MetroPCS says it will launch in three new markets if deal with T-Mobile closes

At the UBS Global Media and Communication Conference on Wednesday, MetroPCS made a presentation in front of analysts and investors. Chairman and CEO Roger Linquist and CFO Braxton Carter appeared and told those in attendance that if T-Mobile closes on its deal to buy the pre-paid carrier, it would add service in three unnamed markets. Previously, Carter had said in previous conversations that New Orleans and Minneapolis would be soon getting MetroPCS service. Investors also wanted to know when the synergies of the deal would kick in for both carriers. Carter said that 2013 would be a year when T-Mobile would see stabilization in the number of its post-paid customers while the year would continue to be one of nationwide growth for MetroPCS.

Investors were happy to hear that MetroPCS would be in line to save some serious cash once the deal closes. Currently, the pre-paid carrier, the nation's fifth largest mobile operator, pays $100 million a year in roaming fees to its CDMA rivals, a figure that will drop sharply once the deal closes. The attendees also were interested in hearing the breakdown of MetroPCS' subscribers. Currently, 20% of them are using the operator's 4G LTE pipeline. 75% of upgrades are to the LTE network which requires an LTE enabled handset. Those using the carrier's $55 per month unlimited data plan are using about 2GB a month in data.

Also of interest to the investors in the audience was information on T-Mobile's spending plan. The nation's fourth largest carrier will spend $4 billion to refarm its 1900 MHz PCS and 1700 MHz AWS spectrum. Just before Hurricane Sandy caused a delay, 95% of T-Mobile's 1900MHz spectrum had been refarmed for HSPA+. The actual amount being spent by T-Mobile will exceed $4 billion as the carrier will need to integrate MetroPCS' distributed antenna system into T-Mobile's network. More info on the combined company will be announced next week at the investor meeting for T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013.

source: FierceWireless