Verizon Wireless continued to accumulate spectrum Tuesday, announcing the purchase of licenses of 10 megahertz of spectrum in Pennsylvania for $15.15 million from Ntelos Inc.
The agreement includes licenses for the Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading and York areas, which cover a population of 2.1 million people. Verizon said the 1.9 GHz spectrum will be used to expand the carrier’s network capacity to meet demands for voice and data services.
The deal is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2005, the company said.
Earlier this month, the nation’s second-largest carrier agreed to acquire bankrupt NextWave Telecom Inc. and its remaining spectrum licenses for $3 billion. That deal, which is expected to close next summer, will give Verizon Wireless additional spectrum at 1.9 GHz covering 73 million potential customers in 23 markets.
Verizon Wireless is expected to be active in the next Federal Communications Commission’s Auction 58, set for late January, as well. Analysts say Verizon will likely add as much spectrum as possible in an attempt to prepare for battle with Cingular Wireless L.L.C., which recently became the largest carrier in the country following its merger with AT&T Wireless Services Inc.
