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Dish in Talks to Acquire T-Mobile

Dish Networks is in early talks to acquire T-Mobile, according to the Wall Street Journal. According to the report the talks are in the "formative stage," and the two sides have yet to hammer out financial terms. While the report claims the deal could still ultimately be scrapped, both sides agree that the end company would retain Charlie Ergen as chairman and Lohn Legere in his role as brash and sassy CEO.

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T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom has repeatedly stated it wants out of the U.S. market, but sales to companies like AT&T and Sprint have been blocked by regulators for competitive reasons.

That's despite the fact that T-Mobile has seen great success in the last few quarters, leap-frogging Sprint into the number three spot in total subscribers, and adding more new subscribers per quarter than any of the other big four carriers.

Dish meanwhile has been on a spectrum-buying spree for some time, and has repeatedly signaled its intent to get into the wireless business -- either alone or with a partner. As such, a deal between the two companies has been speculated as a possibility for most of the last few years and largely makes sense; Dish's added spectrum and the money needed to expand T-Mobile's network could make the "uncarrier" a far more formidable foe for AT&T and Verizon.
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alexintexas
join:2003-01-11
San Antonio, TX

alexintexas

Member

Loud mouth CEO for dish

Would be interesting?

so it would be T-Mo Dish Vs. Direct TT

RandomName69
@charter.com

RandomName69

Anon

Re: Loud mouth CEO for dish

I assume that eventually DirecTv would be brought under the U-Verse brand. It wouldn't surprise me if down the road at&t gave up TV over U-verse wired and used that strictly for internet and used satellite dish for TV. With the exception being things like apartments or places where you couldn't get satellite reception
alexintexas
join:2003-01-11
San Antonio, TX

alexintexas

Member

Re: Loud mouth CEO for dish

funny, ATT claims it needs Directv to further "expand" U-Verse. lol right...

Hmm
@rr.com

Hmm

Anon

Re: Loud mouth CEO for dish

It would to increase speeds of U-Verse and channels. Those channels take up a LOT of space and bandwidth on the U-Verse network. They're plans would be to offload TV to DTV and U-verse for phone and HSI. They've already made those comments. And it does make sense.
etaadmin
join:2002-01-17
united state

etaadmin

Member

Re: Loud mouth CEO for dish

The way I read it is that at&t FAILED to to identify or just plain ignored the problems of sending TV and internet signals using century old telephone wires.
etaadmin

etaadmin to alexintexas

Member

to alexintexas
said by alexintexas:

funny, ATT claims it needs Directv to further "expand" U-Verse. lol right...

It depends of what they mean, if expanding means increasing internet speeds by unloading the bandwidth hungry TV streams then it should be rephrased as replacing uverse TV with DirecTV not expanding it.

Either way uverse is a failure of design or knowingly ignoring consumer future needs. From the beginning uverse (the VDSL flavor) was already obsolete only offering 1.5, 3 and 6 Mbps when cable (mainly comcast) was already offering 20 Mbps... that was in 2006.

If ay&t buys DTV I predict an internet only VDSL2 profile with DirecTV on the side, this way they can use the whole VDSL2 spectrum for internet and squeeze a few more bits per second out of their century centuries old phone lines.
iwinrar
join:2010-03-18

iwinrar

Member

Re: Loud mouth CEO for dish

Well the fact the highest speed package I can get from at&t uverse is 1.5mbit vs 60mbit from charter and last I checked this was 2015.
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz to alexintexas

Member

to alexintexas
"Loud mouth CEO"

Both seem to have massive egos, will they be able to work together?

Will DT still have a % stake or completely getting out?

TMO needs a parent with stronger financial situation like Sprint has with Softbank. Will be curious to see how Sprint/Softbank and TMO/Dish are positioned 10 years from now - perhaps all 4 together depending on Fed mood at some point between now and then?
alexintexas
join:2003-01-11
San Antonio, TX
Netgear CM500
TP-Link Archer C7
Obihai OBi200

alexintexas

Member

Re: Loud mouth CEO for dish

said by existenz:

"Loud mouth CEO"

Both seem to have massive egos, will they be able to work together?

could not agree more, Dish has been wanting in the cell market for some time, imo Legere is a better fit to run the new Dish/TMobile as it will go threw a massive transformation. satellite side is already established...

Will DT still have a % stake or completely getting out?

Highly doubt this as DT has been for some time looking to completely exit the US

TMO needs a parent with stronger financial situation like Sprint has with Softbank. Will be curious to see how Sprint/Softbank and TMO/Dish are positioned 10 years from now - perhaps all 4 together depending on Fed mood at some point between now and then?

