Deal intended to create larger, contiguous blocks of spectrum in select markets
Carriers T-Mobile US and AT&T, in notifications to the Federal Communications Commission, swapped spectrum blocks in some markets in an effort to boost wireless capacity.
Based on details of the exchange, both carriers come away with the same total amount of spectrum.
“These swaps are intended to enable more efficient operations by creating larger blocks of contiguous spectrum and aligning spectrum blocks across markets,” the companies announced in the filing. “Identical amounts and types of spectrum are being swapped in each market.”
The agreement includes spectrum assets in Austin and San Antonio Texas; Dayton, Ohio; Hartford, Conn.; Boston; Tulsa, Okla.; Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Sacramento, Calif.
Here’s the paperwork from T-Mobile US and the equivalent from AT&T.
The spectrum swap only includes assets in the 1.9 GHz (personal communications services) and 1.7/2.1 GHz (advanced wireless services-1) bands. The carriers told federal regulators “the transaction does not raise any low band spectrum aggregation concerns since it involves only PCS and AWS-1 spectrum.”
The telcos also assure authorities that “no competitive harm will result by the proposed leasing arrangement,” as it’s an even swap that doesn’t give either entity an advantage.
“Upon the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the exchange agreement, the attributable spectrum holdings of AT&T and T-Mobile will be unchanged,” the filing noted.
