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It would not surprise me if T-Mobile leases UScellular's used spectrum while converting sites for up to a year. -
Here's the spectrum breakdown by band. There's some 2.5 in there as well. The remaining spectrum is definitely enough to keep running FWA on while finding a buyer, and since the towers aren't conveying with the subs and spectrum there's nothing stopping USCellular from competing with T-Mobile on FWA until Verizon or AT&T decide the spectrum is valuable enough to take off TDS's hands. If they go that route, I wouldn't be surprised if FWA gets rebranded under TDS. -
Transaction Details and Financial Profile T-Mobile will pay approximately $4.4 billion for the assets being acquired from UScellular in the transaction in a combination of cash and up to $2.0 billion of debt to be assumed by T-Mobile through an exchange offer to be made to certain UScellular debtholders prior to closing. To the extent any debtholders do not participate in the exchange, their bonds will continue as obligations of UScellular and the cash portion of the purchase price will be correspondingly increased. Following the closing of the transaction, UScellular will retain ownership of its other spectrum as well as its towers, with T-Mobile entering into a long-term arrangement to lease space on at least 2,100 additional towers being retained. T-Mobile does not expect the transaction to impact the company’s 2024 guidance or 2024 authorized shareholder return program. T-Mobile expects this transaction will yield approximately $1.0 billion in effective total opex and capex annual run rate cost synergies upon integration, with total cost to achieve the integration currently estimated at between $2.2 billion to $2.6 billion. The company plans to reinvest a portion of synergies toward enhancing consumer choice, quality and competition in the wireless industry. The transaction, which is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and receipt of certain regulatory approvals, is expected to close in mid-2025. -
The way I heard it, these were for sites that T-Mobile would not be keeping, and presumably is how they would handle decommissioning the equipment from them. This would presumably happen because they're already on the tower or on an adjacent tower. For example, in Keysville, VA, T-Mobile is on a tower directly adjacent to the existing US Cellular-owned tower. https://maps.app.goo.gl/kefNy451QXYFSqi5A T-Mobile at left; at right is the US Cellular-owned tower with both US Cellular and Verizon gear on it. - Trip -
My gut opinion is they are waiting for technology improvements. C-band is seeing some of those emerge now which will extend its useful range and carrying capacity. Given it current short range, 24GHz is best for places where people are seated in sizeable numbers, although I would not rule out business pico cells. Of course, Verizon is using mmWave small cells quite well for FWA by placing them outside large apartment buildings that only allow one ISP with outrageous charges. UScellular and some Verizon have been using it to do the job of microwave links to preserve licences (4 needed per county).
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