• About Geek Beat
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Geek Beat

One of the world’s most recognizable technology news brands, delivering daily tech news, tips, and reviews.

  • News
    • Apple
    • CES
    • Editor’s Choice
    • Google
    • How To’s
    • Microsoft
    • Music
    • Mobility
    • NABShow
    • Photography
  • Episodes
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Connect With Us
    • Chat Rooms
    • DropCams
    • Geek Beat Live!
    • Product Review Submissions
Home > News > AT&T Agrees to Acquire Prepaid Carrier Cricket Wireless for $1.2 billion.
ATT logo

AT&T Agrees to Acquire Prepaid Carrier Cricket Wireless for $1.2 billion.

July 13, 2013 by Benjamin J. Roethig

AT&T LogoJust over 5 years ago the American mobile landscape was comprised of a multitude of regional giants. Then they started to merge. Carriers other than the big 4 seem to be a dying breed these days. With LTE spectrum at a premium, you’re starting to see another round of mergers and acquisitions. Sprint got its hands on all of Clearwire, T-Mobile gobbled up MetroPCS, and now AT&T has its sight set on Leap Wireless and its prepaid brand Cricket.

Under the deal, AT&T would acquire all of Leap’s shares and thusly all of Cricket’s assets. The prepaid carrier would then operate as a division of AT&T Wireless. The price would be $15 a share which works out to $1.2 billion give or take. The company also has $2.8 billion in debt. It is not known whether AT&T would take this on as a condition of the sale.

CricketLogoLeap/Cricket currently has 5.9 million subscribers. More importantly for AT&T, it has LTE spectrum in the AWS band and PCS spectrum currently running its CMDA/EV-DO network. It also has 700 MHz block A spectrum, but that will be sold off during the acquisition. When asked, Cricket referred me to AT&T (who has not yet responded) on plans for the spectrum and the customers. Based on the T-Mobile/PCS merger, it would be highly likely these customers would be transitioned to AT&T’s GSM network once the merger is complete. The Cricket spectrum could then be refarmed and incorporated into AT&T’s network. It should also be noted that Cricket has roaming agreements with Sprint and its subsidiary Clearwire. It is not known how they will be affected.

Remember, this is an agreement at this stage, so nothing is set in stone. It has to be approved by both Federal regulators and shareholders. The process could take nearly a year to complete. So, are you a Cricket customer? What do you think this proposed takeover? Post a comment below or interact with out on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

Source: AT&T Press Release.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: AT&T, business, carriers, mobile

About Benjamin J. Roethig

Ben is an external Associate Editor at Geek Beat. He can be described connoisseur of things technological. Ben's hobbies include reading up on Military, Naval, and Aeronautical history, playing around with his Macs and iDevices, exploring the mountainous bluffs of Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL, and proving that 15+ years of practice does not make perfect on his guitars. If you want to find him Ben can be found on Twitter (@benroethig), Google (gplus.to/benroethig), and as an occasional guest on Apple related podcasts.

Popular Posts

  • How To Keep A Constant In Excel And Other Spreadsheets by Scott Ellis | posted on April 19, 2012 | under News, Tutorial
  • How to Use Your Own Router with AT&T U-verse by Chris Bramble | posted on February 17, 2014 | under News, Tutorial
  • Complete Sci-Fi Spaceship Size Comparison Chart by giovanni | posted on September 19, 2014 | under News
  • How Much Money Will Fit in a Briefcase? by John P. | posted on September 26, 2013 | under Episodes
  • How To Add Sound and Voice to Your Photos by giovanni | posted on July 22, 2013 | under Episodes
  • How to Access Advanced Boot Options in Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 by Robert Albury | posted on September 10, 2014 | under Tutorial
  • How to Build a Dust Collector (with Photos and Video!) by John P. | posted on May 30, 2016 | under Tutorial
  • A Tour of QNAP’s Available Utility Apps by Benjamin J. Roethig | posted on April 4, 2014 | under Tutorial
  • Tutorial: Adding a Networked Printer with QNAP by Benjamin J. Roethig | posted on July 7, 2014 | under Tutorial
  • How to Set Up a Plex Server on a QNAP NAS by Dexter | posted on April 18, 2014 | under Tutorial

Recent Posts

  • Go Mic Mobile Wireless System for Mobile Filmmakers
  • A RAY OF LIGHT
  • Keep Devices Charged Anywhere in the World with the Twist Plus World Charging Station
  • Final Leaked iPhone 7 Details Before The Big Event
  • Should Snapchat Be A Part of Your Digital Strategy?

Recent Comments

  • Ricardo Garza on Streambox Announces 360 Live Video Streaming to YouTube
  • Sunbya on Review: Blue Lola Headphones bring unparalleled quality
  • Jay Anderson on CES2016 – Autel Robotics X-Star Quadcopters
  • Scott Ellis on CES2016 – The Parrot DISCO – The Worlds First Fixed Wing Consumer Drone
  • Ricardo Garza on CES2016 – The Parrot DISCO – The Worlds First Fixed Wing Consumer Drone

Tags

3D Amazon Apple apps audio bluetooth business CE Line Shows 2013 CES computers fitness gadgets games gaming geek geek beat GeekBeat geek house Google health how-to ios john p. kickstarter Microsoft mobile Mobility Music nabshow new building Other photography Reviews robots Samsung social media speakers storage tech technology travel Tutorial vehicles video vlog

Copyright © 2021 · Geek Media on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in