AT&T is on the hunt for more 3.45 GHz spectrum

It looks like AT&T wants to add even more to its 3.45 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum stockpile through a licensing deal with Pennsylvania-based Blue Ridge Wireless. Some eagle eyes spotted recent filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where AT&T describes a 3.45 GHz spectrum lease arrangement with Blue Ridge. AT&T argues that access to the spectrum, which must be approved by the FCC, will “greatly enhance” the quality of the service it offers to its subscribers. AT&T was the biggest bidder in the 2021 auction of 3.45 GHz airwaves, and it’s in the process of acquiring 3.45 GHz licenses from the second biggest winner, Dish Wireless, now a subsidiary of EchoStar. Thanks to a spectrum management lease agreement, AT&T already is using some of that spectrum at nearly 23,000 cell sites.