The Justice Department is poised to approve T-Mobile US Inc.’s merger with Sprint Corp. under a divestiture plan that would equip satellite-TV operator Dish Network Corp. with the building blocks for a new wireless network, according to people familiar with the matter.
The companies have spent weeks negotiating with antitrust enforcers and each other over the sale of assets to Dish to satisfy concerns that the more than $26 billion merger of the No. 3 TMUS, +0.62% and No. 4 S, +1.29% wireless carriers by subscribers would hurt competition, the people said.
The department could announce a settlement with the companies as soon as this week, but the timing remains uncertain, some of the people said. The merger still faces a legal challenge from several state attorneys general.
The arrangement provides for Dish DISH, +3.37% to acquire prepaid subscribers and wireless-spectrum licenses from the merger partners, the people said. Dish would also get a multiyear agreement to use the wireless companies’ network while it builds dedicated infrastructure, the people said.
An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com.
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