AT&T agreed to buy Sprint’s 19 2.3 GHz...

AT&T agreed to buy Sprint’s 19 2.3 GHz Wireless Communications Service A-block and B-block licenses, which cover markets across the South, including Florida, Georgia and Texas. The carriers did not disclose the financial details of the deal in a joint FCC filing seeking regulatory approval. AT&T has made multiple purchases of WCS spectrum in the past, including a set of transactions that included its $600 million deal in 2012 with NextWave Wireless, along with purchases from Comcast, Horizon Wi-Com and San Diego Gas & Electric (CD Dec 20/12 p13). AT&T said in the FCC filing that the WCS spectrum would be used for “mobile broadband use,” but did not elaborate. An AT&T spokesman later said the carrier is “optimizing spectrum to help address soaring demand and continue to provide a great mobile Internet experience for our customers.” Sprint declined to comment beyond what was included in the FCC application.