First announced in November 2014, AT&T has now spent $2.5 billion on the unit, which includes its licences, infrastructure and 9.2 million subscribers.
AT&T was free to complete the acquisition earlier this month when Grupo Televisa sold its 50% stake in Iusacell to Grupo Salinas.
Iusacell is Mexico third-largest mobile player – after América Móvil and Telefónica – and its 3G network uses the same WCDMA technology as AT&T’s.
The US conglomerate will now be able to create the first ever North American Mobile Service area, including more than 400 million subscribers and businesses across Mexico and the US, and is looking to enhance mobile internet services in Mexico where demand is rapidly increasing.
F Thaddeus Arroyo, former president of AT&T Technology Development, has been appointed CEO at Iusacell. Existing Iusacell CEO Adrian Steckel will assist Arroyo with the integration of the two companies.
“I’m grateful for Adrian’s past leadership of Iusacell and look forward to working closely with him and the rest of our new colleagues as we enhance and expand our service to provide customers with more wireless choices and more competition,” Arroyo said.
