LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Regional wireless provider Alltel Corp. said it completed its previously announced $144 million acquisition of wireless assets from fellow operator U.S. Cellular Corp. and U.S. Cellular’s parent company Telephone and Data Systems Inc. The assets included wireless properties in Fort Pierce, Fla., and southeastern Ohio, as well as partnership interests in seven Alltel-operated markets in Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.
U.S. Cellular said the sale was a continuation of its strategy to exit non-core markets that were not strategic to its long-term success, and it plans to use proceeds from the sale to defray costs related to building out new markets.