Liberty on Thursday announced the successful acquisition of mobile spectrum and prepaid customers from Dish, now EchoStar, in a transaction valued at $255 million. The deal, finalized today, includes over 100 MHz of spectrum and aims to enhance Liberty’s 5G mobile network capabilities across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The acquisition received regulatory approval in August from both the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In its approval on August 9, the FCC highlighted the public interest benefits expected from the transaction, including enhanced competition in the USVI.
“This investment is another testament of the solid commitment that we have in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Ravindra Maywahlall, general manager of Liberty VI. “This acquisition will give us additional spectrum, which will provide our customers with an enhanced mobile experience by increasing the capacity and speed of the mobile network. Additionally, it will also expand our points of sales and service across the U.S. Virgin Islands, bringing us closer to our customers.”
In addition to the expanded spectrum, Liberty will welcome a new base of prepaid subscribers to its USVI customer base, further strengthening its presence in the region.
The transaction is seen as a significant boost for Liberty’s 5G network, enabling the company to offer faster speeds and more reliable services to its customers. Liberty said its 5G coverage already reaches 95 percent of the USVI population, and this acquisition is expected to further enhance the quality and reach of its services.
Liberty, a subsidiary of Liberty Latin America, operates in over 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, with its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Liberty offers a range of mobile voice and data services to residential and business customers in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with plans to expand its fiber optic network to provide high-speed fixed internet, voice, and other services.
