T-Mobile’s buy of 700 MHz A-block licenses from...

T-Mobile’s buy of 700 MHz A-block licenses from Verizon is only a first step as the acquirer looks to buy more low-band spectrum, said Vice President Kathleen Ham in a blog post. “We believe the acquisition of Verizon’s A-Block will provide us with a good base of low-band spectrum, but it does not eliminate our need to continue to add to our portfolio,” Ham wrote (http://bit.ly/MlYsxD). “Even though interference and other problems previously associated with the A-Block are rapidly diminishing, thanks in part to an interoperability deal brokered by the FCC with AT&T and DISH, not all of the spectrum will be immediately usable.” The buy gives T-Mobile “just 6 MHz of low-band spectrum on average nationwide -- much less than the big two,” AT&T and Verizon, she said. “Clearly, low-band spectrum will remain highly concentrated in the hands of the two largest carriers.” The buy was announced in early January (CD Jan 7 p1).