The Justice Department does not think the concessions presented by Sprint and T-Mobile US go far enough for regulatory approval, Bloomberg reported, citing a source familiar with the review. The companies agreed a list of concessions with the FCC, and chairman Ajit Pai said these were enough to bring the merger to fruition.
At the DoJ, antitrust chief Makan Delrahim will make the final decision. The department believes the deal could hurt competition and raise prices for consumers. Pai said the deal is important because it will advance US leadership in 5G and support the expansion of broadband services in rural areas.
Incompas, a group representing alternative operators including Sprint and T-Mobile US, praised Pai for ensuring a strong commitment to 5G but said the concessions still don’t guarantee a strong and robust commitment to wholesale. Without this, “there will be no guarantees for a competitive 5G future in our country,” the group said.
“We strongly encourage the FCC and the Department of Justice to ensure strong wholesale conditions from T-Mobile-Sprint or reject the deal out right,” it concluded.
