Did Sprint Try To Establish A Network Sharing Agreement With T-Mobile USA?
So, did Sprint try to set up a network sharing agreement with T-Mobile USA through talks with T-Mobile USA parent Deutsche Telekom? According to a new Wall Street Journal report, the answer is yes. The report indicates the talks went nowhere but considering the whispers and rumors of such a scenario taking place in the aftermath of the failed AT&T deal, we aren’t surprised.
Unfortunately, the revelation that talks actually took place comes amid speculation the Sprint board is unhappy with current CEO Dan Hesse. Combining failed talks with T-Mobile along with the board’s rejection of a proposed takeover of MetroPCS and Hesse looks to be in trouble.
Two potential Sprint deals have already foundered this year, according to people familiar with the matter: An acquisition of prepaid-carrier MetroPCS CommunicationsInc. was shot down by the board, and talks with Deutsche Telekom AG about network sharing with its T-Mobile USA went nowhere.
Rumors for a potential hookup with Sprint have floated around for a long long time but this is the first bit of information that has surfaced post-AT&T tying Sprint and T-Mobile together. Sprint was a loud opponent of AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile and with both carriers in a distant third and fourth place, a hookup of sorts does make sense. It just doesn’t look like it will ever happen.