Access Spectrum completes 220 MHz spectrum acquisition
Access Spectrum, Bethesda, Md., has closed its previously announced acquisition of 220 MHz spectrum licenses from Aerwāv Holdings, New York.
The transaction gave Access Spectrum rights to deploy 220 MHz systems nationwide and made it the largest holder of 220 MHz licenses in the United States. The company has submitted a request to the FCC that the federal agency waive some of the rules that govern 220 MHz spectrum. The waiver requested by Access Spectrum would allow it to manage its 220 MHz spectrum in a manner similar to the way it manages 700 MHz Guard Band spectrum as a “band manager.”
Aerwāv and its predecessor companies that used various names, including Securicor Wireless, Intek Global, Intek Diversified and Roamer One, had pursued various spectrum development plans, some of which included the construction of their own 220 MHz repeater network infrastructure. But Access Spectrum doesn’t want to build its own networks. Instead, it wants to lease the spectrum to other developers or to end-users.
“To obtain spectrum, customers simply specify the desired geographic footprint, quantity of spectrum and channel bandwidth to suit their communications needs. Through channel aggregation, Access Spectrum’s customers are not limited to 5 kHz channel bandwidths at 220 MHz,” a statement from the company reads.
Several manufacturers, including Motorola, Microwave Data Systems and Tait North America, make voice and data products that work on Access Spectrum’s frequencies in the 220 MHz and 700 MHz bands. Companies interested in leasing 220 MHz or 700 MHz spectrum can contact John Vislosky, Access Spectrum’s senior vice president of sales, at 301-941-1114 or [email protected].
Access Spectrum’s holdings include between 11 and 20 12.5 kHz channel pairs throughout the country and 80 12.5 kHz channel pairs in two-thirds of the United States, including cities such as Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New Orleans and Salt Lake City.
