This week, it’s been revealed that T-Mobile is involved in several new transactions to acquire yet more 700MHz spectrum in a number of new markets. The updated map above shows the markets where it holds spectrum in magenta, with other proposed acquisitions marked in different colors.
A deal with Frontier would see T-Mo add 700MHz spectrum in Rochester, NY, covering around 1.51 million POPs. Another transaction with Kurian would see low-band spectrum networks in the markets around Grand Forks and Fargo-Moorhead in North Dakota and Minnesota with 620,00 POPs covered.
Separate FCC filings also reveal that T-Mobile has agreed deals with McBride Spectrum Partners and David Miller (an individual spectrum holder) for transactions covering 2.91 million and 903,000 POPs respectively. The McBride transaction is for spectrum in the Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmorland. The Miller transaction is for markets in New Mexico and Texas.
With all the most recent transactions added to the previously revealed A-block deals with Actel and I-700 A Block LLC, there’s a total of 13.45 million POPs covered. T-Mobile is working quickly to acquire as much A-block spectrum as possible to gets its low frequency airwaves live in as many markets as possible. And it doesn’t end there. Two major auctions are coming up. One in November, and another major auction next year.
Source: Fierce Wireless 1, 2