You could even say that Dish and Uverse could complement each other. I read that Craig Moffett is pooh-poohing this whole thing. I don't know what he's smoking.
Think of the strenghts and weaknesses of Cable based systems and satellite systems:
Cable characteristics (including Uvers and Fios)
1) Cable is easy to localize. Including VOD, Local access, etc.
2) It's easier to provide broadband over a cable because of the lack of latency
3) Cable is bandwidth constrained by the Cable itself. It is hard to expand the bandwith short of running more cable, which is HUGELY expensive
Satellite characteristics
1) Hard to localize. VOD is difficult, Local access nearly impossible.
2) Hard to provide broadband over satellite due to inherent latency
3) Want more Bandwidth? Launch another satellite and "Presto!"
So, what would ATT do with Dish? Provide a 1-box service (something like Dish Homezone) which would look something like this:
1) Connected to Satellite for National services
2) Connected to Uverse infrastructure for VOD, Local Access, Internet Access, IP phone, Local Channels (freeing up more satellite bandwidth)
3) All this would be transparent to the users, who would just see one "uberservice".
So in one box (probably manufactured by Echostar under long-term agreement) you would get ALL the benefits of CABLE as well as ALL the benefits of LOCAL DSL and all the benefits of Satellite.
If ATT pulls this off, this is the GAME CHANGER, ladies and gentlemen.
The ATT cable could provide much better bandwidth for data and phone because it would be freed from having to use bandwidth for TV. And it could provide more programming options because it would have virtually unlimited bandwidth.
The technology is in place (the 622/722 can do this NOW, TODAY. To paraphrase Dr. Strangelove, "All that is necessary is the will (money) to do so."
I could go on about this but I have to go back to work.