Jeff Campbell
05-12-2009, 08:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/05/11/att_acquisition_to_beef_up_3g_coverage_in_rural_us.html' target='_blank'>http://www.appleinsider.com/article...n_rural_us.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"AT&T on Friday confirmed plans to acquire wireless properties from rival Verizon in a bid to strengthen coverage of its 3G network in rural areas of the US stretching across some 18 states."</em></p><p><em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1242119576.usr105634.jpg" /></em></p><p>Since Verizon bought Alltel, these properties weren't needed so AT&T worked out a deal. This deal was for $2.35 Billion USD and means that AT&T takes control of 18 of the 24 markets Verizon is divesting itself of because of the Alltel acquisition. So AT&T gets properties, licenses, assets and about 1.5 million subscribers in 18 states. Converting the areas from CDMA to GSM will take about a year and cost $400 million USD, about a 1/6 of what it cost them to purchase the assets. </p><p>Well I'd say that this is going to improve my 3G coverage at home but sadly Oregon isn't one of the states mentioned. </p><p> </p>