Verizon and Sprint's license swap

For Verizon, it looks like they've finally found a way into the Charlottesville, VA market with enough spectrum to handle the load, which has been a coverage hole they've wanted to fill for a while. It looks like they came out ahead on this deal, especially considering they can now enter additional markets.

For Sprint, some of the spectrum looks like it covers several places where they're limited to 10 MHz of airwaves now. Maybe they really wanted EVDO in some of those places. Maybe they got some cash out of it too?

 

Verizon just built out Valdosta with one of their PCS licenses ... this area did not have any Verizn until now. In the case of Tift Worth Counties, there is currently no VZW service (or licenses before the swap). So I assume VZW wants to expand in South GA and reduce roaming on Alltel.

I was riding thru Worth county on Hwy 300 (aka the Ga-Fla Pkwy) and my phone hung onto the native signal that's based in neighboring counties (Crisp and Dougherty).Otherwise the phone would drop to the Alltel signal.

 

They have not launched that I know about yet.

 

Makes sense that I havent seen any press releases. They have an exchange (229-412) and the coverage maps indicate native with EVDO.... an anouncement is in the works any day now

 

Cville is a huge hole and a thorn in the side of Verizon. To get this block was a big win for them...

 

Interesting swap. It doesn't look like Sprint did to well with this one, but I'm guessing they got what they needed and Verizon did the same.

 

yea and sprint hasnt had a respectable presence in SGA to stick around down there anyhow, that was a good play for them to give that up, VZW probably wont use it heavily but they will spot use it to minimize roaming, thats a for sure.

 

I guess we will have to see. Both makes sense for S. GA. It is hard to enter a market and we do already have five players without VZW. On the flipside I have talked to people who would not mind seeing VZW around here.

I do know a few people that already use VZW. They just use out of area numbers and roam on Alltel so they can get the M2M. Those people are usually based at Moody Air Force Base or attend school at Valdosta State University.

I guess we will see if they are trying to get into this market, or just put a tower by the base and the school.

 

It's a swap, it was voluntary on both sides. Neither side lost out any. In the areas that Sprint gave up space they only gave up 10 out of 30Mhz licensed to them. Most of those areas are not high traffic areas and it's not going to hurt Sprint to give up part of the spectrum in return for areas where they could use the additional space.

 

Yeah, I kind of figured as much. It doesn't look like much in print, but I know neither company would give up anything that would benefit the other too much.

 

So it's interesting that they swapped licenses for the Redding market. VZW already launched EVDO up there, so I'm wondering why they wanted/needed more spectrum. They get usage along I-5, but most of those other counties (Tehama, Trininty, etc.) aren't super populated.

It would be nice to see them do some expansion to fill in coverage holes on the rural secondary highways.

 

The "Redding market" may include other areas of Shasta or Lassen Counties as well as the counties you mention. So perhaps you will get your wish for better coverage along the rural highways.