Consumers win as Sprint, T-Mobile call off merger
SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK Sprint Corp and T-Mobile US Inc said they have called off merger talks to create a stronger US wireless company, leaving No. 4 provider Sprint to engineer a turnaround on its own.
The announcement marks the latest failed attempt to combine the third- and fourth-largest US wireless carriers, as Sprint parent SoftBank Group Corp and T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom AG, show reluctance to part with too much of their US telecom assets.
A combined company would have had more than 130 million US subscribers, behind Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc.
The failed merger could also help keep wireless prices low as all four providers have been heavily discounting their mobile phone plans in a battle for consumers.
"Consumers are better off without the merger because Sprint and T-Mobile will continue to compete fiercely for budget-conscious customers," said Mr Erik Gordon, a Ross School of Business professor at the University of Michigan.
The companies' unusual step of making a joint announcement on the cancelled negotiations could indicate they still recognise the merits of a merger, keeping the door open for potential future talks. - REUTERS
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