Verizon to buy AWS spectrum from US Cellular

Verizon Wireless is seeking to acquire advanced wireless service (AWS) spectrum owned by a subsidiary of US Cellular, an indication Verizon remains willing to augment its 700 MHz LTE network with AWS radio waves.

According to an Federal Communications Commission filing, Verizon and Barat Wireless -- an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of US Cellular -- filed an application for Verizon to acquire 20 MHz of AWS-1 spectrum in 53 counties in 14 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) across parts of Illinois and Missouri near the St. Louis area. According to the FCC, if the transaction is approved, Verizon would own 62-117MHz of spectrum across those CMAs, 40 MHz of which would be AWS-1. Financial details were not disclosed. T-Mobile US is using AWS spectrum for its LTE network, which now covers 202 million POPs. AWS is the most popular band for LTE in the Americas, according to Tolaga Research.