dslreports logo
 story category
Masayoshi Son Still Pushing For T-Mobile, Sprint Merger

Sprint Chairman and SoftBank boss Masayoshi Son doesn't seem prepared to take no for an answer. The Japanese cellular titan insists he'd still like to see Sprint buy T-Mobile, even if every indication coming from regulators so far suggests that a deal wouldn't be approved. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Son confirms that details of a deal still haven't been hashed out, but reports had previously suggested that Sprint has already hashed out financing details.

Son continues to argue a combined T-Mobile and Sprint would make a stronger competitor for AT&T and Verizon, insisting to Charlie Rose that the combined company could launch a "massive price war" against the two larger carriers.

Historically consolidation doesn't always work that way. Eliminate a competitor and you've simply got less competition. With less competition, it's very likely a combined T-Mobile and Sprint would start acting more like AT&T and Verizon, not less. Sprint already had a tendency to follow AT&T and Verizon's lead on pricing and consumer friendly (or unfriendly) policies in recent years.

Regardless, most T-Mobile users -- justly eyeing Sprint's recent habit of under-performing on price, network performance and consumer policies -- currently seem anything but ok with the idea of T-Mobile being acquired by Sprint.

Most recommended from 38 comments



PhoneBoy
Google "No Agenda"
join:2002-01-02
Gig Harbor, WA

2 recommendations

PhoneBoy

Member

If Mr. Son wants to start a price war, he should just start it.

He doesn't need T-Mobile to do it.