SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. launched its Expanded Calling Area option in Ohio, allowing its Cricket customers to use their unlimited calling minutes in both Dayton and Toledo/Sandusky for an additional $5 per month. Leap recently rolled out a similar option for customers in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., as well as in Greensboro and Charlotte, N.C.
In addition, Leap said it has signed an interconnection and traffic exchange agreement with regional carrier Northcoast PCS that will allow Cricket customers to access Northcoast’s network in Cleveland as part of the ECA. Northcoast, which sold most of its spectrum holdings to Verizon Wireless in late 2002 for $750 million, expects to add similar capabilities using Leap’s network in Ohio in the near future.
“The introduction of an ECA market in Ohio, coupled with the intercarrier agreement with Northcoast PCS for the Cleveland area, will benefit our customers by providing them with an expanded footprint and will also benefit our business by providing another avenue for driving [average revenue per user],” said Nitu Arora, vice president of product development for Leap.
Leap’s management noted earlier this year that the carrier would begin looking at offering roaming services to its customers as a way of expanding its footprint.
