Press Releases
07/26/2019
AG TONG: T-MOBILE/SPRINT MEGAMERGER REMAINS A BAD DEAL FOR CONSUMERS, INNOVATION, AND WORKERS
Proposed Deal with DISH is Based on Speculative Promises, Throwing Risk of Failure on Backs of Consumers
Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 13 additional attorneys general from across the nation today expressed concern about a newly announced deal — approved, in principle, by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) — supporting the proposed megamerger between telecommunications giants T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corporation."This DOJ deal is anti-consumer. DISH is simply not a viable or serious alternative for consumers, and this contrived agreement does nothing to ensure healthy competition in what will effectively be a three-player marketplace. Connecticut and our multistate partners will continue to oppose this megamerger in court," said Attorney General Tong.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra led the filing of the complaint blocking the merger on June 11 in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York — alleging that the merger of two of the four national mobile network operators would harm mobile subscribers nationwide by reducing access to affordable, reliable wireless service, and that it would hit lower-income and minority communities particularly hard. The coalition today reaffirmed its commitment to opposing this merger, which would reduce competition and increase prices for consumers.
T-Mobile currently has more than 79 million subscribers, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. Sprint Corp. currently has more than 54 million subscribers, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp.
The U.S. DOJ indicated earlier today it would approve the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint based on promises made by the two companies, including an agreement to divest Sprint’s prepaid subscription service and potentially a slice of its wireless spectrum to satellite TV operator DISH. Though DISH has never owned any kind of mobile wireless business and has no experience building or operating a nationwide mobile wireless network, both T-Mobile and Sprint claim that this deal will create a fourth national network operator that will preserve a competitive market for consumers.
The states continue to have serious concerns with the merger and whether the deal with DISH would meaningfully address the loss of competition otherwise caused by this mega merger. Among those concerns:
1) DISH has never shown any inclination or ability to build a nationwide mobile network on its own and has repeatedly broken assurances to the Federal Communications Commission about deployment of its spectrum;
2) DISH does not have the network to operate as an independent competitor, like Sprint does today, and will, instead, remain reliant on the T-Mobile network for the foreseeable future; and
3) T-Mobile and Sprint are asking Americans to trust that this new mega corporation will act directly against its own economic interests by helping transform DISH into an independent competitor that rivals this new company.
The states remain committed to protecting competition in the marketplace and lower prices for consumers.
In addition to Connecticut, the plaintiffs currently include New York, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- Twitter: @AGWilliamTong
- Facebook: CT Attorney General
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
860-808-5324 (office)
Consumer Inquiries:
860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov