Verizon says GSM carrier can buy CDMA carrier

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ.N) chief operating officer, Dennis Strigl, said on Thursday that a telecommunications carrier using GSM network technology could buy a carrier using CDMA technology.

Verizon is seen by analysts as the most likely bidder if rural wireless provider Alltel Corp. AT.N seeks a sale, since both companies use the same CDMA network.

Dennis Strigl, asked in a Bank of America conference about the complexities of a GSM carrier buying a CDMA carrier, said such a move was "doable" and had been done before.