US mobile carrier T-Mobile has agreed a deal in principle to sell its 800MHz spectrum portfolio to Grain Management LLC.
Private investment firm Grain plans to work with energy and infrastructure company Black & Veatch to open the 800MHz spectrum portfolio to utilities, other critical infrastructure industry operators, rural and regional operators, and other enterprises.
T-Mobile didn't disclose the financial terms of the agreement, which it expects to be finalized by the end of next month.
In exchange for its 800MHz spectrum, the carrier said it would obtain a combination of cash and all of Grain’s 600MHz spectrum licenses.
“This deal would give T-Mobile the opportunity to work with key partners like Grain that share our vision to optimize spectrum for consumers by exploring the possibilities of how emerging technologies can support mission-critical infrastructure and communications – something that is integral to fueling our country’s continued 5G leadership that drives needed economic growth,” said Dirk Mosa, senior vice president, spectrum, partnerships and acquisitions for T-Mobile.
“This deal also gives us a great opportunity to deploy Grain’s 600MHz portfolio of spectrum on T-Mobile’s network, which is already creating better customer experiences in several markets.”
Black & Veatch separately noted that the 800MHz spectrum will help "utilities to secure and protect their networks and improve efficiency and operational resiliency."
T-Mobile has been trying to shift the 800MHz spectrum following its agreement to acquire Sprint in 2020.
The carrier had agreed to sell the spectrum to EchoStar-owned Dish Network for $3.59 billion.
However, that deal fell through last year when Dish said it was unable to afford the spectrum.
Dish was due to purchase the spectrum by August 2023, but requested a 10-month extension through the courts and the US Department of Justice, to exercise its option to buy the spectrum, citing it needs more time to raise the funds.
T-Mobile disputed the extension request, claiming that it was “unfair" to the company and “contrary to the public interest.”
