LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Alltel this morning said it will buy all of CenturyTel's wireless properties for $1.65 billion cash. Alltel said the deal will bring it more than 700,000 new customers in markets including Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas and Wisconsin, bringing Alltel's total wireless...
MONROE, La.—CenturyTel Inc. said its wireless revenues decreased 3 percent to $108.5 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with $111.8 million for fourth-quarter 2000. Its wireless revenues for the year totaled $438 million, compared with $443.6 million, for 2000.The company's overall...
MONROE, La.—CenturyTel Inc. said its third-quarter financial results "will meet and possible exceed the range of guidance previously provided to the investment community," when they are released Oct. 30.Previous guidance expected third quarter revenue to range from $520 million to $535 million, with earnings...
DENVER, Colorado, United States—Alltel continued to pressure acquisition target CenturyTel's management last week, releasing another letter from Alltel Chief Operating Officer Scott Ford to CenturyTel President and CEO Glen Post III, urging CenturyTel to reconsider the same merger proposal it has already rebuffed three...
MONROE, Louisiana, United States—Rural U.S. wireline and wireless carrier CenturyTel Inc. filed a lawsuit against Alltel Corp. claiming Alltel made false and misleading statements to promote its takeover bid of CenturyTel.The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana,...
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, United States—Telecommunications carrier Alltel made an unsolicited bid to buy rural operator CenturyTel for $9 billion, a 40 percent premium over CenturyTel's current stock price.The proposed merger calls for CenturyTel shareholders to receive a choice of either $43 per share in...
Wireless carriers continued to stave off a weakening economy with second-quarter results mostly in line with analysts' expectations. Three of the six largest operators, including Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless and Nextel Communications Inc., reported both customer additions and financial results showing little economic effect...
Nextel Communications Inc. privately sold $1 billion of 10-year convertible senior notes in a "drive-by" sale to capitalize on favorable market conditions. The carrier plans to use the proceeds for network expansion, additional spectrum, strategic investments, working capital, debt service and other corporate purposes....
A number of wireless carriers released surprising first-quarter financial results last week showing stronger than expected customer additions despite continued uncertainty in the U.S. economy. "In fact, based on the results in so far, net additions are tracking 5-percent below , better than our...
Leap Wireless International Inc. completed its acquisition of personal communications services operating licenses covering 2.8 million pops from CIVS IV License Sub I L.L.C., a joint venture between Cook Inlet Region Inc. and Voice-Stream Wireless Corp. Leap also completed its previously announced acquisition of...
NEW YORK-Rural carriers, with operating histories often many decades old, appear poised at the forefront of the strategy for long-term growth based on bundled or converged services.Seeking to be the one-stop-shop location for their customers, these companies have in place or have plans to...
One local multipoint distribution service wireless broadband carrier folded under the financial burden of the stock market last week, and now the futures of several others hang in the balance, potentially impacting the stability of an entire industry that just a year ago was...
CenturyTel Inc.'s stock dropped more than 13 percent last Wednesday, following the company's release of less-than-stellar fourth-quarter operating results and warnings of first-quarter and full-year profits coming in below expectations. The results prompted analysts to downgrade CenturyTel's stock and cut future earnings estimates.Even with...
NEW YORK-The major players' rankings reflect the dynamic environment of telecommunications as some stalwarts held their ground, some newcomers joined the group, while still others showed substantial rises or falls in various categories.AT&T Wireless Group, listed this year as an entity distinct from its...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Although Alltel last week announced it will sell 20 of its personal communications services licenses to Verizon Wireless, it will keep another 42 licenses. The company also plans to buy some of NextWave Telecom Inc.'s licenses during the auction scheduled for next...
In tune with its philosophy that small is beautiful, Leap Wireless International Inc. has moved to extend its grip on small and rural communities across the United States by signing multiple agreements to acquire wireless operating licenses from CenturyTel that encompass 11 million customers.Launching...
MONROE, La.-CenturyTel Inc. completed its purchase of approximately 133,000 telephone lines from Verizon Communications in Wisconsin for $364 million in cash in two separate transactions.The first transactions involved CenturyTel acquiring 70,500 access lines in 42 Wisconsin exchanges for $194 million. The second acquisition, as...
While the "in-a-box" concept seems a natural fit for a fast-food chain, the more complex task of setting up wireless service may seem to be asking a bit much from such a simple idea.Equitel Inc., based in Research Triangle, N.C., thinks simple ideas are...
RICHARDSON, Texas-Integrated communications services provider CenturyTel selected Ericsson Inc. to supply a wireless broadband point-to-multipoint access system solution based on next-generation Time Division Multiple Access architecture with Fast Dynamic Capacity Allocation capability.CenturyTel said it will deploy Ericsson's Mini-Link BAS point-to-multipoint system in markets throughout...
MONROE, La.-CenturyTel Inc. said it sold its interests in Alaska RSA No. 1 to Dobson Cellular Systems Inc. of Oklahoma City. The closing of this sale is the final step in CenturyTel's divestiture of its Alaska operations.Formerly operated as Cellular One, Alaska RSA No....
LOUISVILLE, Colo. - The Federal Communications Commission approved seven additional cellular carriers to use AirCell Inc.'s air-to-ground communications system, which is targeted at general aviation aircraft and regional airlines."We are very pleased with the latest round of authorizations," Jim Stinehelfer, president and chief executive...
Wireless carriers are gearing up for the upcoming holiday shopping season with several promotions, most of them aimed at consumer and family gift giving."We're obviously in a situation now where demand far exceeds supply, but nevertheless, this will probably be the most robust Christmas...
AerisAeris Communications Inc. added to its senior management team, naming Peter F. Stone chief financial officer and Patricia E. Hart vice president and general counsel.Aeris also announced Douglas M. Pavicich is its new director of operations. Pavicich will oversee all the day-to-day operations and...
BELLEVUE, Wash.-Western Wireless Corp. said it finished the purchase of the Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, cellular markets from CenturyTel Inc. for approximately $96 million in cash. The markets include the communities of Brownsville, McAllen, Harlingen, South Padre and surrounding areas.Although CenturyTel sold the properties...
