US telco AT&T is reportedly considering a range of potential deals to get access to more spectrum, including possible transactions with satellite TV provider Dish Network and mobile operators Leap Wireless and MetroPCS Communications. The Wall Street…
US telco AT&T is reportedly considering a range of potential deals to get access to more spectrum, including possible transactions with satellite TV provider Dish Network and mobile operators Leap Wireless and MetroPCS Communications.
The Wall Street Journal cited people familiar with the matter saying that AT&T considers the acquisition of Leap Wireless, although the target’s spectrum holdings are relatively small.
The newspaper reported that AT&T was exploring how it could get access to the spectrum of Dish Network. Dish reportedly does not want to sell the spectrum, but Dish could pursue a JV or network-sharing agreement with AT&T or another party.
AT&T is also reportedly considering an acquisition bid for MetroPCS, but this is considered less likely.
AT&T declined to comment. The other companies were not immediately available for comment.
AT&T has argued that it needs more spectrum due to rising demand for mobile broadband. The spectrum shortage issue was one of the main motivations for its failed acquisition of T-Mobile USA last year.
In a January conference call, CEO Randall Stephenson said that the company “would continue [its] push to add spectrum in the open market” and would advocate more spectrum auctions.
Some industry observers have argued that the spectrum shortage issue has been overplayed, but AT&T said in a blogpost this week that wireless data traffic on its network had at least doubled every year since 2007.
