MCI Communications Corp has stood back from the cellular feeding frenzy after initially trying to put together a US-wide Personal Communications Services consortium, and now it has decided to buy not a cellular operator but a cellular services reseller. It is to pay $190m in cash for Nationwide Cellular Service Inc, the largest cellular reseller in the US. Prior to the deal, Nationwide will distribute pro rata to shareholders the shares it holds in Cellular Technical Services Co Inc. MCI says the deal is the first step of its new strategy to provide national wireless services integrated with other MCI services. Instead of owning local wireless transmission facilities, MCI plans to invest in value-added wireless services that are uniquely different from those offered today. It is working with a number of large cellular facility providers to expand coverage on a US-wide basis. Nationwide reported 1994 turnover of $213m and provides wireless services to more than 275,000 business and residential customers in 10 major US cities covering nearly 25% of the US population.
