The Verge - T-Mobile and Sprint: all the news about the mergerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52801/VER_Logomark_32x32..png2023-03-15T09:08:03-04:00http://www.theverge.com/rss/stream/170685152023-03-15T09:08:03-04:002023-03-15T09:08:03-04:00T-Mobile is buying Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile for up to $1.35 billion
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<p id="fmQqop">T-Mobile is buying Mint Mobile, the budget-friendly mobile carrier that’s partially <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2019/11/25/20982199/ryan-reynolds-mint-mnvo-t-mobile-ownership-deadpool-detective-pikachu">owned by Ryan Reynolds</a>. In <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1514734&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Ft-mobile-to-acquire-mint-and-ultra-mobile&referrer=theverge.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2023%2F3%2F15%2F23641178%2Ftmobile-mint-mobile-ryan-reynolds-wireless-acquisition" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">a post published on Wednesday</a>, T-Mobile announced that the deal’s valued at up to $1.35 billion and comes as T-Mobile looks to build out its prepaid phone offering.</p>
<p id="Me7vK0">The acquisition should close later this year and involves a 39 percent cash and 61 percent stock purchase of Mint’s parent company, Ka’ena Corporation. The price could change, however, as it depends on Mint’s performance. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I never dreamt I’d own a wireless company and I certainly never dreamt I’d sell it to T-Mobile. Life is strange and I’m incredibly proud and grateful. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MintMobile?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MintMobile</a></p>— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) <a href="https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/1635989069070061577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a>
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<p id="4nwxwQ">Once the deal closes, Mint...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/15/23641178/tmobile-mint-mobile-ryan-reynolds-wireless-acquisition">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/15/23641178/tmobile-mint-mobile-ryan-reynolds-wireless-acquisitionEmma Roth2020-03-11T13:28:30-04:002020-03-11T13:28:30-04:00California won’t appeal T-Mobile-Sprint case, allowing merger to proceed
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<figcaption>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="neWZH5">The California attorney general’s office announced Wednesday that it would not appeal a federal court decision approving the $26 billion T-Mobile and Sprint merger. In a settlement with California, the companies made a handful of promises like creating new low-cost mobile plans and jobs in the state. </p>
<p id="MfuIPa">According to the terms of the settlement, the New T-Mobile, as the combined company is called, is now required to make low-cost mobile plans available in California for the next five years, including a $15-per-month 2GB plan and a $25-per-month 5GB plan. It must offer 100GB of no-cost high-speed internet service and a free mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device to 10 million low-income households that are currently going without access for five years....</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/11/21174963/california-tmobile-sprint-merger-appeal-settlement-broadband-rural">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/11/21174963/california-tmobile-sprint-merger-appeal-settlement-broadband-ruralMakena Kelly2020-02-10T20:35:59-05:002020-02-10T20:35:59-05:00T-Mobile and Sprint’s industry-changing merger will reportedly clear its final hurdle tomorrow
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<figcaption>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="rllQ1t">Tomorrow is a day the wireless industry has long been waiting for, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/business/media/sprint-tmobile-merger.html"><em>The New York Times</em></a> and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-district-judge-expected-to-rule-in-favor-of-sprint-t-mobile-merger-11581376688?mod=e2tw"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em>’s</a> well-guarded sources — a judge is expected to rule in favor of T-Mobile and Sprint in the lawsuit that attempted to stop their industry-changing merger. That should finally allow T-Mobile and Sprint to combine to take on AT&T and Verizon, as the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/16/20917162/fcc-tmobile-sprint-merger-justice-department-ajit-pai-geoffrey-starks-jessica-rosenworel">Federal Communications Commission</a> and the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/26/6646158/t-mobile-sprint-merger-justice-department-approves-26-billion-fcc">Department of Justice</a> have already approved the $26.5 billion deal. </p>
<p id="8174E2">That means we may finally see if the combined company will be as good as T-Mobile and Sprint have promised — or if there’ll be less competition than ever.</p>
<p id="q3KhB7">T-Mobile and Sprint have maintained <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/29/17298904/sprint-and-t-mobile-merger">since the merger was announced</a> that the deal would create competition,...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/10/21132338/t-mobile-sprint-merger-lawsuit-new-york-times-wall-street-journal">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/10/21132338/t-mobile-sprint-merger-lawsuit-new-york-times-wall-street-journalJay Peters2019-11-25T11:20:35-05:002019-11-25T11:20:35-05:00Texas drops lawsuit to block T-Mobile-Sprint merger
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<figcaption>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="GRxPKI">On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office <a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-announces-settlement-agreement-t-mobile-sprint-merger#.XdvwUsxDfKE.twitter">would drop its lawsuit opposing the multibillion-dollar merger</a> between telecommunications giants T-Mobile and Sprint.</p>
<p id="MgD1qg">Texas dropped its lawsuit as part of a settlement with the proposed New T-Mobile. In the <a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-announces-settlement-agreement-t-mobile-sprint-merger#.XdvwUsxDfKE.twitter">settlement</a>, New T-Mobile committed to providing “5G wireless broadband coverage to areas where most Texans live” and across most rural parts of the state over the next three years. Texans who work for Sprint and T-Mobile should expect “substantially similar employment” once the merger closes. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="c3k9wq"><q>The case is set to go to trial on December 9th</q></aside></div>
