At this point, it would probably be safe to say that just about everyone opposes the AT&T/T-Mobile deal (besides, you know, AT&T and T-Mobile.) We’ve heard senators, CEOs, and FCC members openly object to AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA, and this time Leap Wireless (the parent company behind the 8th largest carrier in the US, Cricket) is jumping on the hater bandwagon.
“A competitive marketplace is critical to wireless innovation – and small and mid-sized carriers such as Cricket are driving that innovation,” said Doug Hutcheson, president and CEO at Leap and Cricket Wireless. “The proposed acquisition would eliminate T-Mobile as an important nationwide competitor in the industry. It also raises problems of spectrum concentration and impaired access to spectrum by competitive carriers; undercuts access to wholesale voice and data roaming services; and threatens to foster reduced device availability and reduced interoperability of wireless networks and devices, among many other issues.”
According to Hutcheson, results like that aren’t “in the public interest.” The FCC and DOJ are still conducting a thorough review of the deal, which is expected to close by the end of the year.
[via Phone Scoop]