AT&T says resistance futile, ends attempt to assimilate T-Mobile

AT&T has capitulated under Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and Department of Justice (DoJ) opposition and decided to abandon their efforts to merge with Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile USA.

The actions by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice to block this transaction do not change the realities of the U.S. wireless industry. It is one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world, with a mounting need for more spectrum that has not diminished and must be addressed immediately. The AT&T and T-Mobile USA combination would have offered an interim solution to this spectrum shortage. In the absence of such steps, customers will be harmed and needed investment will be stifled.

AT&T will have to pay DT the $4 billion break-up fee, and press ahead with a roaming agreement.

So, how we feeling about this? Happy? Angry? Did the government just save us from an even smaller oligopoly of telco providers, or did they interfere with the natural course of capitalism. And what if anything does this mean for iPhone on T-Mobile?

Source: Street Insider

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.