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T-Mobile is no longer touting 5G as the main argument for its merger with Sprint

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Nov 21, 2018, 8:42 AM

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T-Mobile is no longer touting the clear blue skies before a nationwide 5G rollout as the main argument for its merger with Sprint, according to Bloomberg's FCC sources. If you remember, that was the chief advantage put forward when the merger was co-announced by the T-Mobile and Sprint CEOs in the video you see above.

The Un-carrier knew that the 5G rollout is a priority for the administration, and decided to get on its good side, but the idea is no longer flying with the FCC, it seems. What T-Mobile did in its latest November filing, is arguing that the merger will put the resulting carrier on an equal footing with the Verizon and AT&T juggernauts, compared to fighting them now alone in the dark.

The reasoning might be the core competencies of the agencies who have the actual final say in the merger approval. While the FCC is looking for ways to enhance the public interest in any such deal, the Department of Justice needs to see that it will keep competition alive and healthy in the field.

Thus, while 5G may be a fine bait for the White House administration, proving that the merger will be net positive for consumers and will bring a more challenging competitor forward, is ultimately the more practical approach in the quest for the end approval. Such maneuvres have been steadily raising the probability of a merger from 50-60% to the current 90% in the opinions of major analysts, and we might see it come through as soon as next quarter, tip insiders.

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.