AT&T wins FCC approval on buying Aloha spectrum

NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - AT&T Inc (T.N) has won government approval to buy wireless airwaves from Aloha Partners, a privately held partnership, for $2.5 billion.

The Federal Communications Commission on Monday announced approval of AT&T Inc's acquisition of the spectrum, saying the move would serve the public interest.

AT&T has said the Aloha licenses cover a potential 196 million customers in 281 markets, including 72 of the top 100 U.S. markets in the same 700-megahertz frequency band. Aloha obtained the spectrum in a previous FCC auction.

The move comes amid a big FCC auction of valuable U.S. government-owned 700-megahertz airwaves in which AT&T is one of the potential bidders.

The airwaves being auctioned could eventually bring U.S. consumers more advanced wireless services such as broadband access on mobile phones.

Other qualified bidders in the auction include Verizon Wireless and possible new competitors like Internet company Google Inc (GOOG.O), EchoStar Communications Corp (DISH.O) and Cablevision Systems Corp (CVC.N).

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L). (Reporting by Ritsuko Ando and Peter Kaplan; Editing by Rory Channing)