The wireless community has been buzzing for years about a potential merger between Sprint and T-Mobile. Now, with a $26.5 billion merger officially proposed, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has
planned a hearing for June 27.
T-Mobile Chief Executive John Legere and Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure are expected to testify at the hearing.
“Few industries touch Americans’ daily lives as much as the wireless market,” Senator Mike Lee, a Republican who chairs the subcommittee, said in a statement. “I want to make sure that the proposed merger between T-Mobile and Sprint benefits consumers in a manner consistent with existing antitrust law.”
The two behemoths of the wireless industry have been in some form of talks for more than four years. Now that they are on the brink of a successful deal, antitrust issues are at the forefront of the conversation.
“Competition among the four largest cell phone carriers has led to lower prices, better service and more innovation. That’s why it’s critically important that we hold a hearing to ask serious questions about how this consolidation could affect American consumers,” Senator Amy Klobuchar said in a statement.
The combined company would have around 127 million customers and would be a formidable opponent to Verizon and AT&T. If you're a Sprint or T-Mobile customer wondering what the merger would mean for you,
head over to Forbes for insight.