Categories: Tech

Sprint and T-Mobile could merge in late October

There have been hints that Sprint and T-Mobile are seriously talking about a merger (again), but how likely is that union, really? Quite likely, if you ask Reuters‘ They understand that the two carriers are “close” to agreeing on terms, and they could have a deal ready by late October. There are the usual caveats (the tipsters say there’s still a chance things could fall apart), but it’s notable that Sprint and T-Mobile are apparently confident enough that there’s a timeline.

Sprint and T-Mobile aren’t commenting on the reported leak, but both sides have dropped hints that they were thinking of a merger. For instance, Sprint chief Marcelo Claure said in August that an announcement on merger talks would come in the “near future,” while SoftBank’s own CEO has been hopeful for a while.

While discussions have reportedly taken place for years, it’s believed the two have returned to the negotiating table both due to performance and the country’s current leadership. While T-Mobile has been wildly successful in attracting subscribers, it had to spend a lot of money to get there — a Sprint merger would give it a huge base without having to lift a finger. Sprint, meanwhile only just returned to profit (in part through extensive cost-cutting) and is still struggling to add significantly more users. And both companies are no doubt hoping that the looser antitrust regulation of the current US administration will help them merge where they would have been shot down under previous governments. They may see this as a now-or-never situation where it’s better to try for a merger than lose their big chance at challenging AT&T and Verizon.

The transaction would significantly consolidate the U.S. telecommunications market and represent the first transformative U.S. merger with significant antitrust risk to be agreed since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January.

The progress toward a deal also indicates that T-Mobile and Sprint believe that the U.S. antitrust enforcement environment has become more favorable since the companies abandoned their previous effort to combine in 2014 amid regulatory concerns.

The latest development in the talks between T-Mobile and Sprint comes as the telecommunications sector seeks ways to tackle investments in 5G technology that will greatly enhance wireless data transfer speeds.

Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T), which controls Sprint, and other Sprint shareholders will own 40 to 50 percent of the combined company, while T-Mobile majority owner Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) and the rest of T-Mobile shareholders will own the majority, the sources said.

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son met with Trump late last year and said in February that the Japanese firm should benefit from Trump’s promised deregulation.

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