Verizon Wireless announced in early November an agreement to acquire all the PCS spectrum licenses of would-be carrier's carrier NextWave Telecom Inc. in 23 markets for $3 billion. The 10 and 20MHz licenses will be acquired through the purchase of NextWave Telecom following the completion of its bankruptcy reorganization, according to Verizon Wireless, the joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC. Verizon Wireless, the second largest U.S. mobile carrier behind Cingular Wireless, said it would use the licenses covering a population of 73 million people to expand its network capacity in 22 current markets, including Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. Last month, Verizon Wireless announced closing the $930 million acquisition of a spectrum license from NextWave. The license covers 20.1 million people in New York City and parts of New Jersey. Verizon Wireless expects the most recent agreement to close by the middle of 2005. It requires approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and FCC, and is subject to antitrust review.
WilTel Communications has upgraded its customer Web portal, Direct Network Access (DNA). The new release provides new pricing tools, enhanced online service ordering and new performance-management functions. WilTel says the new pricing tool lets customers generate up to 45 network design solutions at one time, including least-cost routing and local access options to meet specific business needs. WilTel offers DNA to its customers at no cost.
Qwest Communications International Inc. has introduced a termination service for wholesale customers carrying IP voice traffic. Qwest IP Voice Termination Service offers domestic and international termination in more than 250 countries, fast re-route capabilities on its IP network, session border control for increased security, SLAs for transport services and 24x7 network monitoring and management, Qwest says. Wholesale customers can hand IP voice traffic directly to Qwest, which will transport the traffic across its OC-192 network and terminate calls to the public network, according to the company.
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Qwest Communications International Inc. www.qwest.com |
