AT&T to acquire spectrum from NTCH, MilkyWay Broadband, and Paul Bunyan

The second largest mobile carrier in the US is preparing to buy spectrum in the 700MHz block, and AWS-1 part of the range (1710-1755MHz and 2110-2155MHz) from a holding company and a couple small telecom firms.

The financial terms of the deals have not been disclosed, but the blocks of spectrum will further AT&T’s plans toward enhancing its network in several markets.

The first deal involves the transfer of 12MHz from the lower B-block of 700MHz in 18 counties across parts of Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, from NTCH, which operates ClearTalk Wireless, and its subsidiary WGH Communications.  MilkyWay Broadband is relinquishing 12MHz of lower 700MHz C-block spectrum across 71 counties in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

The AWS-1 spectrum comes from none other than Paul Bunyon Rural Telephone Cooperative. From that transaction, AT&T will pick up properties in 9 counties across the land of Paul Bunyon (a North American folklore hero), meaning Minnesota and North Dakota.

AT&T expects to pick up more capacity through an upcoming auction of 600MHz spectrum later this year.

source: FierceWireless