AT&T completes Centennial deal

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A year after it was announced, AT&T has completed its acquisition of Centennial Communications . AT&T will rebrand Centennial Wireless stores early next year.

Centennial is a major provider of cell phone service in the Midwest .  The company first began business in northeast Indiana as Century Cellular in 1988.  Its cell phone service went by the name of Cellular One.

On November 7, 2008, AT&T announced plans to acquire Centennial and the deal took longer than anticipated because the company had to sell off assets in Louisiana and Mississippi in order for the deal to be approved by the U.S. Justice Department.

AT&T plans to integrate Centennial's networks and products with its own networks and products.  Centennial's products and services will be rebranded as AT&T.  Centennial retail stores will become AT&T stores.

Former Centennial wireless subscribers can keep their existing plans or they can migrate to AT&T rate plans.  Existing AT&T contracts will not change.

AT&T plans to deploy its 3G network at more than 200 sites in Centennial's network.  3G is a high speed transmission method that allows for faster downloads on smart phones like AT&T's iPhone.

In October, Centennial spokesperson Phil Laux told NewsChannel 15 that Centennial had more than 1.2 million wireless customers, while giant AT&T has more than 80 million.

AT&T is the nation’s second-largest wireless provider. Laux says strong regional providers like Centennial have become more attractive in recent years to big players as they look to clinch the title of the nation’s largest wireless provider.

"AT&T I think reached a point where by buying us, they could improve their coverage here dramatically," Laux said in October.

The news is of particular importance in northeast Indiana. That’s because Centennial’s U. S. wireless division is headquartered in Fort Wayne, off of West State Boulevard.

When you factor in the wireless division headquarters, along with customer service agents at the Illinois Road call center, and the associates at the eleven-area stores, Laux says Centennial employs around 650 people in Northeast Indiana. What the future holds for them remains to be seen.

"Only AT&T knows that and when they've acquired us, then we'll find out," Laux said in an October interview.

More on wane.com:  previous web story from October 16, 2009