Yes and no, Sprint imo if not for foreign $$$/Softbank, would of been long gone. If you ask me Dish buying Tmo is not a good fit, only thing that is is the huge amount of spectrum they sit on. now the new formed dish/Tmo and new formed ATT/Direct, Dish/Tmo should be able to win this hands down As ATT turns everything it touches to SH@T!!!!!

id also say that if both these mergers happen rates on every service both companies offers rates are going to increase, this will be a sad day for all!

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

There Go The Rates...

I was expecting to switch my employer paid line to T-Mobile later this year. I guess they are going to have to be less brash and more expensive to pay for all this. I really do not want to stay with Sprint. I hate AT&T and Verizon.

carpetshark3
Premium Member
join:2004-02-12
Idledale, CO

carpetshark3

Premium Member

Dish/T-Mobile

I can understand spectrum. TMO could use it.

Just don't bundle anything.
I'm OTA now, and like it that way.

Pricewise, TMO cell service is good. If stuff gets bundled, you wind up paying more for stuff you don't want plus get pestered by the ISP for more updates and upgrades.

I have a internet service I like and a Roku. I don't want bundled shows.

jgkolt
Premium Member
join:2004-02-21
Avon, OH

jgkolt

Premium Member

like att

so att and direct tv, tmobile and dish. All i really want to see is them get low band spectrum, so this better not wipe out their cash on either side however it is structured.

RandomName69
@charter.com

RandomName69

Anon

Re: like att

said by jgkolt:

so att and direct tv, tmobile and dish. All i really want to see is them get low band spectrum, so this better not wipe out their cash on either side however it is structured.

Dish already has 6 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum. I'm pretty sure that's close to nationwide coverage. Merging with Dish takes away a potential competitor for the 30 MHz set aside that Verizon and at&t can't bid on in the incentive auctions. If Sprint bows out then basically T-Mobile can get all 30 MHz at a bargain basement price. Tax payers lose out but as long as a billion dollar company gets a bargain I guess people are ok with that.

jgkolt
Premium Member
join:2004-02-21
Avon, OH

jgkolt

Premium Member

Re: like att

sold me on it. or reduce the size of the pot verizon and att are bidding on so that portion where most of the money is anyways gets more bidding.move that portion to the smaller guys then sprint and tmobile can both get spectrum and the government gets more money from verizon and tmobile bidding up spectrum.

RandomName69
@charter.com

RandomName69

Anon

Re: like att

As I said 30 MHz is already reserved. You seem to forget this auction requires the participation of broadcasters. The more that participate the more spectrum than can be auctioned off. If you start limiting even more spectrum from Verizon and at&t then broadcasters will think they are going to get shortchanged and refuse to participate thus DECREASING the amount of spectrum that can be sold and that huts EVERYONE including T-Mobile. If 100 MHz can be sold T-Mobile and Sprint will get their 20 MHZ each.
smk11
join:2014-11-12

smk11

Member

Re: like att

said by RandomName69 :

As I said 30 MHz is already reserved. You seem to forget this auction requires the participation of broadcasters. The more that participate the more spectrum than can be auctioned off. If you start limiting even more spectrum from Verizon and at&t then broadcasters will think they are going to get shortchanged and refuse to participate thus DECREASING the amount of spectrum that can be sold and that huts EVERYONE including T-Mobile. If 100 MHz can be sold T-Mobile and Sprint will get their 20 MHZ each.

So Tmobile and Sprint get 15Mhz each. How can they compete against Verizon or ATT that holds both cellular blocks (50Mhz) + 700Mhz in certain areas?

"A single license for the A block and the B block were made available in each market. The B block of spectrum was awarded to a local wireline carrier that provided landline telephone service in the CMA. The A block was awarded to non-wireline carriers. The wireline/non-wireline distinction for cellular licenses no longer exists."

Billions in taxpayer money from this socialist handout to Verizon and ATT.
smk11

smk11 to RandomName69

Member

to RandomName69
said by RandomName69 :

...
Dish already has 6 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum. I'm pretty sure that's close to nationwide coverage. Merging with Dish takes away a potential competitor for the 30 MHz set aside that Verizon and at&t can't bid on in the incentive auctions. If Sprint bows out then basically T-Mobile can get all 30 MHz at a bargain basement price. Tax payers lose out but as long as a billion dollar company gets a bargain I guess people are ok with that.

ATT and Verizon got both cellular blocks at bargain basement prices. Taxpayers lost out on billions upon billions. Let's re-auction them to to get that spectrum back to fair market value. What's that? Your narrative falls apart when logic is used. What a surprise.

