AT&T to Buy Spectrum For $2.5 Billion
AT&T, the biggest U.S. mobile service, said on Tuesday that it would buy the wireless airwave licenses of privately held Aloha Partners LP for about $2.5 billion.
AT&T said the licenses have coverage for a potential 196 million customers in 281 markets, including 72 of the top 100 U.S. markets in the 700-megahertz frequency band.
"Customer demand for mobile services, including voice, data and video, is continually increasing," said Forrest Miller, group president-corporate strategy and development. "Aloha's spectrum will enable AT&T to efficiently meet this growing demand and help our customers stay connected to their worlds."
Aloha had been testing the airwaves in Las Vegas for a mobile television service that could potentially compete with an offering from Qualcomm unit MediaFlo USA. It had also tested wireless high-speed data services in Phoenix.
AT&T's press release did not say how the acquisition might affect AT&T's decision about whether to participate in an upcoming government airwave auction.
AT&T said it anticipated receiving necessary government approvals and closing the transaction within six to nine months.
"Customer demand for mobile services, including voice, data and video, is continually increasing," said Forrest Miller, group president-corporate strategy and development. "Aloha's spectrum will enable AT&T to efficiently meet this growing demand and help our customers stay connected to their worlds."
Aloha had been testing the airwaves in Las Vegas for a mobile television service that could potentially compete with an offering from Qualcomm unit MediaFlo USA. It had also tested wireless high-speed data services in Phoenix.
AT&T's press release did not say how the acquisition might affect AT&T's decision about whether to participate in an upcoming government airwave auction.
AT&T said it anticipated receiving necessary government approvals and closing the transaction within six to nine months.
