AT&T ... Sprint

**fastamx79** · 12-21-2011, 08:18 AM

It's that time for this rumor again!

**kusanagi-sama** · 12-21-2011, 10:21 PM

If regulators said this would have made things more expensive and reduce competition, why on earth would they let AT&T buy Sprint? So, no, that's not going to happen.

**gabbott** · 12-21-2011, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by kusanagi-sama

If regulators said this would have made things more expensive and reduce competition, why on earth would they let AT&T buy Sprint? So, no, that's not going to happen.

No, the article is about Sprint and T-mob merging, not ATT and Sprint.

**kusanagi-sama** · 12-21-2011, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by gabbott

No, the article is about Sprint and T-mob merging, not ATT and Sprint.

Oh, I didn't read the article. I just looked at the link text.

**jefboyardee** · 12-22-2011, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by kusanagi-sama

Oh, I didn't read the article. I just looked at the link text.

“But did Sprint have a different motive altogether? Say, to purchase T-Mobile itself and solidify a foothold in the industry?”

**rukin1** · 12-22-2011, 04:21 PM

Sprint will always remain SPRINT.

**drewwalton19216801** · 12-22-2011, 10:07 PM

Sprint is CDMA, T-mo is GSM. Never gonna happen. It would be way too costly.

**VW Maverick** · 12-23-2011, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by drewwalton19216801

Sprint is CDMA, T-mo is GSM. Never gonna happen. It would be way too costly.

True, but this particular article covers that:

"T-Mobile uses a GSM network, making it also incompatible with Sprint’s CDMA backbone. The last time the two companies talked, this was the major sticking point for a deal moving forward.

However, this time around could be different, with Sprint being rumored to be ditching WIMAX for LTE in the near future and T-Mo exploring LTE options as well."

Also:

"Sprint needs the customer base and T-Mobile desperately needs mobile spectrum space to roll out a true 4G network to remain competitive. Couple this with the fact that Deutsche Telekom is going to offload the company one way or another, it could be a brilliant move for the Overland Park, Kansas company."

T-Mobile is going to be sold no matter what, so it makes sense for Sprint to be the one to get it.

Just my $.02

Mav.

**apinkel** · 12-23-2011, 12:40 PM

I just don't think Sprint can swing it financially or operationally to try and bring t-mobile under their wing.

I'm sure sprint could use more spectrum but the spectrum would need to be immediately available and it needs to be good spectrum (i.e. 700-900mhz spectrum as opposed to the 2.5ghz spectrum they used for wimax).

T-mobile has limited spectrum holdings and what they do have is already tied up in their GSM network. The last thing sprint needs is another nextel/iden type of deal where they have to spend 10 years shutting down an old network to free the spectrum for use.

The only way I could see t-mobile benefiting sprint is if t-mobile shut down their network and then sold off their spectrum. Even this ideal situation would be tough for sprint since they would have to come up with the money... and they are already leveraged heavily as they attempt to execute their network vision build out (which is exactly where they should be putting their resources).

I hope and pray that they don't even think twice about this purchase. IMO it would be suicide.

If anyone is going to buy T-mobile it would probably be Dish network (which has a bunch of spectrum sitting idle) or possibly one of the up and coming regional carriers like Leap/Cricket or US Cellular (both CDMA btw).