AT&T agrees to buy Alltel's Wyoming users

Posted 5/12/09

That's part of a $2.35 billion package that involves AT&T acquiring 1.5 million Alltel customers across 18 states — including areas in Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas.

AT&T hopes to close the deal — which is subject to …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

AT&T agrees to buy Alltel's Wyoming users

Posted

No changes expected until 2010Alltel cellular customers in Powell, Cody and the rest of the Big Horn Basin are likely headed to AT&T's network.In an agreement announced Saturday, telecommunications company AT&T laid out plans to purchase Alltel's towers, subscribers and other infrastructure in much of the state.

That's part of a $2.35 billion package that involves AT&T acquiring 1.5 million Alltel customers across 18 states — including areas in Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas.

AT&T hopes to close the deal — which is subject to federal approval — this fall. After that, the company would spend up to a year upgrading and converting the existing Alltel network.

At that point — roughly in late 2010 — Alltel customers would need to purchase new AT&T phones and plans, said AT&T spokesman Tom Hopkins. In the interim, Alltel customers will see business as usual.

Hopkins said at this early stage in the process, specifics haven't been determined, but he said eventually there will be “lots of programs in place for customers” to switch equipment and plans. He said Alltel subscribers should expect a smooth transition.

“There will be plenty of communications with customers up ahead,” Hopkins said.

He said the switch would bring new high-speed cellular services and devices to the area — including the ability to use Apple's iPhone.

AT&T is purchasing the Alltel assets from Verizon Wireless, which acquired Alltel in January.

That acquisition added around 11 million customers to Verizon's ranks. It made Verizon the United State's largest wireless carrier, with about 86.6 million subscribers. They leapfrogged AT&T, which currently claims 78.2 million.

However, Verizon was required to sell Alltel's assets in much of Wyoming. The U.S. Department of Justice had argued that allowing Alltel and Verizon to merge in the Big Horn Basin — or 104 other cellular marketing areas across the country — would create a monopoly.

Outside of Verizon and Alltel, there are no other cellular agents in the Big Horn Basin.

According to coverage maps, AT&T's service in the state has been limited to Jackson and spots along Wyoming's western border.

Verizon's Wyoming customers should not be affected by the wheeling and dealing.

Comments