Verizon gets antitrust nod on Qwest wireless deal

[jones]

Financial News

Reuters
Verizon gets antitrust nod on Qwest wireless deal
Friday August 20, 9:46 am ET

WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - U.S. antitrust enforcers said on Friday they would not oppose a plan by Verizon Wireless to buy wireless assets from Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q - News) for $418 million.
Antitrust authorities concluded their probe without taking action to block the deal, which includes spectrum licenses in 62 markets in the U.S. West and Midwest, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said.

Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - News) and Vodafone Group (London:VOD.L - News), and the largest U.S. wireless company, has said the deal would expand its network into parts of Minnesota, Nebraska and Washington.

[agentHibby]

Since the spectrum cap is gone and no added customers in the deal for market control, I guess there is no need to look into everything. This should speedup this deal!

[bobolito]

That was quick! WOW!

[ballazck]

Cool more coverage for us Verizon customers! Keep up the great work Verizon!

[jones]

I believe these are all 1900 MHz Band.

[Fathead]

Yes, they are all 1900. There are some cell sites included in this, the leftovers after Sprint picked through the ones they wanted.


Provides some markets with spectrum for an EV-DO launch (Pocatello, plz)and adds a few new markets.

[Steve B]

One of the markets that are included in this deal is the Seattle-Metro area market. I live in Seattle, although I am not sure if we will see any major improvements since VZW operates in the 800Mhz band here. I have heard they will retune Qwests towers to 800 Mhz and I have heard they will keep the towers at 1900Mhz for other reasons.

If any one has info, let me know. I am curious about it.

[Andy]

My question is just...how soon will this deal be done and how soon will Verizon have those Qwest towers and spectrum?
SBacklin, will Verizon retune Qwest towers in all markets to 800???

[Fathead]

One would think they'd use the 1900 spectrum for an EV-DO launch like they have running in SD.

[Steve B]

My question is just...how soon will this deal be done and how soon will Verizon have those Qwest towers and spectrum?
SBacklin, will Verizon retune Qwest towers in all markets to 800???

I have asked about it. The people I have asked don't seem quite sure when the deal will be completely finalized and the people seem to think that VZW will retune the 1900Mhz towers from Qwest into 800Mhz towers in markets that are only 800Mhz and are affected by this deal, such as the Seattle-Metro market, which is where I live.

Of course, Fathead could be right and that is they might keep the Qwest towers at 1900Mhz for future EV-DO rollout. I plan to do some more checking around on it though.

[Andy]

I have asked about it. The people I have asked don't seem quite sure when the deal will be completely finalized and the people seem to think that VZW will retune the 1900Mhz towers from Qwest into 800Mhz towers in markets that are only 800Mhz and are affected by this deal, such as the Seattle-Metro market, which is where I live.

Of course, Fathead could be right and that is they might keep the Qwest towers at 1900Mhz for future EV-DO rollout. I plan to do some more checking around on it though.

SBacklin, if you do find out anything more, would you please let us know? Sadly, I do not have any insiders to get info off
I just hope this deal will be over soon so we will get some additional sites...I'm excited

[jones]

Since the spectrum cap is gone and no added customers in the deal for market control, I guess there is no need to look into everything. This should speedup this deal!

One would think they'd use the 1900 spectrum for an EV-DO launch like they have running in SD.

From what i read some AREAS are New Markets for VZW which means 1900 MHz is their only License for those Areas. (Aka Sprint or T-Mobile)

[agentHibby]

the Qwest/Verizon deal will give help Verizon out in three good ways
1st extra calling channels and towers in areas where Verizon already does service

2nd more PCS licenses and towers in area that Verizon does not have service

3rd ability to put EV-DO in old or new markets

So Verizon could build new towers in a city that Qwest was unable to buildout and it could have both CDMA calling service and EV-DO data service.

Remeber any new network that Verizon opens up is just like any wireless provider when they open a network ( I don't care what they say about the best reliable network) there will be tons of wholes for awhile and in time they will find them and fix them over time.

[jones]

Since some of these are 1900 MHz only in new markets and no 850, it is still better since VZW will not pay roaming.
There are other areas which VZW is 1900 MHz only from which they bought from Cablevision.