AT&T and Deutsche Telekom announced early in 2011 an agreement to transfer ownership of T-Mobile USA in a $39 bilion deal. This proposed merger of two of the biggest US carriers would have created a de facto GSM monopoly for AT&T, which is why it was subjected to intense scrutiny from the likes of the FCC and Department of Justice.After much wrangling with the regulators, AT&T finally relented in December 2011, putting an end to a saga of sometimes comical, oftentimes absurd arguments by paying Deutsche Telekom a $4b settlement fee due to the non-completion of the merger. That amount includes $3 billion in cold hard cash and $1b in spectrum allocation.
Apr 25, 2012, 4:24 PM UTCDante D'Orazio
FCC approves T-Mobile and AT&T spectrum transfer
The FCC has finally approved the spectrum transfer that was part of a $4 billion breakup fee that AT&T promised to T-Mobile if the companies failed to merge.
Mar 30, 2012, 1:32 AM UTCDieter Bohn
T-Mobile reportedly pursuing tower sale for up to $3 billion
T-Mobile is apparently looking to do whatever it can in order to raise enough money to continue on as an independent entity. In addition to massive job cuts, Bloomberg reports that the company intends to sell a large number of cell towers, as many as $3 billion worth, as quickly as possible.
Mar 23, 2012, 5:32 PM UTCChris Ziegler
AT&T rubs salt in T-Mobile's wound after layoff announcement, slams FCC
AT&T has blasted the FCC today for failing to approve its acquisition of T-Mobile USA after T-Mobile's announcement of layoffs earlier in the week.
Feb 23, 2012, 1:33 PM UTCChris Ziegler
T-Mobile USA details LTE 'challenger strategy': $4b investment, but more spectrum still needed
Jan 26, 2012, 1:36 PM UTCNilay Patel
AT&T posts $6.7b loss despite record-setting smartphone sales in Q4 2011: 7.6m iPhones sold, Android sales growing
AT&T just posted a $6.7b loss for Q4 2011, mostly due to the failed T-Mobile buyout — but smartphones sales set a record at 9.4m with 7.6m iPhones sold.
Jan 25, 2012, 4:03 AM UTCDieter Bohn
T-Mobile's new spectrum: a map of what AT&T is giving up
a map created by reader Andrew Shepherd of exactly where that spectrum will be. AT&T dropped large blocks in California, Arizona, and the Seattle are
Jan 23, 2012, 9:26 PM UTCDante D'Orazio
AT&T and T-Mobile apply to FCC for approval of $1 billion spectrum transfer
AT&T and T-Mobile have entered an application to the FCC to approve the transfer of $1 billion worth of AWS spectrum to the number-four US wireless carrier. The transfer should tie up the remaining loose ends following AT&T's bid to purchase T-Mobile, which was called off in mid-December.
Dec 21, 2011, 12:28 AM UTCChris Ziegler
Deutsche Telekom on failure of AT&T / T-Mobile deal: 'There's no Plan B'
Deutsche Telekom says there's "no Plan B" regarding its intentions for T-Mobile USA in the wake of AT&T's failed takeover bid.
Dec 20, 2011, 3:04 PM UTCChris Ziegler
T-Mobile to get seven-year 3G roaming deal, 128 markets of AWS spectrum from AT&T
Deutsche Telekom now is detailing the consolation prize it's getting from AT&T in the aftermath of its failed acquisition of T-Mobile.
Dec 19, 2011, 9:39 PM UTCJoshua Topolsky
AT&T kills T-Mobile merger plans, will pay Deutsche Telekom $4b breakup fee
AT&T has pulled out of its $39 billion bid to take over T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom.
Dec 19, 2011, 11:20 AM UTCVlad Savov
AT&T struggling to divest itself of enough assets to take over T-Mobile, reports the WSJ
AT&T's negotiations for selling off assets in aid of its proposed T-Mobile takeover have cooled off, reports the WSJ.
