AT&T is paying [3] out $1.9 billion in cash, and some radio license rights, to arch-rival Verizon to acquire some of the 700 MHz B radio band that Verizon previously owned. The radio frequencies could let AT&T serve up 4G LTE to 42 million people [4] in 18 states. The deal is subject to approval, but AT&T anticipates closing it in the second half of this year--in order to meet its 2012 promise of covering 300 million U.S. customers with 4G services [5] by the end of 2014.

Earlier this week AT&T bought [6] small operator Alltel for $780 million to expand its coverage in rural areas. That means AT&T's spent nearly $2.7 billion at the start of this year to expand its coverage. On the other side of the ocean, the U.K.'s main 4G spectrum auction [7] got underway this week.

The moves are carefully timed, and in response to statistics [8] like IDC's that show how quickly smartphone adoption is progressing.

[Image: Flickr user bradley_newman [9]]