Gilitar
join:2012-02-01
Mobile, AL

Gilitar to RandomName69

Member

to RandomName69
said by RandomName69 :

said by jgkolt:

so att and direct tv, tmobile and dish. All i really want to see is them get low band spectrum, so this better not wipe out their cash on either side however it is structured.

Dish already has 6 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum. I'm pretty sure that's close to nationwide coverage. Merging with Dish takes away a potential competitor for the 30 MHz set aside that Verizon and at&t can't bid on in the incentive auctions. If Sprint bows out then basically T-Mobile can get all 30 MHz at a bargain basement price. Tax payers lose out but as long as a billion dollar company gets a bargain I guess people are ok with that.

That 6 MHz would provide a VERY lousy experience. More than a few users at a time would completely bog down the system.
crooked
join:2000-07-29
Durham, NC

crooked

Member

Re: like att

Especially since it's unpaired and only really suitable for carrier aggregation with other paired spectrum

RandomName69
@charter.com

RandomName69

Anon

They can stop whining now

about lack of spectrum and auction rules.
tpkatl
join:2009-11-16
Dacula, GA

tpkatl

Member

This is the least bad outcome

Look, T-Mobile was going to get merged or bought eventually - I think we all knew that. The other cell companies were never going to get approval.

So who was left?

Comcast might have wanted to buy T-Mobile, but they just flamed out on the TWC idiocy.

The foreigners (Altice) don't have the dollars or the expertise.

So who is left? Google and Dish. Dish got there first.

sraz
join:2013-10-28
Tucson, AZ

sraz

Member

Re: This is the least bad outcome

I think this is a great outcome, as Dish has the spectrum and capital. I saw this coming when the FCC said they weren't going to have anymore reserve spectrum in the upcoming 600mhz auction. Now the combined company should have the financing power to ensure they walk away with at LEAST 10mhz of nationwide spectrum. This is a great win as I see it and I really hope they move quickly on this deal.

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

Re: This is the least bad outcome

I agree I think this is the best outcome, T-mobile needs a parent company that is interested in helping it succeed, not one that wants out of the market.
Dish with all the spectrum it's squatting on is a great partner and they don't reduce competition in any sector so it should be approved.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72 to sraz

Member

to sraz
Not to mention that Dish doens't have the experience to deploy a net new cellular infrastructure. I think they are complimentary because they can still utilize the sat and have rural wireless cantenna for HSI, stream live sports ($$$) and have local availability.

There will be no sat company surviving in 5 years, so merge...

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: This is the least bad outcome

I agree this is actually a complimentary merger. Both have expertise in spectrum, just two different types of operation. On the Wireless side, T-mo gets more bandwidth. On the DISH side, they finally get that "+Internet" they need to compete with Telco and Cable offerings. (DISH TV + Wireless LTE internet)

Hmmm. Interesting. Plus it does NOT reduce competition, so less likely to be blocked.

RandomName69
@charter.com

RandomName69 to sraz

Anon

to sraz
said by sraz:

I think this is a great outcome, as Dish has the spectrum and capital. I saw this coming when the FCC said they weren't going to have anymore reserve spectrum in the upcoming 600mhz auction. Now the combined company should have the financing power to ensure they walk away with at LEAST 10mhz of nationwide spectrum. This is a great win as I see it and I really hope they move quickly on this deal.

Considering that 30 MHz is already reserved why would they get 10 MHz anyway? Who is "too poor" to compete with Verizon and at&t and yet somehow rich enough to buy 30 MHz? Sprint? HAHAHAHA!
smk11
join:2014-11-12

1 recommendation

smk11

Member

Re: This is the least bad outcome

said by RandomName69 :

...
Considering that 30 MHz is already reserved why would they get 10 MHz anyway? Who is "too poor" to compete with Verizon and at&t and yet somehow rich enough to buy 30 MHz? Sprint? HAHAHAHA!

"A single license for the A block and the B block were made available in each market. The B block of spectrum was awarded to a local wireline carrier that provided landline telephone service in the CMA. The A block was awarded to non-wireline carriers. The wireline/non-wireline distinction for cellular licenses no longer exists."

What an absolute sweetheart deal ATT and Verizon got. I wonder how many billions in taxpayer money was lost...
tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL

tkdslr to sraz

Member

to sraz
Dish's capital came at the expense of it's subscribers, with back to back rate programming increases way above the inflation rate.

I just cut off off a tiny bit of Charlies piggy bank and put my Dish account on "pause" for the next six months.

