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States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

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Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#42
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If we did that 30 years ago, we’d have really affordable GPRS systems. We can’t even upgrade bridges and dams.

do...do we want GPRS?

That's the parent's point. If the government owned the wireless infrastructure, that infrastructure would be in the same state as our dams and bridges (i.e. not good).

Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#44
post #36

While I'm usually wary of giant corporate mergers like this, the fact that they are 3rd and 4th leads me to believe it would actually position them to better compete against Verizon and AT&T in a way that would be good for consumers.

Let them invest to compete, instead of merging. Merging will only make things worse.

Compete how? Competition with the market leader will improve if this merger results in a more formidable opponent.

Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#45

While I'm usually wary of giant corporate mergers like this, the fact that they are 3rd and 4th leads me to believe it would actually position them to better compete against Verizon and AT&T in a way that would be good for consumers.

I strongly disagree. These are the lower priced, more scrappy competitors. I think they'll reduce competition, especially toward lower priced customers.

Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#46
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

do...do we want GPRS?

That's the parent's point. If the government owned the wireless infrastructure, that infrastructure would be in the same state as our dams and bridges (i.e. not good).

Obviously your government has to not be a disaster before this will work.

Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#47

While I'm usually wary of giant corporate mergers like this, the fact that they are 3rd and 4th leads me to believe it would actually position them to better compete against Verizon and AT&T in a way that would be good for consumers.

I strongly disagree. These are the lower priced, more scrappy competitors. I think they'll reduce competition, especially toward lower priced customers.

No, they'll just have poor service from not enough towers and spectrum.

Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what people said when AT&T tried to buy T-Mobile.

Cingular buying ATT Wireless? Sure no problem.

Both were still somewhat regional, and that acquisition made a national carrier out of it.

Edit: found a spectrum map reportedly from the acquisition

https://www.howardforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=888...

Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#49
The real answer to this is to break up AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast while blocking the T-Mobile/Sprint merger.

This will probably help net neutrality slightly since T-Mobile and Sprint gotta duke it out offering more network throughout to customers while AT&T and VZW compete over speed... the four sort of forcing each other to sort of almost make something which appears neutral (it’s not).

Unless there are no gigantic telecoms or there’s way more government intervention in these markets (common carrier status anyone?) there will be no point in things like this against the bottom tier national providers.

Re: States are looking to jam T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed $26.5B merger

#50
post #36

While I'm usually wary of giant corporate mergers like this, the fact that they are 3rd and 4th leads me to believe it would actually position them to better compete against Verizon and AT&T in a way that would be good for consumers.

Let them invest to compete, instead of merging. Merging will only make things worse.

How are they going to invest? They make barely any money and are saddled with massive amounts of debt and no way to raise
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