OKLAHOMA CITY—Dobson Cellular Systems Inc. has completed its purchase of assets from four wireless companies in Kodiak and Nome, Alaska.
Dobson Cellular Systems is a subsidiary of Dobson Communications Corp. The company purchased for $2 million the assets of New Horizons Telecom Inc. and Kodiak Electric Association Inc. in Kodiak and those of Sitnasuak Native Corp. and SNC Telecommunications Inc. in Nome.
Dobson reported that it acquired 25 megahertz of spectrum in Kodiak and Nome, with both chunks in the 850 MHz band. The networks were analog, but the carrier said that it “has already begun to upgrade them to state-of-the-art GSM/GPRS/EDGE technology, with satellite backhaul to link the two markets with the rest of the state and with other U.S. and international markets.”
Dobson indicated that the upgrades were expected to be done by the end of September. The company said it would include the markets in its Alaska-wide rate plans and that GSM customers would be able to roam in Nome and Kodiak and still access data and advanced voice services. According to Dobson, no wireless roaming service is currently available in Nome.
The two markets are located in rural service areas that Dobson already serves under the Cellular One brand.