I'm experimenting "cutting the cord", and I'm starting to transfer my recordings to a non-encrypted format.
Hopefully the extra time I gain, (by not watching Dish programming), will be used for productive uses.

Yes, T-mobile can use the extra bandwidth and it can also quickly integrate that extra spectrum into to it's network.

Mike
Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA

Mike

Mod

Finishing his job

John Legere's job is to sell T-Mobile.

That is the only reason he is there.
silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Re: Finishing his job

Well he certainly improved the value of T-Mobile since his arrival. I'm sure he will be willing to stay for the right price.
alexintexas
join:2003-01-11
San Antonio, TX

1 recommendation

alexintexas to Mike

Member

to Mike
It says Legere would stay as the CEO of the new formed company with Ergen taking a backseat

Titus
Mr Gradenko
join:2004-06-26

Titus

Member

And while everyone talks about this

the FCC does gives Comcast a Reach-around

»www.nationaljournal.com/ ··· 20150603
Quattrohead
Premium Member
join:2005-02-09

Quattrohead

Premium Member

Did not see this coming


I actually think this may work well for everyone for a change.
I happen to use both companies services and have no objection to this merger/buyout/takeover.

Zenit_IIfx
The system is the solution
Premium Member
join:2012-05-07
Purcellville, VA
·Comcast XFINITY

Zenit_IIfx

Premium Member

This merger makes sense.

Dish needs a low latency data product. T-Mobile needs a nationwide block of lowband and cash.

This merger actually combines real strengths.

Ergen is not a fool. He built Dish from literally a nothing backyard operation to a billion dollar operation. He chose to keep Legere on as CEO as Legere has proven that he is a capable leader by turning around TMUS in 4 years.

Dish has had a vision of lte hone broadband in rural areas without data caps. Instead they sell it like wireline - by provisioning of speed.

Looks like TMUS will finally get a bigger network.

•••••••
aguen
Premium Member
join:2003-07-16
Grants Pass, OR

aguen

Premium Member

Possible sale of t-mo

Not really sure what I think of this possibility. I just signed up with t-mo and a new Nexus because of their pricing,etc. BUT I'm not a fan of Mr. Ergen and the way he treats his employees'.
shmerl
join:2013-10-21

shmerl

Member

Would it be good or not?

Will it broaden T-Mobile's potential (more spectrum and such), or it might bring some bad management that could ruin T-Mobile's positive aspects like unlimited plans and such?

batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ

batterup

Premium Member

The smart money approves.

Verizon stock is down 2% wile T-Mobil and Dish are up 3% and 4% respectively.

atuarre
Here come the drums
Premium Member
join:2004-02-14
EC/SETX SWLA

atuarre

Premium Member

NO

You don't want Charlie Ergen pulling strings @ T-Mobile, just like you don't want Randall Stephenson pulling strings @ DirecTV
Bob61571
join:2008-08-08
Washington, IL

Bob61571

Member

Charlie Ergen & John Legere,

the new Odd Couple of American business, if they actually comanage the new Dish Network/T-Mobile combo.
floydb1982
join:2004-08-25
Kent, WA

floydb1982

Member

Here we go again

3rd times the charm. We all know what's going to happen with this. In the end the outcome will be that the government will just flat out say no just like they did with Sprint and AT&T.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Here we go again

I disagree. This doesn't eliminate a competitor, it's hard to justify blocking it.
etaadmin
join:2002-01-17
united state

etaadmin

Member

There is one part missing...

wired internet access TWC would have been the perfect addition. Dish, T-Mobile and a new better managed TWC... a killer bad ass company with great growing potential.

tmh
@comcastbusiness.net

tmh

Anon

Another acquisition deal?

This is starting to play like Groundhog Day.

Gilitar
join:2012-02-01
Mobile, AL

Gilitar

Member

Dish needs to use the spectrum

T-Mobile needs to get away from DT. At this point this may be the best option.

cb14
join:2013-02-04
Miami Beach, FL

cb14

Member

And what would be the name?

T-Mobile and it's logo have an enormous recognition potential and largely positive association.
Unlike with the SBC/Cingular take over of ATT, there is no way Deutsche Telekom would allow them to use their brand name. Change of name may be challenging. Mobile Dish?
With a magenta flying saucer. That will indirectly or directly cost tons of (potential) customers.
The companies are too different in many ways. Like somebody already suggested here, putting their spectrum in one holding and running the two companies as a separate entity would be IMO the best solution.
But if they agree on terms, approval of this merger is pretty much a done deal.
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