Verizon and T-Mobile have been at loggerheads in recent weeks over Verizon's intended purchase of AWS spectrum from cable consortium SpectrumCo, but that's not stopping the two companies from doing business: they've just signed an agreement for a combined purchase and exchange of AWS spectrum in some 218 markets, a move that T-Mobile says will "improve" its position in 15 of the top 25 markets in the US. All told, the spectrum in question covers around 60 million people. As always, the deal is subject to regulatory approval.
Amazingly, the deal is something of a reversal for T-Mobile: it actually includes spectrum from both the SpectrumCo and Leap deals that are pending with Verizon, meaning that T-Mobile is banking on those deals overcoming some steep regulatory hurdles and getting approval. The carrier says that upon completion of the deal it'll be able to light up 4G service "promptly," including the anticipated LTE roll-out next year.