AT&T Mobility Chief executive Ralph de la Vega said that the company must begin integrating the infrastructure of T-Mobile USA to avoid major challenges in the near future.

Ralph de la Vega said that the network's requirements must be met within the coming three years. However, he did not mention specific timeframe for when the potential problems could emerge.

Speaking at the CTIA Wireless conference on Tuesday, he said, "One of the key drivers (for the deal) was the need for additional spectrum. It resolves the pending spectrum challenges that we're facing in major cities."

Last Sunday, AT&T announced that it had hit a $39 billion cash & stock deal with German firm Deutsche Telekom to acquire its T-Mobile USA subsidiary.

Under the terms of the deal, AT&T will give $25 billion in cash and $14 in AT&T stock to the German firm, which needs that money slash its debt pile and expand further in Europe.

The acquisition will help AT&T to gain more wireless spectrum- the airwaves on which cellular signals move. Without adequate spectrum, internet surfing becomes sluggish and phone calls can get dropped.