Sprint and C Spire Wireless can pursue part of their antitrust lawsuit against AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, a judge ruled. AT&T and T-Mobile had sought to dismiss the lawsuit, but US District Judge Ellen Huvelle agreed to allow the competitors to pursue their injury claims about the effect the deal would have on the market for mobile devices, Reuters reports. AT&T and T-Mobile USA will now have to simultaneously fight the government's attempt to block the deal and argue against claims by the two competitors. The judge also agreed to allow C Spire, previously known as Cellular South, to pursue injury claims about the effect the deal would have on roaming services. She did agree to dismiss the remaining claims alleged, including that Sprint would be hurt in the market for spectrum. Sprint had also argued that the combination of AT&T and T-Mobile would hurt the market for backhaul services, but Huvelle said that Sprint's theory was not sufficiently supported. Wayne Watts, AT&T Senior Executive VP and General Counsel, said the ruling dismissed "the vast majority of the claims" from the rivals. "We believe the limited, minor claims they have left are entirely without merit," he said in a statement.
