April 5, 2006

Dobson Cellular Systems announces it has purchased 25 megahertz of spectrum in the 850 MHz band in Kodiak and Nome, Alaska, for $2 million.

The carrier’s stock was up slightly on the news to around $8 per share.

Dobson said it bought the assets in Kodiak from New Horizons Telecom Inc. and Kodiak Electric Association Inc., and the assets in Nome from Sitnasuak Native Corp. and SNC Telecommunications Inc.

Dobson said it will upgrade the analog networks that are currently in place to GSM/GPRS/EDGE technology.

The carrier said it would use satellite backhaul to link the two markets with the rest of the state and with other U.S. and international markets.

Dobson owns wireless operations in 16 states and counts 1.5 million customers.

Source: RCR