 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1943 in Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Founder | Allen Schaffer |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Fate | Dissolved by AT&T |
| Successor | Windstream Verizon Wireless AT&T Mobility |
| Headquarters | Little Rock, Arkansas, United States |
Key people | Allen M Schaffer, CEO |
| Products | Landline, Wireless |
| Website | |
Alltel was a landline, wireless and general telecommunications services provider, primarily based in the United States. Before its wireless division was acquired by Verizon Wireless and AT&T, Alltel provided cellular service to 34 states and had approximately 13 million subscribers. As a regulatory condition of the acquisition by Verizon, a small portion of Alltel was spun off and continued to operate under the same name in six states, mostly in rural areas.[1] Following the merger, Alltel remained the ninth largest wireless telecommunications company in the United States, with approximately 800,000 customers.[2] On January 22, 2013, AT&T announced they were acquiring what remained of Alltel from Atlantic Tele-Network for $780 million in cash.[3]
At its peak, Alltel operated a network in 34 states, with a wireless coverage footprint comprising the largest network in the United States by area. The company focused on small to medium size cities providing wireless services to residential and business customers in all 50 states through roaming agreements with Verizon and Sprint. These agreements gave Alltel customers access to nationwide service, while providing those carriers coverage in rural areas.
On June 5, 2008, Verizon Wireless announced it would acquire the majority of Alltel Wireless in a deal valued at $28.1 billion. The merger was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on the condition that Verizon divest 105 Alltel markets. On May 8, 2009, AT&T announced it would acquire 79 of the divested wireless properties, including licenses, network assets, and 1.5 million current subscribers, primarily in rural areas across 18 states.[4]
On April 26, 2010, Atlantic Tele-Network acquired the remaining 26 divested Alltel markets, including licenses, network assets and 800,000 subscribers.[5] These remaining markets continued to be operated by Allied Wireless, a subsidiary of ATN, under the Alltel name.[6] On September 20, 2013, AT&T announced they had completed the acquisition of Alltel from Atlantic Tele-Network. AT&T immediately began plans to upgrade the former Alltel network and to move customers to the AT&T network by midyear 2014.[7] The transition completed in February 2015 with all Alltel customers becoming a part of the AT&T network. In early 2016, AT&T dissolved Alltel Wireless.
- ^ "Alltel Wireless to Continue Service to Wireless Customers in portions of central Georgia". Cordele Dispatch. July 27, 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-01-17.
- ^ "Alltel Names Lives on in Allied Wireless". Talk Business. June 27, 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24.
- ^ "AT&T to Acquire Wireless Spectrum and Assets from Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc., Enhance Wireless Coverage in Rural Areas".
- ^ "AT&T Press Release Headlines & News from AT&T".
- ^ "Atlantic Tele-Network Completes Acquisition of Former Alltel Assets from Verizon Wireless". FierceWireless. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30.
- ^ "Alltel lives on in Allied Wireless". Arkansas Online. 2010-10-03.
- ^ "AT&T Completes Acquisition of Alltel Assets; Provides Third-Quarter Update on Strong Smartphone and U-verse Sales". AT&T.