04:41 AT&T's new Build-A-Plan rollout and implications

07:40 Will the plan expand in the future?

08:27 AT&T sues California to sunset copper and DSL

11:00 Satellite has become a reliable backup

12:28 Regulators should embrace the future

13:16 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Fiber Connect, AI, network, data centers, BEAD, fiber, data, video, DOCSIS 4.0, AT&T, Build-A-Plan, Mint, multi-line, convergence, DSL, California, copper, FCC, satellite, Starlink, T-Mobile, regulation

This Week: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile Join Forces on Satellite Connectivity May 18, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the new satellite joint venture agreement in principle between Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, exploring its massive implications for satellite providers and consumers alike.

00:00 Episode intro

00:25 Details of the potential joint venture

02:23 Universal connectivity is on the horizon

03:36 Implications for Starlink

05:37 The U.S. may set the global standard

06:18 Are the coverage wars over?

08:22 Future satellite tech upgrades

09:23 Intent does not always materialize

10:13 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, D2D, device-to-device, spectrum, satellite, rural, dead zones, AST, Leo, Starlink, Elon Musk, coverage, urban, 5G, VoLTE, video

This Week: Promises, Promises, Promises - Price Locks and the Cost of Predictability May 11, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner dive into the current state of carrier price locks as well as consumer sentiment, exploring the findings from Roger’s new report on the subject, "Promises, Promises, Promises."

00:00 Episode intro

00:25 Overview of the price lock landscape

01:34 Verizon's price lock landscape

02:56 T-Mobile's price lock landscape

03:09 Carrier price plans are innumerable

04:41 AT&T's price lock landscape

05:22 Charter's price lock landscape

06:06 Comcast's price lock landscape

06:47 Consumers prefer straightforward pricing

07:58 Cable equipment fees as a pain point

09:22 Carrier strategies differ overall

10:07 AT&T OneConnect's pricing

10:54 Fiber vs. satellite

12:03 Carrier reporting frequency

13:14 Report overview and episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, price locks, AT&T, Verizon, churn, net adds, T-Mobile, data, Charter, cable, Comcast, inflation, Verizon FiOS, routers, AT&T OneConnect, fiber, FWA, satellite, Starlink, reporting

This Week: Q1 '26 Earnings - Verizon, T-Mobile, and Key Takeaways from Deutsche Telekom May 04, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner break down Q1 earnings for Verizon and T-Mobile, alongside key strategic takeaways from the Deutsche Telekom B2B Conference in Bonn, Germany.

00:00 Episode intro

00:26 Verizon's Q1 overview

01:59 Reporting metric changes

04:10 Verizon's future outlook

05:02 T-Mobile's reporting metrics

05:52 T-Mobile's Q1 overview

09:41 Industry-wide fiber net adds

12:10 Charter's stock and acquisition prospects

12:37 Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile combination rumors

15:28 Conference insights and European sovereign cloud

17:17 Europe's superior system integration business

17:55 Roger's conference plans and episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, Verizon, T-Mobile, earnings, Deutsche Telekom, net adds, AT&T, John Stankey, fiber, FWA, broadband, U.S. Cellular, Srini Gopalan, churn, Charter, Comcast, sovereign cloud, AI, B2B, conference

This Week: Q1 '26 Earnings - AT&T, Comcast, and Charter and the Rise of Fiber Castles Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner dive into Q1 earnings from AT&T, Comcast, and Charter, the importance of fiber castles, and future predictions for Verizon and T-Mobile.

00:00 Episode intro

00:25 AT&T Q1 overview

01:19 Fiber castle strategies

04:50 Are cable customers becoming more satisfied?

07:16 Comcast Q1 overview

07:57 Charter Q1 overview

08:32 T-Mobile may struggle with fiber

09:14 Research report details

09:36 Verizon and T-Mobile future predictions

10:43 Deutsche Telekom merger rumors

11:18 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, earnings, AT&T, Comcast, Charter, convergence, fiber, Verizon, Kinetic, Frontier, Lumen, T-Mobile, FWA, cable, NPS, bundling, Srini Gopalan, Deutsche Telekom

This Week: What Comes Next When All Networks Are Good Enough? Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner discuss the current state of networks, why carriers must shift their strategic focus, and the challenge of truly prioritizing the customer.

00:00 Episode intro

00:43 All networks are now “good enough”

02:04 Shifting focus from speed to capabilities

03:20 Meeting consumer needs is paramount

05:50 What follows network emphasis?

06:56 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, network, Dan Schulman, FWA, 5G, Speedtest, 4K, Verizon, T-Mobile, T-Satellite, value, Consumer Cellular, video, AT&T, reliability

This Week: Churn and the Future of Loyalty with Jay Cary and Dave Whetstone Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Analysts Brett Clark and Roger Entner are joined by TLC Worldwide CEO Jay Cary and Connex Studio CEO Dave Whetstone to discuss current customer retention challenges and the strategic solutions companies can implement to solve them.

00:00 Episode intro

00:26 Why is churn still rising?

02:47 Loyalty plans remain focused on acquisitions

04:36 How to improve loyalty plans

07:00 T-Mobile's positive interaction goal

07:51 Customer appreciation is underrated

08:35 The business case for loyalty plans

11:03 Visible and the MVNO landscape

14:04 Marketing strategy suggestions

15:38 Episode wrap-up

Tags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Brett Clark, Roger Entner, Jay Cary, Dave Whetstone, TLC Worldwide, Connex Studio, AT&T, 5G, network, loyalty plans, switching, Comcast, T-Mobile, churn, Ronan Dunne, Verizon, prices, Visible, MVNO, NPS, MNO, Mint, CRM, RCS, marketing

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