AT&T’s little acquisition deal to buyout Dobson Communications back in July has finally gotten the go-ahead from the FCC overlords. The $2.8 billion buyout will net AT&T all of Dobson’s wireless licenses and the carrier’s 1.6 million-or-so rural wireless subscribers – firmly securing AT&T Mobility’s position as the leading US wireless carrier.
The FCC has stipulated that AT&T Mobility will have to forgo rights to Dobson Communication’s Cellular One brand and offload assets in a couple rural markets in Pennsylvania and Texas. Some of the commissioners dissented to parts of the deal, citing concerns over the condition of the wireless market as we approach the 700Mhz frequency spectrum auction early next year.
With AT&T spending gobs of cash prior to the 700Mhz frequency auction, we can’t see them securing the winning bid this coming January. AT&T might regret letting the likes of Apple or Google buying the high-sought spectrum – especially since the 700Mhz band has been globally adopted as the home to next-gen mobile broadband services.
[Via: RCRNews]