T-Mobile defends Verizon spectrum swap as way to enhance LTE network

T-Mobile USA is urging the Federal Communications Commission to approve Verizon Wireless' $3.9 billion deal to acquire AWS spectrum from SpectrumCo (a joint venture of cable companies Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks) and Cox Communications, since the deal will set in motion an AWS spectrum swap between Verizon and T-Mobile.

T-Mobile argues that the deal will allow it to more robustly deploy LTE service than it otherwise would have been able to do. In filings with the FCC, T-Mobile disclosed that its top executives met with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and other top officials. The executives discussed the spectrum swap and also rejected arguments from the Rural Telecommunications Group, which claimed the swap wouldn't result in the benefits T-Mobile believes it will. The filings indicate that the lobbying over the deal is not done yet, even though it is likely to be approved later this summer. They also show how badly T-Mobile wants the AWS spectrum from Verizon--the deal covers spectrum 218 markets across the country and T-Mobile has said it will expand its offerings to 60 million more people.