T-Mobile US Sold Its 800MHz Spectrum

T-Mobile US agreed to sell its 800MHz spectrum assets to Grain Management. The operator would receive a combination of cash and all of the private investment company’s 600MHz spectrum licenses in return. The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of April and will be subject to regulatory approval.

The operator explained Grain, in partnership with construction company Black & Veatch, would market the 800MHz spectrum holdings to utilities, critical infrastructure industry operators, and rural and regional companies to meet unfulfilled telecommunications needs. For T-Mobile, the deal will enable it to beef up its 600MHz holdings, Dirk Mosa, SVP for spectrum, partnerships, and acquisitions said in the statement.

T-Mobile notably spent big on the 600MHz spectrum in 2022, paying $3.5 billion, adding to the $8 billion it spent in an auction in 2017. Most recently, it agreed to a deal to acquire most of USCellular’s mobile assets, which also includes 600MHz holdings. Mosa added the proposed deal with Grain allows T-Mobile to work with the investment company to optimize the spectrum for consumers by exploring the possibilities of how emerging technologies can support mission-critical infrastructure and communications.