AT&T: Deal will improve network
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, making his case for a proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA, said the deal would boost network capacity and improve service for devices such as the iPhone.
The acquisition would improve capacity on AT&T’s wireless network by about 30 percent in some of the largest U.S. cities, Stephenson said yesterday at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. It could also reduce charges for overseas roaming, he said.
“This transaction is very instrumental [in improving network service],” said Stephenson at the event. “Virtually on the day you close the deal, getting a 30 percent lift in capacity in New York City: That’s a significant improvement in call quality and data throughput.”
AT&T said on March 20 it had agreed to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom, in a deal that would combine the second- and fourth-largest U.S. wireless operators to create the country’s largest. The acquisition, which would leave three major national wireless players including Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel is subject to regulatory approval.
AT&T said that as part of the purchase it would expand the rollout of its high-speed wireless technology, helping achieve the U.S. Federal Communications Commission goal of making broadband available more widely. AT&T will offer its Long-Term Evolution technology to an additional 46.5 million people as part of the deal.
