US: Sprint and T-Mobile again exploring merger

Wireless carriers Sprint and T-Mobile are reportedly talking again about a merger that would, if completed, vault the resulting company into the No. 2 spot in the highly competitive industry, behind AT&T.

The No. 3 and No. 4 wireless providers — T-Mobile has 69.6 million subscribers, Sprint, 53.7 million — attempted a merger three years ago. But concerns that regulators would not approve the deal led to an unraveling.

Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of Tokyo-based telecom and Internet company Softbank, which is the primary shareholder of Sprint, has been seeking a deal to improve Sprint’s position. Last week, Charter Communications declined an offer to merge with Sprint, to complete a pay-TV/wireless/broadband powerhouse.

The two carriers restarted discussions recently, according to Bloomberg, which cited persons familiar with the situation. Last week, Sprint’s CEO and President Marcelo Claure said the company would have an announcement “in the near future” about merger discussions.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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