Verizon Wireless said it purchased Mid-Missouri Cellular, a small TDMA/CDMA operator in central Missouri. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The deal includes Mid-Missouri’s 27 cell sites and other network equipment, plus spectrum licenses that cover 198,000 potential customers in seven counties, including portions of Interstate 70, connecting Kansas City, Mo., and Columbia, Mo.
Mid-Missouri serves about 13,500 customers, and Verizon Wireless said it plans to notify customers of the change in the coming weeks and continue using the Mid-Missouri name, network and billing system until later this year.
According to Verizon Wireless, the national operator plans to switch out Mid-Missouri Cellular’s TDMA network and integrate the company’s existing CDMA network into Verizon Wireless’ CDMA 1x network, add capacity and install high-speed data capabilities. Verizon Wireless invested more than $64 million last year in the state to expand and enhance its network in Missouri.
The new wireline company to be formed when Alltel Corp. spins off its landline business and merges it with Valor Communications Group now officially has a name: Windstream Communications.
Jeff Gardner, Alltel’s former chief financial officer, is set to be the president and chief executive officer of the new company. The spinoff is expected to be completed by mid-year. “This is an important day for the wireline business because now employees have a name to rally around and they can begin building a distinct identity for Windstream,” said Scott Ford, president and CEO of Alltel.
Windstream will have almost 3.5 million access lines and about $3.4 billion in annual revenues. The company will serve customers in 16 states with voice, broadband and satellite television services. The carrier is scheduled to launch around the same time Sprint Nextel Corp. completes the spinoff of its wireline business under the new Embarq brand.
