The 10 largest U.S. telecom carrier mergers and acquisitions

Optical Networking This newsletter is sponsored by ShoreTel eBook: IP Telephony from A to Z Get the book on VoIP, from vendor evaluation and selection to ensuring reliability and security. Whether you're considering a rollout or you've already deployed, you'll quickly get up to speed on the most important IP telephony issues and factors. Network World's Optical Networking Newsletter, 05/28/07 The 10 largest U.S. telecom carrier mergers and acquisitions By Jim Duffy The $27.5 billion acquisition of Alltel by TPG and Goldman Sachs this week ranks among the 10 largest transactions among U.S. carriers over the past 10 years. Here is the Top 10 list and the years in which they closed: AT&T/BellSouth -- $86 billion (2007). Ed Whitacre’s last official acquisition act before retiring. It closely followed SBC’s purchase of AT&T but dwarfed that deal. Network World LAN/WAN Buyer's Guide Find the right LAN/WAN products for your enterprise - fast. Our extensive database of detailed product information will help you quickly pinpoint what you need. With the side-by-side comparison tool you can evaluate product features and make the best decision for your enterprise. Click here to go to the Buyer's Guide now. SBC/Ameritech -- $56 billion (1999). The second fellow Baby Bell acquired by SBC, giving it the Midwest territory it now owns. Bell Atlantic/GTE -- $53 billion (2000). The megadeal that formed Verizon. AT&T Wireless/Cingular -- $41 billion (2004). This deal made Cingular the largest wireless operator in terms of subscribers. Sprint/Nextel -- $35 billion (2005). Sprint’s response to the AT&T Wireless/Cingular deal. Qwest/US West -- $35 billion (2000). Here was a rare case in which an IXC acquired an RBOC. The roles would reverse within 10 years. Worldcom/MCI -- $30 billion (1998). Worldcom outbid BT for this prized long-distance competitor of AT&T. Alltel/private equity -- $27.5 billion (2007). Alltel taken private to increase shareholder value. Will Sprint Nextel now become a target? SBC/Pacific Telesis -- $16.5 billion (1997). SBC’s first purchase of a fellow Baby Bell, expanding its territory into California and Nevada. SBC/AT&T -- $16 billion (2005). Baby Bell swallows Ma Bell. It was supposed to be like this but it resurrected and reinvigorated the beleaguered AT&T -- and kicked off the current megamerger wave.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Jim Duffy is managing editor of Network World's service provider equipment coverage. He has 18 years of high-tech reporting experience, including over 12 years at Network World. Previously, he was senior editor at Computer Systems News and associate editor/reporter at Electronic News and MIS Week. He can be reached at jduffy@nww.com. This newsletter is sponsored by ShoreTel eBook: IP Telephony from A to Z Get the book on VoIP, from vendor evaluation and selection to ensuring reliability and security. Whether you're considering a rollout or you've already deployed, you'll quickly get up to speed on the most important IP telephony issues and factors. ARCHIVE Archive of the Optical Networking Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007