FCC has approved the transfer of AWS spectrum licenses from AT&T to T-Mobile USA, clearing the way of operator's planned $4 billion network modernization and 4G evolution plan. Earlier announced operator's LTE roadmap had assumed successful reframing of spectrum and regulatory approval of AT&T break-up spectrum transfer. This transfer provides T-Mobile with a large package of valuable AWS mobile spectrum in 128 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs), including 12 of the top 20 markets.

The company will invest $4 billion on network modernization to improve existing voice and data coverage, and broadly deploy LTE in 2013. Over the next two years, this represents approximately $1.4 billion in incremental network investment. T-Mobile expects to reach broad deployment of LTE, with service in the vast majority of the top 50 markets and 20 MHz service in 75 percent of the top 25 markets.

Securing this additional spectrum was a key catalyst for its plans to launch LTE in 2013 and is therefore good news for its customers. Operator however further adds that it still needs more AWS spectrum to support its 4G evolution efforts and the continued growth in mobile data services.