The U.S. wireless industry is about to be dominated by three major players. But how did we go from the days of one giant landline monopoly to four competitive cell companies? Illustration: Shaumbe Wright/WSJWASHINGTON—The leaders of the country’s No. 4 largest cellphone carriers defended their planned merger against new attacks from labor groups and advocates for rural wireless customers who said the tie-up would hurt consumers. T-Mobile US Inc. Chief Executive John Legere and Sprint Corp. Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure told the U.S. House subcommittee on communications and technology that their planned merger was the only way to compete against larger rivals with more customers and resources.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 13, 2019 18:45 UTC