MetroPCS expands to Jacksonville area

In an effort to keep up with the expanding Leap Wireless, MetroPCS has announced the purchase of 10 MHZ of spectrum in the Jacksonville, Florida area. This agreement is with PTA Communications, and there are separate agreements with Cleartalk PCS and PTA-FLA Inc. for the purchase of subscribers and “certon of their network assets used by them in providing PCS wireless telecommunications services in Jacksonville.” This is good news for Metro, who, along with Leap, is facing major competition in Florida from Boost Unlimited, the newest competitor in the flat-rate, unlimited calling game. Of course, this deal needs to pass through the FCC, as most transactions of this nature do. Once complete, Metro will have access to an additional 1.5 million customers. They plan to offer service starting in the second quarter of this year.

“Residents in Jacksonville will soon be able to enjoy our unlimited, flat-rate, simple and affordable plans,” said Roger Linquist, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of MetroPCS. “We look forward to providing future MetroPCS subscribers with coverage in Jacksonville and to further expanding our extensive Florida coverage for our current subscribers.”

Metro isn’t done here, though. Among their other plans for 2008 expansion are Las Vegas and Philadelphia — once again, markets not covered by rival Leap. I know it’s snore-snore commentary at this time, but it still appears that the companies are taking a divide-and-conquer path. It might mean a future merger is in the cards, though Leap rejected such a bid last year. [FOX Business]]]>