May 25, 2011 5:28 PM,

AT&T's spectrum buying spree continues

By Kevin Fitchard

Operator looks to bulk up on mobile 700 MHz broadband frequencies in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Just today AT&T (NYSE:T) revealed plans for its mobile broadband network of the present (CP: AT&T LTE to go live in 5 cities this summer), but it is already eyeing its mobile broadband network of the future. In an FCC filing dated Tuesday, AT&T announced its intention to buy up another batch of 700 MHz licenses in Minnesota and Wisconsin to bolster its growing spectrum portfolio.

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Redwood 700, which owns Sioux Falls, S.D., mobile broadband ISP Redwood Wireless proposes to sell AT&T 22 lower 700 MHz B-block and C-block licenses covering a 72-county area in the two states. Redwood runs its own mobile broadband networks in Sioux Falls, Harrisburg and Tea, S.D., using ArrayComm’s proprietary iBurst technology (CP: Exploring 700 MHz options). Redwood acquired its 700 MHz spectrum with the aim of expanding its mobile broadband footprint, either through iBurst or some other technology, but now it seems to be content with becoming a subsidiary of AT&T. According to the filing AT&T would take over the ISP along with the licenses.

Though a small purchase when compared the enormous frequency haul AT&T would gain if its proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA (NYSE:DT) goes through (CP: The New AT&T: It’s about the spectrum), AT&T is looking for spectrum wherever it can find it. It’s in the process of buying Qualcomm’s old FLO TV 700 MHz spectrum to implement a carrier-aggregation plan that would give it more LTE bandwidth. AT&T is also looking to pick up individual licenses from various operators around the country.

AT&T is sure to face opposition on this particular purchase just as its faced criticism from its smaller competitors and rural operators over its other spectrum purchases and proposed merger with T-Mobile (Unfiltered: Fight over 700 MHz spectrum brewing into a proxy battle over AT&T-T-Mobile deal).

The Rural Cellular Association, Rural Telecommunications Group, Sprint (NYSE:S), MetroPCS (NYSE:PCS), Cincinnati Bell and Ntelos have asked the FCC to consolidate AT&T’s spectrum purchase proposals with it T-Mobile acquisition, presumably in an effort to kill all of the deals in one proceeding.