DALLAS-PCS PrimeCo, the four-way partnership of AirTouch Communications Inc., Bell Atlantic Corp., Nynex Corp. and U S West Inc., recruited Texas Utilities Co. of Dallas as an equity partner in its personal communications services business in Texas.
Under the agreement, Texas Utilities will have a 20 percent limited partnership interest in three of the major trading areas PrimeCo won in the recent broadband PCS auction-Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. PrimeCo said these MTAs nearly cover the entire state, including Austin.
“Partnering with Texas Utilities is an important step for us. This agreement will help us to quickly build out our PCS network throughout Texas,” according to Daniel Sutherland, PrimeCo’s regional president and chief operating officer for the Southwest.
PrimeCo said it intends to lease certain Texas Utilities properties as locations for transmitting equipment, helping the company to begin delivering service to customers by the second half of next year. Acquiring site locations is considered to be a hurdle in building PCS systems.
Texas Utilities is equally pleased with the deal. “This advanced communications network, backed by the proven expertise and capability of the four PrimeCo partners, will be a significant part of Texas Utilities’ expanding energy services business in Texas. Also, its nationwide network could provide us with exciting additional future business options,” said Jarrell Gibbs, president of Texas Utilities Services Inc.
