(Telecompaper) Sprint affiliate operator Ntelos announced plans to narrow its focus and sell part of its spectrum holdings to T-Mobile US. Following a strategic review, the mobile operator has decided to focus on West Virginia and the western part of Virginia where its market presence is strongest and exit the eastern Virginia market. Its 1,900 MHz band spectrum in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk and Richmond markets will be sold to T-mobile for USD 50.6 million cash. Pending FCC approval, the transaction is expected to close in April 2015. Ntelos will wind down its network and retail operations in its eastern markets over the next year and transition its subscribers to another, unnamed carrier. The shutdown is expected to cost around USD 55 million. In the western markets, Ntelos plans to strengthen its position with the expansion of LTE services, improved retail performance and enhanced service capabilities. The western markets already represent 59 percent of its customers and 69 percent of its cell sites. In addition, Ntelos said it's exploring potential opportunities to monetize other non-core assets, including the sale of owned towers and undeployed spectrum.