Judge denies iPCS’ request to block Sprint Nextel merger

An Illinois judge will not issue a temporary restraining order to block Sprint Corp.’s acquisition of Nextel Communications Inc. Sprint affiliate iPCS Inc. requested the restraining order in its lawsuit against Sprint filed last Friday.

iPCS alleges that Sprint’s planned acquisition of Nextel will breach the carrier’s exclusivity obligations with iPCS. iPCS offers service under the Sprint brand to around 443,000 customers in portions of Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee. Nextel and its affiliate Nextel Partners Inc. operate in the same area.

iPCS’ lawsuit comes shortly after similar moves from Sprint affiliates UbiquiTel and US Unwired Inc., which Sprint last week agreed to acquire for $1.3 billion.