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AT&T Wireless
buys Big Isle unit
of U.S. Cellular

The deal will give the
acquirer's customers roaming
capabilities when on the island

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By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

AT&T Wireless Services said today it has purchased the Big Island operations of United States Cellular Corp. for an undisclosed price.

While the market is small, a population of 141,000, the expansion is important because it will give AT&T customers on the other islands roaming capabilities on the Big Island when they are visiting on vacation or business, said a company spokeswoman, Eileen M. Connolly.

Connolly said the expansion to the Big Island is also important for AT&T's mainland customers who will be able to use their cellular phones while visiting.

"Tourism is a very important part of it," she said.

Connolly said that expansion plans cannot be detailed yet because the acquisition was only concluded today, but she expects another area of the AT&T Wireless network, high-speed data transfer, will also apply to the Big Island.

AT&T Wireless has 15 retail outlets on Oahu and an outlet on Maui.

Based in Redmond, Wash., AT&T Wireless is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T Corp. However, after an initial public offering in April it has its own shares, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AWE. It is known as a "tracking stock," created to represent the financial performance of AT&T's mobile communications business.

The company has nearly 12 million subscribers nationwide.