The U.S. government recently decided to sue to block AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile, saying that any way you look at it, it is an anti-competitive deal. I totally agree. AT&T, however, does not, and is doing everything in its power to make sure this thing goes through. Obnoxious, much?
Carriers like Sprint already hate the deal because it truly is anti-competitive. AT&T and T-Mobile employees are worried about their jobs and what this merger means for them. Government employees have questioned the nature of the deal and whether AT&T would have a monopoly on the wireless market in the U.S. And just about every journalist and analyst out there thinks it’s a bad idea. So why is AT&T so insistent on pushing this deal through?
Unfortunately, we really don’t know, and we don’t know the details of its proposition, either, according to Reuters:
Details of AT&T’s proposed settlement were not available, but it is expected to include pledges to maintain T-Mobile’s relatively cheap mobile subscription plans, and asset sales.
AT&T may have to sell up to 25 percent of T-Mobile’s business, including airwaves and customers, two sources said, to address the government’s concern that just three companies would control 90 percent of the U.S. wireless market if the merger goes through.
Speaking very candidly, I am thoroughly displeased with AT&T right now. Everything it has been doing the past few weeks seems to be anti-consumer. I would say that AT&T might even feel some kind of contempt for its customers. First, the carrier pretty much screwed new customers when it decided to cut all of its messaging plans except for its unlimited option, leaving you with pay-per-message as the only other choice. Secondly, it priced the HTC Jetstream at a hilariously astronomical $700 with a new, two-year contract. Finally, AT&T has discontinued its A-List unlimited calling plan for new customers. WTF.
At any rate, despite the rest of the world’s disapproval, AT&T is going to go down fighting.