AT&T swapping AL, GA, KY, MS & TX licenses with Cingular

[amphibian]

http://www.topnic.com/cgi/read.cgi/t54980341

Ananova:

AT&T Wireless, Cingular to swap wireless licences

AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless said they have agreed to swap wireless licences in a cashless arrangement.

In a joint statement, the companies said that AT&T Wireless is swapping its wireless licences in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas for Cingular's operations on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Cingular, a joint venture between BellSouth Corp SBC Communications Inc, said its Kauai network and customers will switch over to AT&T Wireless as soon as the deal is closed in the second quarter of 2003.

© AFX News


Story filed: 18:34 Wednesday 18th December 2002

[reevejf]

Does that mean most of the old Telecorp properties will now be Cingular? That stinks, seems like a very uneven trade to me. AT&T is my preferred roaming partner with Cellular One, and they wont let us use Cingular. Come on Verizon we need you now more than ever.

[BillRadio]

TopNic's release is a bit misleading. A more accurate release is from Reuter's:

"The cashless deal will allow AT&T Wireless to acquire Cingular's operations on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and will provide AT&T Wireless licenses in Alabama, Idaho, Oklahoma and Mississippi. In return, Cingular will receive wireless licenses in five states -- Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Texas.

As a result of the agreement, Cingular's Kauai network & customers will be transitioned to AT&T Wireless after the deal closes in the second quarter of 2003.

"AT&T Wireless is leveraging its spectrum-rich position to enhance our business in the Aloha State as we continue to roll out advanced network services," said Gil Mendelson, Vice President and General Manager for AT&T Wireless in Hawaii. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Kauai to the AT&T Wireless organization and look forward to offering expanded wireless services to its residents and visitors."

"With this agreement, Cingular will be able to expand its coverage area in several key markets and increase spectrum capacity," said Mark Feidler, Chief Operating Officer of Cingular. "This deal continues our strategy of adding spectrum and markets where they will have the most beneficial impact."


The first release implies AT&T will give up ALL its wireless licenses, the second implies SOME of its licenses, which could be for unused spectrum.

-Bill

[wakko]

The first release implies AT&T will give up ALL its wireless licenses, the second implies SOME of its licenses, which could be for unused spectrum.

I hope your right. It doesn't make sense for ATT to give up it's stake in those areas. I guess it really benefits cingular more since they can improve their services in those areas.

[parthery]

This sounds like a "rumor"...having a hard time confirming it and I have several connections within AT&T.

AT&T is NOT pulling out of the major markets within those states...what IS possible is that AT&T owned extra spectrum in those markets and is selling/swapping it with Cingular.

[Grndhog]

Originally posted by: parthery
This sounds like a "rumor"...having a hard time confirming it and I have several connections within AT&T.

AT&T is NOT pulling out of the major markets within those states...what IS possible is that AT&T owned extra spectrum in those markets and is selling/swapping it with Cingular.

I think this is the correct assumption.

[roamer1]

The way I read this is that AT&T takes over Cingular Kauai (a very isolated system) entirely, while Cingular gets slices of spectrum from AT&T in other areas. I strongly doubt AT&T would let Atlanta or other key markets go to Cingular... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

*I* hope Cingular gets a tad of spectrum in Coweta County GA (the ridiculous Newnan hole)...even 5 MHz to handle roamers would be nice [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

-SC

[nero]

not a rumor kiddos
feast ya eyes
http://www.attws.com/press/

[parthery]

I stand corrected...
BUT...AT&T is not pulling out...read the fine print...they are selling extra spectrum....
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _______

Redmond, WA and Atlanta - AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) and Cingular Wireless today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to exchange wireless licenses that will enhance the operations of both carriers.

The cashless deal will allow AT&T Wireless to acquire Cingular's operations on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and will provide AT&T Wireless licenses in Alabama, Idaho, Oklahoma and Mississippi. In return, Cingular will receive wireless licenses in five states - Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Texas.

As a result of the agreement, Cingular's Kauai network & customers will be transitioned to AT&T Wireless after the deal closes in the second quarter of 2003.

"AT&T Wireless is leveraging its spectrum-rich position to enhance our business in the Aloha State as we continue to roll out advanced network services," said Gil Mendelson, Vice President and General Manager for AT&T Wireless in Hawaii. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Kauai to the AT&T Wireless organization and look forward to offering expanded wireless services to its residents and visitors."

"With this agreement, Cingular will be able to expand its coverage area in several key markets and increase spectrum capacity," said Mark Feidler, Chief Operating Officer of Cingular. "This deal continues our strategy of adding spectrum and markets where they will have the most beneficial impact."

[bobolito]

Well, just because they mention Georgia doesn't mean they are talking about the Atlanta market. There are other counties in GA where AT&T may have two blocks and are giving one of them to Cingular. Cingular owns 25Mhz in Atlanta and AT&T owns 30Mhz. I don't think the FCC bandwidth cap will allow any carrier to own two MTA blocks. They may be talking about swapping small PCS block like the D, E or F in the main land. However, in Kauai, Cingular will give AT&T its only block which is the A block at 800Mhz so AT&T will end up having 25Mhz in the 800Mhz band and 10Mhz in the 1900Mhz D block they already own.

[reevejf]

I think specifically for example AT&T owned E block in Mobile in AL which was hardly used because theyre F block in Mobile usually. Also in central AL theyre C block, but they also own some spectrum on F band which is only used in Dothan and possibly Montgomery. So theyre probably just selling off some of the extras. But what doesnt help is Cingular isnt big into network expansion because theyve sunk all their money into GSM upgrade.! Thats my two cents.

[roamer1]

Once again, this helps Cingular on spectrum (and they do need more with the GSM conversion) but does not help with their excessive roaming (in the Rockies, etc. -- Newnan, Cullman, and some other areas in the Southeast may be covered by spectrum acquired from AT&T, but without knowing exactly what Cingular is getting it's difficult to say.)

-SC

[FrazzledUSer]

The way I read the article in the AJC was that this deal would help Cingular in cities like Macon. I'm not really sure how though. Because I've never heard of Cingular having poor coverage within Macon. My problem with their coverage was in other cities, like Dublin.

[roamer1]

Cingular doesn't cover Dublin (Cingular customers analog roam on ALLTEL, who is AWFUL in that area) -- but depending on exactly what Cingular gets from AT&T, they may soon. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

-SC

[bobolito]

If it is beneficial for both companies is because one company doesn't need the spectrum where the other needs it. But AT&T and Cingular will always roam on each other in most areas of the US.