Friday, January 2, 2009

Atlantic Tele-Network buys CC Communications’ wireless assets

By Efrain Viscarolasaga

Salem-based telecommunications service provider Atlantic Tele-Network Inc. said that its U.S.-based rural wireless division, Commnet Wireless LLC, has acquired the wireless assets of Nevada-based CC Communications.

The deal includes the equipment, spectrum and towers of CC Communications, including 50 operating cell sites covering 40,000 square miles and 61,000 potential customers in rural areas and public lands in western Nevada. Officials also said Commnet will make additional investments to expand and enhance the network in 2009.

Commnet will also provide wholesale wireless services to CC Communications in order to maintain current customers.

Commnet offers both GSM and CDMA wireless networks in the Midwest and Southwest regions of the U.S. Its parent company, Atlantic Tele-Network (Nasdaq: ATNI), operates four divisions, including Commnet. The others include Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd., the national telephone service provider in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana;  Sovernet Communications Inc., a provider of wireline voice and data services to businesses and homes in Vermont; and Choice Communications LLC, which provides wireless television and wireless broadband services, as well as dial-up Internet services in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Atlantic Tele-Network also owns 58 percent of Bermuda Digital Communications Ltd., which, under the CellularOne name, is the largest provider of cellular voice and data services in Bermuda, according to officials.

Atlantic Tele-Network has declared a dividend for investors in the last two quarters. In the nine months ending September 30, 2007, the company reported $152 million in revenue, the bulk from its wireless offerings. Over that time, the company reported $28 million in net income.