Leap starting AWS build

Leap is moving forward on its network expansion plan with its new Advanced Wireless Spectrum licenses, acquired from last year’s auction. The company has named Alcatel-Lucent and Nortel as its suppliers for the CDMA infrastructure, which utilizes the new 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz frequency bands.

Nortel today said Leap has awarded it a $135 million contract to build out new AWS markets, though it did not specify which ones. Nortel recently built Leap networks in new markets in the Carolinas and New York. Alcatel-Lucent last week revealed Leap had handed it a similar deal for $128 million to expand into Leap’s AWS footprint. Both deals are for CDMA 1X gear as well as upgrades to EV-DO Revision A. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent is providing routing, switching and backhaul equipment for the network core.

Leap sells all-you-can-eat service plans under the name Cricket Communications and prepaid services under the Jump Mobile brand. It initially targeted small and mid-sized markets but lately it has been expanding into the major metropolitan areas where competition with the nationwide carriers is fierce. In last year’s AWS auction, Leap won two sweeping regional licenses covering the Great Lakes and central regions of the U.S. Those, combined with other individual licenses, give Leap access to markets like Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.