T-Mobile, AT&T agree to swap PCS, AWS-1 airwaves to create larger contiguous spectrum blocks

AT&T Mobility (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS) struck a deal to swap 1900 MHz PCS and AWS-1 spectrum licenses in various markets across the country. The swaps were detailed on Reddit and in separate filings the carriers made with the FCC. The carriers said the swaps "are intended to enable more efficient operations by creating larger blocks of contiguous spectrum and aligning spectrum blocks across markets." Identical amounts and types of spectrum are being swapped in each market, so if the deal gets approved by the FCC, AT&T and T-Mobile will still retain the same amount of spectrum. The swaps include exchanges of spectrum in Boston; Minneapolis; Phoenix; Sacramento, Calif.; and Austin and San Antonio, Texas. In some cases, AT&T and T-Mobile will be able to assemble 15x15 MHz or 20x20 MHz blocks of contiguous spectrum. Wider spectrum channels enables more capacity and faster data speeds. Filing