T - Mobileはスプリントを買収するためのDoJの承認を取得

その承認を得るにはディッシュネットワークへのかなりの売却が必要でしたが、この取引は依然として多くの州からの検事総長による訴訟に直面しています。T-Mobile US finally garnered its hard-fought approval from the Department of Justice to acquire smaller rival Sprint. However, it had to give up quite a bit to get that government nod. In a decision that at times looked like it could have gone either way, the DoJ said it and the attorneys general for five states reached a settlement with the two operators over the deal that was originally announced more than a year ago. That settlement requires the combined entity to meet 5G deployment plans and to divest assets that will allow satellite television provider Dish Network to become a viable fourth nationwide operator of 5G services. Despite the DoJ approval, the deal must gain the go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), though FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has already hinted that the agency will approve the deal. There is also the issue of a pending lawsuit by the attorneys general from other states that are still looking to block the deal on the grounds it will remove competition from the wireless space. If it can work around those hurdles, T-Mobile US will acquire control of Sprint for around $26 billion. However, it will get some of that back as part of a $5 billion deal to divest assets to Dish Network. Management for both T-Mobile US and Sprint have touted their combined abilities to provide a more robust nationwide 5G network that would be superior to that being offered by larger rivals Verizon and AT&T. That faith is based on the depth of spectrum that Sprint controls in the 2.5 GHz band and T-Mobile US’ breadth of holdings in the 600 MHz band. “The T-Mobile and Sprint merger we announced last April will create a bigger and bolder competitor than ever before – one that will deliver the most transformative 5G network in the country, lower prices, better quality, unmatched value, and thousands of jobs, while unlocking an unprecedented $43 billion net present value in synergy,” T-Mobile US CEO John Legere noted in a statement. “We are pleased that our previously announced target synergies, profitability and long-term cash generation have not changed.” Legere is also expected to remain CEO of the new combined entity, at least through its formation. It should be noted that both T-Mobile US and Sprint have already begun to roll out 5G services. T-Mobile US has been relatively quiet on its initial 5G launch in a handful of markets last month, though it’s one of the few operators to actually show a coverage map. Sprint initially launched 5G services in late May, and earlier this month expanded that coverage to its fifth market. It had also stated that it would expand that network to four more markets in the “coming weeks.” The settlement agreement does set the table for Dish Network to become a viable 5G operator. In the short-term Dish Network will acquire Sprint’s prepaid business, which includes its Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Sprint-branded prepaid customers. That will include around 9.3 million total customers providing Dish Network with a source of income. Dish Network is also acquiring Sprint’s 800 MHz spectrum holdings that it can use to bolster its 5G coverage plans. There is not a lot of spectrum depth in that deal – just 14 megahertz – but the propagation characteristics of that spectrum lend themselves to broad coverage. More importantly, Dish Network will have access to the newly enhanced T-Mobile US network for seven years, including its 5G network. This will allow Dish Network to begin offering 5G services to the market. Dish Network has also committed to begin using some of its spectrum to cover at least 20% of the U.S. population with a 5G network and to have deployed its own core network by mid-2022. It will then expand that coverage to at least 70% of the U.S. population using its deployed core network by mid-2023, and to 75% of the U.S. population in each FCC-designed Partial Economic Area by mid-2025. The company has also committed to negotiate spectrum leasing deals that would allow T-Mobile US access to Dish Network’s 600 MHz spectrum licenses.