I think now is the right time for Alltel and USCC to merge. With the latest round of rumors and what was posted on cnn money. It seems Alltel is looking to get out of the game, or maybe they are just playing everyone to hide their next purchase. I think personally now is the time for AT and USCC to merge with AT now standing at just under 12million subscribers and USCC is slowly closing in on the 6million marker. This could would be a great time to expand both the coverage, and increase their subscriber base. It would be a win win move for both companies. They could offer better plans, better service, better prices and options on phones. It would also avoid either of them having to face a buyout right now. This would also be a good move for the customers, because lets face it... the only good thing to come from VZ, ATT, SPRNXT, or TMO getting AT would be the big shots pocket books. It would really hurt things on the customer field. Not to mention if it did happen not long after AT fell, I could almost bet USCC and other carriers would fall quickly or just die. Just my thoughts, now is the time AT + USCC = Alltel USA and
There are several downsides to it though. First of all, USCC is also a great competitor who I would hate to lose. Both Alltel and USCC have some great plans and if either one is lost, I think it would be a blow to competition and all wireless customers. Also, Alltel and USCC overlap in many markets where both are popular, mainly Central Virginia, Eastern North Carolina, and out in Kansas. I don't know a lot about the layout in Kansas but nobody else can hold a candle to either network in Central Virginia or Eastern North Carolina. Would Alltel and USCC really be willing to divest out roughly 1/2 of their customers in those markets where both are the Cellular providers? I just think a lot of the rumors on CNN are speculation and Alltel might be considering their "strategic options." But a buyout of Metro is much more likely it seems and I've got my fingers crossed that will take place. But I do think you hit on a lot of the positive aspects of a USCC merger shockwave. But I do hate to see consolidation with them. Either one should give Alltel a larger customer base and more room to borrow money for the 700 MHz auctions.
the problem with Kansas is that Alltel had to divest part of that area after the purchase of ww. And I think that divested area went to uscc
Wouldn't that suck for both Nebraska and Kansas customers of USCC. USCC just got them, and they would get divested a second time.
Yeah it might suck and yes there would be some markets to divest only if there was not another major cellular option in that market. KS and NE would be divest for sure. It would suck for those customers as bad as the former Western Wirless Southern Minn customers who became Alltel and now are divested to Rural Cellular. Sadly being divested happens.. it will happen if Alltel buys someone else.. or if someone buys Alltel.. aquire = divest markets. I think USCC is the most likely carrier though for the merge with AT. Metro could be another likely one but I would bet what AT is looking for right now is some big jumps in coverage and customer base... if they are not looking at how much they can get for their stock under sale terms.
I would actually like to see this happen, if i couldnt use alltel I'd be looking at USC. Although some markets would face divestiture, in the grand scheme of things they're low pop density areas...Dont wanna lose my circle but usc has some good plans too. If alltel gets gobbled up by vzw it would allow ATT or Sprint an in where they currently dont provide service because VZW would divest large portions of Alltel and we would be looking at even fewer choices in cell plans.