BEDMINSTER, N.J.—Verizon Wireless has snapped up a small cellular operator in Northern California, Cal-One Cellular LP, which operates under the Cal North Wireless brand. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Verizon Wireless said the deal includes Cal North’s 49 cellular sites and related equipment as well as its spectrum license, which covers a population of about 214,000 people in the counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou and Trinity. The area includes a 70-mile section of Interstate 5 and Humboldt State University. Cal North has more than 18,000 customers.
Verizon Wireless said that it plans to complete upgrades of Cal North’s CDMA network by fall and to begin offering Verizon Wireless-branded services to the customers, starting with accessories, later this month. The national carrier said it wants to add capacity and install high-speed data capabilities by the end of 2006 to integrate Cal North’s network with Verizon Wireless’ CDMA2000 1x network.
