This just in...

[Bad Robot]

Why do I have the feeling this is going to be bad for locators....?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110320/...t_t_mobile_usa

[mattm211]

you know they're WIRELESS companies right?... I'm kidding you.

Let me first say that the company I'm with right now, they're biggest contract is t-mobile (2nd biggest is ATT).
I've spent the last 7 1/2 months actually working with the Tmobile engineering office for Seattle office (to expand 4G) and we're separate from the main HQ in Bellevue but maybe I can weasel out some details from them.

I don't think the article mentioned that they're having a webcast and conference call Monday morning to hopefully hash out some details, then posting it on their site. The main part that will concern you as underground locators is these new sites will have to be connected. They'll probably somehow connect their switching centers. How? idk..I'll leave that to the construction guys. The T1 internet lines that connect towers in a network are usually served by one regional provider. Here in Seattle area TMO uses Qwest. ATT is trying to switch old Cingular towers (used verizon) to their own lines.

If they do this with Tmo towers then you'll just get tickets for towers to go from the nearest HH to the tower. Maybe a big project here and there to connect switches. The expanding into rural area is intriguing they'll need to completely expand highspeed mainlines to allow for connectivity. They're going to have their hands full integrating these TMO towers first so that won't come for quite a while.

Also, this is just a legal handshake right now. Still needs to be passed by the DoD and FCC, which ATT says will probably take up to a year. I've read there is also built in stipulations if the deal doesn't go through. Supposedly TMO will get $2 billion for their time and some of ATT's 1700MHz wireless spectrum (and something else but I forget). If it does go through then Deutche Telekom get to unload a losing business, get money, and a seat in USA's #1 wireless company. Win-Win for T-Mobile looks like to me. lose for T-mobile employees (which no one seems to be mentioning or caring about)

I also find it funny that this has been mentioned on the locator forum, but not on the 3 Wireless industry forums that I'm a member of.

[sprayandpray]

Fortunately, Time Warner has been running f/o between all of the Sprint and T-Mobile towers for the past year here. I imagine ATT will continue to use that fiber, or buy it outright.