The other Bells may be spurred by Nynex pact

Bell Atlantic Corp's decision to merge its cellular services network with Nynex Corp will create the second-largest cellular company in the US with 1.8 million cellular telephone subscribers and $1.12 billion in annual revenue. The merger must gain the approval of the Justice Department and the FCC before it begins business. The new company will have access about $13 billion in combined assets, which can be used as the investment capital it needs to bid for new licenses. The US government plans to auction off licenses for wireless personal communication services in 1994. The new company's merged system covers a population of 55 million and company executives hope to extend its reach to 120 million by Dec 1995. Industry analysts predict the merger will hasten other mergers among cellular carriers so they can benefit from the economies of scale that mergers can produce.