The merger of T-Mobile and Spring will be challenged this week in court, testing the federal government’s role in deciding whether the two tech giants can join forces. A coalition of 13 states and the District of Columbia is suing the two companies to block the merger, which consists of the US’s third and fourth-largest cell carriers. Legal experts claim that the coalition, which is unprecedented, is unlikely to block a merger of this size and national influence without the involvement of federal authorities. The carriers claim that the merger will allow them to offer better services.
The case commenced yesterday, with both sides delivering opening arguements in federal court in New York. The trial is expected to last three weeks and consist of testimonies from executives like T Mobile boss John Legere. By combining, T-Mobile and Sprint would rival its competitors AT&T and Verizon, who both bost 100 million domestic customers apiece.
