America Movil on Monday announced a takeover deal that will boost its U.S. mobile subsidiary Tracfone.
The expansionist Mexican operator said that, via mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Tracfone, it has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets of Start Wireless, another U.S. MVNO with around 1.4 million customers.
It did not disclose the price of the deal.
Start Wireless, which operates under the brand name Page Plus Cellular and offers prepaid voice, messaging and data services, is small fry in comparison with its soon-to-be new owner.
Tracfone - which includes yet another MVNO Simple Mobile, which was acquired by America Movil through Tracfone in mid-2012 - had 23.2 million U.S. mobile customers as of the end of March, having added a net 839,000 new customers in the first quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, America Movil reported having a total customer base of 262.9 million mobile subscribers across its footprint in the Americas at the same date.
America Movil said in a statement that the acquisition of Start Wireless is subject to certain regulatory approvals. It is scheduled to close in the second quarter of this year.