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FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

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Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#11

Post by rubyn00bie »

I really hope Starlink starts a boom in low orbit, low ping, internet providers... Because that's the only way we're going to see any competition emerge in wireless telecommunications. This merger is unlikely to do anyone good, IMHO, and is very likely going to make prices rise in a few years once the FTC isn't watching them. Look at the very expected level of bullshit AT&T has done with Dish Network's pricing...

If the government wanted competition they'd figure out a way to make starting a new wireless carrier cheap by providing network, power, and physical locations for startups. Reducing the barrier of entry enables more competition; consolidating spectrum into even fewer hands, more wealthy hands, does not.

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#12

Post by FullyFunctional »

freedomben wrote: post #9
spectramax wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s the infrastructure cost. I use Ting in the US which uses brokered network infrastructure similar to Google Fi.

I also use Ting! Never met another person that used it. Hands down the best service plan for people that don't use much data/text/minutes. I recently switched my wife to Mint Mobile because she uses a lot of data, and so far that has been a good experience.

Having been with all the usual providers I feel T-mobile sucks the least, but on a wim I got a Ting SIM card for a spare phone and I ended up using it a lot. I love the transparency and have no complaints so far.

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#13

Post by Aloha »

shmerl wrote: post #7
nradov wrote: post #4

I think this is generally a good thing for consumers. One strong company with a solid network can provide more effective competition against Verizon and AT&T than two weak companies with crappy networks can separately.

What stops those two from building up their networks? T-Mobile is profitable at least.

Revenue per subscriber, neither can get enough economy of scale alone to really expand to compete effectively with the other two.

The amount of spectrum that Tmo/Sprint will hold merged exceeds either Verizon or AT&T at last check.

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#14

Post by Aloha »

rubyn00bie wrote: post #11

I really hope Starlink starts a boom in low orbit, low ping, internet providers... Because that's the only way we're going to see any competition emerge in wireless telecommunications. This merger is unlikely to do anyone good, IMHO, and is very likely going to make prices rise in a few years once the FTC isn't watching them. Look at the very expected level of bullshit AT&T has done with Dish Network's pricing... If…

Its not hard to get any of those things - heck, for about 150k you can build a site greenfield with nothing there - but consider that Crown Castle, American Tower and a couple other much smaller ones, own 95% of tower sites out there - its not as if T-Mobile is renting from Verizon, most of the big carriers dont own their own sites anymore, and have not owned them for decades.

The real thing we're short of is spectrum, not cell sites. I'm skeptical that satellite will fix any of this, they have the same spectrum shortage issues too, with infrastructure that costs gobs more.

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#15

Post by Aloha »

spectramax wrote: post #8
elamje wrote: post #5

I would love to see a startup completely change the game in this space. Google is the most techy company that I’ve seen have an actual chance at carving away some customers from the big carriers with Fi. Of course, they are piggy backing on Sprint/T-Mobile infra, but they have a compelling pitch.

It’s the infrastructure cost. I use Ting in the US which uses brokered network infrastructure similar to Google Fi.

its on the order of 375m to build out a market with 500 cell sites, assuming you have no greenfield sites. Thats not a huge number, not for google.

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#16

Post by Aloha »

nradov wrote: post #4

I think this is generally a good thing for consumers. One strong company with a solid network can provide more effective competition against Verizon and AT&T than two weak companies with crappy networks can separately.

I'd broadly agree with you, they're for sure stronger together than apart

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#17

Post by aylmao »

shmerl wrote: post #7
nradov wrote: post #4

I think this is generally a good thing for consumers. One strong company with a solid network can provide more effective competition against Verizon and AT&T than two weak companies with crappy networks can separately.

What stops those two from building up their networks? T-Mobile is profitable at least.

Well, one thing is being profitable, and the other is how much money you can spend "right now". AT&T is posted Q3 revenues of 44.6 billion [1], and T-Mobile of 11.1 billion [2]; that's a significant margin. Building network infrastructure is not cheap and the move to 5G will be even more expensive, but users move to the network that is better for them _right now_.

[1]: https://investors.att.com/~/media/Files/A/ATT-IR/financial-r...

[2]: https://s22.q4cdn.com/194431217/files/doc_financials/2019/q3...

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#18

Post by takeda »

nradov wrote: post #4

I think this is generally a good thing for consumers. One strong company with a solid network can provide more effective competition against Verizon and AT&T than two weak companies with crappy networks can separately.

No it's not, now T-Mobile will have as much leverage as Verizon and AT&T and will become horrible like them. T-Mobile so far is nice here, but for example in Germany is one of the despised companies.

The companies don't need to merge to become better for customers. They could for example have agreements and share their towers to improve each other's coverage.

Re: FCC approves T-Mobile and Sprint merger

#20

Post by takeda »

protomyth wrote: post #10
bnjms wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know what you mean but I'm not certain Spring was viable long term against Verizon and Sprint. Hopefully this won't be the end of T-Mobile being somewhat more pro consumer.

I was told by a T-Mobile person that they are not closing the T-Mobile stores and the cuts will come from the Sprint side. Hoping that's true since Sprint is absolutely horrific.

It still was an alternative to these 3.
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