Verizon given go ahead for Alltel buy-out

Department of Justice gives deal the thumbs up

3 November 2008 16:26 GMT / By Katie Scott

The US Department of Justice has given Verizon the all-clear for its $28 billion purchase of Alltel.

The deal will see Verizon overtake rival AT&T as the largest wireless carrier in the US of A.

The DoJ agreed the deal but under the condition that Verizon divests its wireless holdings in 100 markets that span 22 states.

According to Thomas Barnett, assistant attorney general in charge of the antitrust division, the divestitures required are among the most extensive required by the department in a wireless case.

The Boy Genius Report adds that they include the entire states of North Dakota and South Dakota, major portions of Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming, and sections of Alabama, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.

The deal will now be voted on by the FCC on 4 November (so tomorrow).

Full tags

Biz, Phones, Mobile phone industry, Verizon, Alltel, AT and T