<p id="0qCHpX">Texas’ move is just the latest in a larger exodus of state attorneys general leaving behind a multistate lawsuit aimed at...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/25/20981901/tmobile-sprint-merger-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-lawsuit">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/25/20981901/tmobile-sprint-merger-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-lawsuitMakena Kelly2019-11-07T12:04:48-05:002019-11-07T12:04:48-05:00T-Mobile claims it will give free internet to 10 million homes if Sprint merger goes through
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<figcaption>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="T95unY">On Thursday, T-Mobile CEO John Legere announced that, if his company’s merger with Sprint closes, the New T-Mobile would roll out a program to help provide children across the country with greater access to the internet and close <a href="https://investor.t-mobile.com/news-and-events/t-mobile-us-press-releases/press-release-details/2019/T-Mobile-Announces-Plans-for-THREE-Supercharged-New-T-Mobile-Un-carrier-Moves-That-Will-Use-Transformational-5G-Network-for-GOOD/default.aspx">the “homework gap.”</a></p>
<p id="kVxdPz">T-Mobile is calling it “Project 10 Million,” and it aims to provide 10 million households with free access to the internet. It’s a $10 billion commitment from the proposed New T-Mobile that will take place over the next five years. The company has also vowed to invest another $700 million to put hardware, hot spots, and reduced-cost devices in 10 million households to help deliver access.</p>
<p id="1Xhp4r">Eligible families will receive “up to 100GB of free internet access each year, one free Wi-Fi enabled hot...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/7/20953425/tmobile-sprint-merger-homework-gap-5g-for-good">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/7/20953425/tmobile-sprint-merger-homework-gap-5g-for-goodMakena Kelly2019-11-07T10:58:02-05:002019-11-07T10:58:02-05:00T-Mobile promises free 5G to first responders for 10 years after Sprint merger
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<figcaption>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="ID58zv">On Thursday, T-Mobile CEO John Legere announced that if his company’s merger with Sprint closes, the new company would <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1514734&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fbusiness%2Fpublic-safety%23agencies&referrer=theverge.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2019%2F11%2F7%2F20953330%2Ftmobile-sprint-first-responders-free-5g-ten-years-merger-connecting-heroes" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">offer free 5G service to first responders</a> across the United States for the next 10 years.</p>
<p id="aXTFxD">The proposed New T-Mobile calls this program its “Connecting Heroes Initiative,” and it’s part of a broad “5G for Good” action plan that the company announced on Thursday. State and local public and nonprofit law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1514734&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fbusiness%2Fpublic-safety%23agencies&referrer=theverge.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2019%2F11%2F7%2F20953330%2Ftmobile-sprint-first-responders-free-5g-ten-years-merger-connecting-heroes" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">can sign up for the program</a> on T-Mobile’s website and receive coverage if the proposed merger with Sprint closes sometime next year.</p>
<p id="jLR0dd">“First responders are under more pressure than ever before. With the 5G network New T-Mobile will create, we can do our part to help say thanks,” Legere...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/7/20953330/tmobile-sprint-first-responders-free-5g-ten-years-merger-connecting-heroes">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/7/20953330/tmobile-sprint-first-responders-free-5g-ten-years-merger-connecting-heroesMakena Kelly2019-10-16T13:37:55-04:002019-10-16T13:37:55-04:00The FCC has voted to approve the T-Mobile-Sprint merger
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<figcaption>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="pPoTaI">On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission formally approved the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, an FCC official told <em>The Verge</em>. The vote comes months after the Justice Department greenlit the deal.</p>
<p id="lY3Isk">In May, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/20/18632394/t-mobile-sprint-merger-fcc-chair-approval-fast-5g-rollout">FCC Chairman Ajit Pai first signaled</a> that he would vote to approve the merger after the commission and the companies struck a deal that Republicans believed would help foster a faster 5G rollout. The other Republican commissioners, Brendan Carr and Michael O’Rielly, also voiced support for the merger at the time. The merger was pushed through on a party-line vote with Democrats dissenting, an FCC official told <em>The Verge</em>.</p>
<p id="alLdI9">Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel announced her disapproval in an op-ed for <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/t-mobile-and-sprints-merger-will-hurt-consumers/599245/"><em>The Atlantic...</em></a></p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/16/20917162/fcc-tmobile-sprint-merger-justice-department-ajit-pai-geoffrey-starks-jessica-rosenworel">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/16/20917162/fcc-tmobile-sprint-merger-justice-department-ajit-pai-geoffrey-starks-jessica-rosenworelMakena Kelly2019-08-16T14:57:49-04:002019-08-16T14:57:49-04:00Democrats plead with Pai to delay T-Mobile-Sprint vote
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<img alt="House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On State Of Competition In Wireless Markets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QfKOKWQWqQ7LVgHigzw7nsTHWtI=/0x1:2916x1945/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65032950/1135394700.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="Gi81CI">On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it would be charging ahead with a vote to formally approve the T-Mobile-Sprint merger; but Democratic senators are calling on the agency to reopen the issue for public comment before taking that vote. </p>
<p id="MfXjSg"><a href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=CAA5E484-9D93-4FC5-BFDD-C445E2E1B5E7">Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar</a> (D-MN) penned a letter along with others like Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) asking the FCC to receive feedback from citizens and advocates on the $26 billion telecom merger one last time before approving it, citing concerns that the deal will only entrench telecom monopolies.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="9U6u7A"><q>“We have major antitrust concerns regarding the impact of the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger”</q></aside></div>
<p id="4iL9dl">“We have...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/16/20809075/tmobile-sprint-merge-letitia-james-nyag-merge-fcc-doj-ajit-pai-delay">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/16/20809075/tmobile-sprint-merge-letitia-james-nyag-merge-fcc-doj-ajit-pai-delayMakena Kelly