AT&T reveals 4G plans

With the omission of FCC’s gag order on Auction 73, AT&T is expected to soon adopt its wireless operation plans to move its infrastructure to Long Term Evolution. The company is sure, after being freed from the arduous FCC oversight, it will be able to deploy advanced-generation mobile phone communications relatively quickly.

AT&T reported that the 700-MHz spectrum in the C block acquired from Aloha Partners last fall, combined with prime B block spectrum acquired in the FCC auction, will help it quickly roll out its nationwide fourth-generation wireless network.

The company had already won a chunk of the 700 MHz B Block spectrum. But before the C Block auction, AT&T acquired Aloha Partners LP for $2.5 billion, a carrier that owned C Block spectrum without the ‘open access’ requirements that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is imposing on winners of the recently closed C Block auction.

It said that the spectrum will give the company 100 percent coverage in the 700 MHz spectrum in the top 200 markets in the US.

"Our winning bids for B block spectrum, combined with the C block spectrum we acquired from Aloha Partners, significantly enhances AT&T's spectrum portfolio, which is already one of the broadest, highest-quality, and most efficient in the country," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T's wireless unit, in a statement.

He noted that AT&T's spectrum is not subject to the strict regulations imposed on the C block spectrum won by Verizon Wireless.

"With fewer costly and complex regulations, we have the certainty and flexibility needed to move faster in rolling out new mobile technology and more customer choices in devices and applications," de la Vega said.