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Cellphone provider nTelos plans to sell its licenses in the competitive Eastern Virginia markets, including the Richmond region, to T-Mobile for about $56 million in cash.

As a result, more than 180,000 nTelos subscribers in the Richmond and Hampton Roads markets will need to switch to new carriers over the next year.

Waynesboro-based nTelos Holdings Corp., which announced the sale Tuesday, said the deal is part of several initiatives to focus on its markets in Western Virginia and West Virginia. The company also plans to expand 4G LTE services, enhance service capabilities and improve retail performance in the western markets.

The company said its board decided to focus on the western markets after a review of operations.

The license sale is expected to close in April 2015.