The latest giant telecommunications merger was announced yesterday, with regional Bells SBC Communications Inc and Ameritech Corp agreeing to merge in a stock swap deal said to be worth around $55bn. The merger of Chicago-based Ameritech, which serves the US Midwest local market, and San Antonio, Texas-based SBC, serving southern local markets, would create a company with over $40bn in annual revenues, covering 180 million users in 13 states. SBC, which is still in the process of acquiring long distance provider Southern New England Telecommunications Inc for $4.4bn (CI No 3,319) has been growing fast since its $16bn acquisition of Pacific Telesis Group back in 1996. For the full story, see our sister publication Network Briefing Daily.
