US: T-Mobile pushing smaller carriers to support Sprint merger

T-Mobile is discreetly pushing smaller wireless carriers in the United States to support its proposed merger with Sprint, Reuters reports, citing industry insiders.

The Bellevue, Washington-based telecoms giant has been sending emails with suggestions of how its virtual network partners could voice their public support for the deal, including regulatory filings and op-eds.

Not all companies that received such communication view it as T-Mobile applying pressure on them to support the deal that would reduce the number of major wireless competitors in the country from four to three, withConsumer Cellular CEO John Marick confirming he’s not opposed to the idea of publicly supporting the consolidation but has yet to decide on how to proceed.

The Federal Communications Commission is collecting public comments and formal petitions to oppose the deal until August 27. Reuters previously reported that the US Department of Justice was soliciting opinions of the deal from so-called mobile virtual network operators.

Full Content: Reuters

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