AT&T's Low Band LTE: 700 MHz B and C Block Ownership Mon, Feb 22, 2016

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Our most recent posts have looked at the low band spectrum that T-Mobile is accumulating, the 700 MHz A-Block. To see the low band spectrum that AT&T has typically deployed for LTE, we need to look at the 700 MHz B-block and 700 MHz C-block. With the B-block spectrum, it is clear that AT&T is visually the dominant spectrum holder. When looking at the licensed population data, this is true as well.

AT&T dominates the licensed population (POPS) numbers as well, accounting for 274 million of the 312 million US States and Territories population. These population numbers relate to the 2010 Census. C Spire with 1.4 million licensed POPS and US Cellular (23 million) both have significant spectrum in their regional operations area with the 700 MHz B Block spectrum.

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With the C-block spectrum, AT&T dominates the west coast and southeast but gives way to USCellular and other regional operators in the midwest.

Looking at the licensed population numbers, AT&T has about 15 million more licensed POPS with their C block spectrum than their B block spectrum. While USCellular has significantly less C block spectrum (6.8 million POPS compared to 22 million POPS). It is also apparent that T-Mobile has very limited ownership of B-block spectrum (262,000 POPS) and C-block spectrum (119,000 POPS). Clearly AT&T has the ability to combine their B and C block channels in many markets to create a 10x10 LTE channel. We will include a map in a future blog detailing AT&T's total 700 MHz (A/B/C) spectrum holdings as well as USCellular's total 700 MHz (A/B/C) spectrum holdings.

700 MHz A-Block Spectrum Owners Tue, Jan 19, 2016

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T-Mobile has increased their ownership of low band spectrum licenses to cover over 200 million POPs (population). The map above depicts the 700MHz A-Block spectrum owner for each US county. From the map you can see that significant portions of the 700 MHz A-Block spectrum are controlled by parties that are not likely to sell, like US Cellular and C Spire. Cavalier and Charter are signficant (land mass) spectrum holders that would be likely sellers to T-Mobile.

Below you can see the population counts for each of the owners. After T-Mobile's 201 million, Cavalier covers 26 million POPs, US Cellular 35 million POPs, C Spire 14 million POPs, Continuum 14 million POPs, and Laser has 10 million POPs in Chicago.

This map and these licensed population evaluations reflect the Future data set from Allnet Insight's Spectrum Ownership Analysis Tool (January 2016 Version).