AT&T scoops up 40,000 customers, spectrum assets of Plateau Wireless

[Rawvega]

And another one bites the dust.

 

 

AT&T Mobility (NYSE: T) is looking to purchase 40,000 customers, a handful of spectrum licenses and "related operations and assets" of Plateau Wireless, which offers wireless service across eastern New Mexico and West Texas and will exit the wireless business via the sale. The transaction, which still requires FCC approval, is scheduled to be completed in the second half of this year.

Read more: AT&T scoops up 40,000 customers, spectrum assets of Plateau Wireless - FierceWireless http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/att-scoops-40000-customers-spectrum-assets-plateau-wireless/2014-06-24#ixzz35aCMaVFJ 
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[S4GRU]

And another one bites the dust.

 

I thought Plateau was bought out by VZW last year?  Hmmm,

 

Robert

[MacinJosh]

I thought Plateau was bought out by VZW last year? Hmmm,

 

Robert

Maybe the FCC rejected it?

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 5S using Tapatalk 2

[JeremiahMcCurry]

Reads like Verizon bought only a specific area in Southeastern NM http://www.verizonwireless.com/news/article/2012/02/pr2012-02-17e.html

[S4GRU]

Reads like Verizon bought only a specific area in Southeastern NM http://www.verizonwireless.com/news/article/2012/02/pr2012-02-17e.html

 

I guess I assumed it was all.  Oops.

 

Robert

[WiWavelength]

Who knew? Do a query on my username and "Plateau." I have been saying for years that this would happen.

 

 

AJ

[JeremiahMcCurry]

The carrier also disclosed details of the spectrum it is acquiring as part of the transaction:

• In NM-4 (Santa Fe): 20 MHz of AWS A band, 25 MHz of 850 MHz B band, 12 MHz of 700 MHz C band
• In TX-3 (Parmer): 20 MHz of AWS A band, 25 MHz of 850 MHz B band, 12 MHz of 700 MHz C band
• In NM-2 (Colfax): 20 MHz of AWS A band, 25 MHz of 850 MHz B band

AT&T's LTE network works in AWS and 700 MHz spectrum.

 

 

AT&T doesn't need that 850. Is it something Sprint could want or need in those markets?

[Fraydog]

AT&T doesn't need that 850. Is it something Sprint could want or need in those markets?

AT&T will still use CLR for GSM/UMTS/HSPA, though they probably should consider refarming that frequency for LTE.

[lilotimz]

AT&T will still use CLR for GSM/UMTS/HSPA, though they probably should consider refarming that frequency for LTE.

 

In some areas ATT already has Band 5 deployed for LTE.

[WiWavelength]

I thought Plateau was bought out by VZW last year?  Hmmm,

 

I am certain we had a discussion that day the VZW transaction affected only the CMA for Roswell, etc.  Your memory must be slipping now in your dotage.

 

 

AJ

[WiWavelength]

The spectrum details in the Fierce Wireless article are incomplete.  Though Plateau holds the Cellular B block license in the CMA for Santa Fe, it is a partitioned license.  Santa Fe County, the only even moderately urban county in that CMA, has long been partitioned to VZW.  Plateau is not licensed the Cellular B block in Santa Fe County.

 

From a site that I maintain for historical purposes, see the license maps below:

 

 

AJ

[S4GRU]

I am certain we had a discussion that day the VZW transaction affected only the CMA for Roswell, etc. Your memory must be slipping now in your dotage.

 

 

AJ

Through the foggy haze of my 'forgotten file' that seems vaguely familiar.

 

Robert via Samsung Note 8.0 using Tapatalk Pro

[JimBob]

What is is the ownership structure/management of Plateau Wireless; who is getting paid out in this deal and how much?

[WiWavelength]

What is is the ownership structure/management of Plateau Wireless; who is getting paid out in this deal and how much?

 

Plateau is a rural telecom cooperative, so the ownership structure is probably quite fractured.  Sadly, many of these coops have already sold off or will soon sell off their wireless assets -- likely because of the expense of acquiring new spectrum for LTE and/or deploying LTE.  Keep in mind that Plateau is licensed for half the state of New Mexico but has only 40,000 wireless subs across which to spread and justify CAPEX.  For perspective, during the university academic year, Sprint may approach 40,000 wireless subs in my county alone.

 

AJ