If AT&T deal fails, Dish Network wants to work with T-Mobile

12comments
If AT&T deal fails, Dish Network wants to work with T-Mobile
Dish Networks says that in caseAT&T's offer for T-Mobile fails, the satellite television provider wants to partner-up with the nation's fourth largest carrier. Dish CEO Joseph Clayton, who lords over the second largest satellite television company in the States, says that if the deal does go through and AT&T decides to divest assets, Dish Network will be there with its hands open to snatch up what it can. Dish has been opposed to the $39 billion AT&T offer to buy T-Mobile on the grounds that it will hurt competition.

You might ask why a company that offers satellite television would be interested in providing cellular service. Earlier this year, Dish Networks purchased wireless spectrum from bankrupt DBSD North America Inc. and TerrestarNetworks. Added to T-Mobile's pipeline, Clayton foresees a mobile operator that can compete with Verizon and AT&T. For T-Mobile, partnering with Dish Networks could help the carrier grab additional high-speed spectrum. CEO Clayton also pointed to Sprint as a possible partner for his company.

Clayton says that the spectrum it purchased from the two bankrupt carriers is not for sale. "We’re not interested in making money on selling ourspectrum. We want to use it tocreate a national wireless network, video, voice and data. We’vegot expertise in satellite-TV, and we will in satellitebroadband. The voice part, we’ll need some help with." And that is where T-Mobile or Sprint comes in.

source: Bloomberg via TmoNews

Recommended Stories

Loading Comments...
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless