Executives at Sprint and T-Mobile argue that the companies need to merge to compete with their bigger rivals, and to afford investments in the next generation of wireless technology, known as 5G. T-Mobile, in particular, has pushed the entire industry to offer lower prices, shorter contracts terms and fewer restrictions. He said the support was based on the companies’ commitment to invest in rural broadband service and 5G technology. The states, which argued in their complaint that the merger would cost Sprint and T-Mobile subscribers at least $4.5 billion a year, intend to seek a preliminary injunction, said Xavier Becerra, the attorney general of California. If that happened, Sprint and T-Mobile would first have to resolve the lawsuit from the states, even if the Justice Department approved the deal.

Source: New York Times June 14, 2019 19:07 UTC