AT&T Corp. plans to purchase Honolulu Cellular Telephone Co. from BellSouth Corp., another move in AT&T’s plan to expand its nationwide coverage.
The two companies signed an agreement Friday. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The companies expect the transaction to close in the second half of 1999.
“As we continue to grow out telecommunications businesses, we are focusing on our future expansion in strategic areas where we can provide the broadest possible number of products and services on one bill from one provider, which we are already doing in a number of markets,” said Earle Mauldin, president and chief executive officer of BellSouth Enterprises.
AT&T’s acquisition of the Honolulu market expands its footprint by 900,000 pops. The company is looking to own properties nationwide to keep costs down associated with its Digital One Rate plan.