Dec 12, 2011, 6:50 PM UTCChris Ziegler
AT&T asks for stay in T-Mobile court proceedings until January 18th to 'evaluate all options'
AT&T and Deutsche Telekom have formally requested a stay in its court hearings with the Department of Justice over their proposed T-Mobile deal until January 18th of next year.
Dec 9, 2011, 5:01 PM UTCChris Ziegler
DOJ seeking postponement in AT&T / T-Mobile acquisition case
The Department of Justice has told a federal judge today that it would like court proceedings in its bid to stop an AT&T / T-Mobile merger to be delayed.
Dec 7, 2011, 8:31 PM UTCChris Ziegler
AT&T on T-Mobile purchase: 'we will continue to pursue the sale'
Speaking at a UBS conference today, AT&T sounds as intent as ever to get its acquisition of T-Mobile USA approved.
Dec 1, 2011, 8:45 PM UTCChris Ziegler
FCC consumer affairs chief 'deeply concerned' by AT&T's report comments
The FCC has taken to Twitter today to express concern with AT&T's rebuttal to its staff report regarding the proposed merger with T-Mobile USA.
Dec 1, 2011, 4:36 PM UTCChris Ziegler
AT&T issues fierce rebuttal to FCC's report on T-Mobile buy: 'the document lacks all credibility'
AT&T has blasted the FCC in a new statement rebutting the Commission's report on AT&T's proposed purchase of T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom.
Nov 30, 2011, 9:24 PM UTCChris Ziegler
WSJ: AT&T, T-Mobile mulling joint venture if acquisition bid fails
The Wall Street Journal is reporting this afternoon that AT&T is talking to T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom about a possible joint venture should its acquisition proposal ultimately fail.
Nov 30, 2011, 5:32 PM UTCChris Ziegler
AT&T responds to the FCC's negative report on the T-Mobile deal, questions why it was released
AT&T's Jim Cicconi has released a response to the FCC's findings on its proposal to take over T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom.
Nov 30, 2011, 1:10 PM UTCChris Ziegler
FCC report slams AT&T's proposal to buy T-Mobile: the highlights
We take a closer look at the FCC's response this week to AT&T's proposal to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom.
Nov 29, 2011, 8:48 PM UTCChris Ziegler
WSJ: FCC will approve AT&T's withdrawal of T-Mobile deal
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the FCC is prepared to allow AT&T to withdraw its proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA
Nov 29, 2011, 3:39 AM UTCNilay Patel
AT&T trying to save T-Mobile merger by selling customers and spectrum to Leap Wireless, says NYT
The New York Times says AT&T is considering selling a big chunk of customers and spectrum to Leap Wireless in order to get regulatory approval of its proposed merger with T-Mobile.
Nov 25, 2011, 9:48 PM UTCChris Ziegler
Bloomberg: AT&T to offer to sell 'as much as 40 percent' of T-Mobile to get merger approved
A Bloomberg report this afternoon claims that AT&T is preparing a new proposal for the FCC that would see it acquire T-Mobile with as much as 40 percent divestiture.
Nov 24, 2011, 8:59 AM UTCVlad Savov
AT&T pulls T-Mobile application from FCC, records provisional $4bn loss
AT&T and Deutsche Telekom have withdrawn their application for approval from the FCC after the regulatory agency decided that a formal administrative hearing was required to assess the public benefit of their proposed merger of US assets. The move has been described as an effort to open up and reassess all options, however AT&T is also choosing to take a $4 billion charge on its Q4 2011 accounts just in case the takeover doesn't go through.
Nov 22, 2011, 8:23 PM UTCNilay Patel
FCC says AT&T / T-Mobile merger not in the public interest, requests formal administrative hearing
The FCC will request a formal administrative hearing on the AT&T and T-Mobile merger after the DOJ's antitrust lawsuit is done.
Nov 9, 2011, 10:27 AM UTCVlad Savov
AT&T plans LTE-Advanced deployment in 2013, matching Sprint's roadmap
In spite of having only launched its LTE network a few weeks ago, AT&T is already looking forward to the deployment of even faster networking technology. AT&T Labs head Krish Prabhu has expressed his company's intention to deploy LTE-Advanced in 2013.