T-Mobile and Sprint Merger

[Theot]

Sprint has a ton of spectrum they don't have the money to utilize. While I'd rather they not merge to keep competition going I think the reality might be that if Sprint stayed on their own and continued to flail in the wind within the next few years they would get sold off in pieces to the other three or picked up by one of the others anyway. So, I think i'd rather T-Mobile pick up all that spectrum and infrastructure to hopefully make good use of versus AT&T and Verizon. At least it levels the playing field some.

 

[Golfdriver97]

It should make AT&T and Verizon more competitive, but in the end, I think the consumers will not get the best end of the deal out of this.

 

[kramer5150]

Too early to say for sure. It will depend on how well they expand services with the additional spectrum.

 

[ubizmo]

I've been with T-Mobile for a long time, mainly because of the international data roaming arrangements they have. I've been able to use wireless data in Europe, Taiwan, and Japan without incurring extra charges or needing to buy a local SIM. I just hope the merger doesn't make that go away.

 

[kramer5150]

Curious... so does this mean Tmobile is now GSM and CDMA? So to take full advantage you would need a device that can handle all the frequency bands... correct?

 

[MBeck324]

I can say they will have a serious amount of spectrum. I am sure that makes AT&T / Verizon worried.

No and the reason being is that either Sprint or T Mobile will have to give up some of their spectrum. This is where the FCC comes in, but first it needs to get past the DOJ. Remember the DOJ prevented the Broadcom/Qualcomm merger. I expect them to do the same thing here for the same reason.

 

[MBeck324]

T-Mobile won't be able to purchase all that spectrum. If anything the FCC can state that all spectrum owned by sprint not being utilized goes back up for auction. That will more than likely be what happens. I think there is a clause that the carrier signs that they have to use the spectrum they purchase prior to such a date and time and also prior to any mergers etc. I am not 100% certain on that.

 

[Almeuit]

No and the reason being is that either Sprint or T Mobile will have to give up some of their spectrum. This is where the FCC comes in, but first it needs to get past the DOJ. Remember the DOJ prevented the Broadcom/Qualcomm merger. I expect them to do the same thing here for the same reason.

They might -- no one knows for sure. No one has a clue what they will have to give up.

 

[tube517]

 

[Morty2264]

Not sure about it being better for the consumer... But I do indeed think it will increase the competition between the "big players" of the US smartphone carrier world.

Canada has its biggest competition between the major carrier players - Rogers and Bell (I'd say Telus is big too). I'd say a merger like the one in the States could have more benefits for the carriers themselves than for the consumers... But again, as another user said, we don't have enough information yet to know what will happen. Who knows - maybe it'll be good news for customers.