Cingular -- 1st it wants ATT for "needed" spectrum, now selling network & spectrum

[KevinJames]

I haven't seen it discussed here but then I'm not as active here I used to be.

In the arguments in support of acquiring ATW, Cingular alleged it needed ATW for spectrum. Now, on http://www.phonescoop.com, I read that Cingular plans on selling "the California and Nevada network and certain accompanying spectrum to T-Mobile." This is all "contingent on Cingular’s acquisition of AT&T Wireless, and federal approvals."

Now wait a minute, first they say they need the spectrum and now they are selling off what they have? So Calif and Nev customers will be shafted once again because the only remaining network will be what Cingular acquires from ATW. (Do I understand this correctly?)

So the expanded service we (both ATW and Cingular customers) are experiencing right now will soon be cut in half? And, in fact, it will actually be less than half, because now, solely using ATW's network, there will be twice as many users on it. If I understand this correctly, it looks like I'll be changing carriers by the beginning of next year.

[Rich]

I haven't seen it discussed here but then I'm not as active here I used to be.

In the arguments in support of acquiring ATW, Cingular alleged it needed ATW for spectrum. Now, on http://www.phonescoop.com, I read that Cingular plans on selling "the California and Nevada network and certain accompanying spectrum to T-Mobile." This is all "contingent on CingularÕs acquisition of AT&T Wireless, and federal approvals."

Now wait a minute, first they say they need the spectrum and now they are selling off what they have? So Calif and Nev customers will be shafted once again because the only remaining network will be what Cingular acquires from ATW. (Do I understand this correctly?)

So the expanded service we (both ATW and Cingular customers) are experiencing right now will soon be cut in half? And, in fact, it will actually be less than half, because now, solely using ATW's network, there will be twice as many users on it. If I understand this correctly, it looks like I'll be changing carriers by the beginning of next year.

I thought it would have been the other way around, You would think it would make more sense to sell T-Mobile AT&T's network instead of Cingulars own, Cingular has a very solid network already, this is really just going to complicate matters.

[GoodmanR]

I think selling ATT's network to T-Mobile would have greatly complicated things. TMO customers would have had to change networks, which could create major hassles. Their service quality would change in different areas, and honestly TMO could probably be forced to let users out of contract. This way, Cingular customers can continue to use TMO's network, just like they are now, service will not change for customers of Cingular or Tmobile. Let's remember that TMO's network is also all PCS. ATT owns both cell band and PCS band spectrum in a lot of CA markets, something the new Cingular can certainly use. To me, this is making good use of the additional spectrum they gain from this merger. The new company will still have much more spectrum in CA/NV than the Cingular/T-Mobile network has.

[Yugopro]

I hate to ask a question that has been hashed over many times, but here goes.
Does that Cingular network in California and Nevada have any of that there 850 involved in it?

[GoodmanR]

I'm not sure I understand what you are specifically asking...but:

The network that Cingular and T-Mobile currently use in CA/NV is 100% PCS 1900Mhz, there is no 850mhz spectrum involved. AT&T Wireless does own 850Mhz spectrum in a lot of the markets in CA/NV including Las Vegas, Reno, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego. In all of these markets ATT owns both PCS spectrum and Cellular Band spectrum (850mhz), so ATT has a much more diverse and useful swath of spectrum in the CA/NV area than Cingular/T-Mobile do. This is why Cingular has chosen to use AWS spectrum holdings rather than doing it the other way as Rich suggested. The spectrum ATT owns is simply more valuable and more useful. They can provide data at 1900 and voice at 850. ATT has control over both 850 and 1900 spectrum in the majority of CA markets. This is why I don't see much in KevinJames' post and attacking Cingular for this.

[Yugopro]

Well then, that is why Cingular doesn't mind selling it to T-Mo.

[AnthroMatt]

I don't see any contradiction here...does Cingular claim to need spectrum in every market where both they and ATTWS coexist?

[GoodmanR]

No, they just claim that they, in general nationwide, need more spectrum to deliver data services. Something that is absolutely true.