DALLAS & BONN, Germany-In a shock move, AT&TÂ Inc. has announced a $39 billion cash-and-stock transaction buyout of T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in what could create the largest GSM conglomerate in the world. The deal would also make AT&T Inc. the largest operator in the U.S. by far. The $39 billion deal must first be approved by federal regulators. In a press release, AT&T Inc. reports that the buyout has been approved by both companies’ board of directors. AT&T Inc. also states that the transaction will allow it to expand its 4G LTE network to 95% of the population in the United States.
The news was met with mixed reaction as customers of T-Mobile groaned in collective despair but with the knowledge that they will now be able to enjoy the capabilities of the iPhone.
As of Q3 2010, AT&T Mobility had 92.8 million total subscribers and will add T-Mobile USA’s approximately 34 million users. In comparison, Verizon Wireless has 93.2 million subscribers, as of Q3 2010, and Sprint Nextel Corp. holds approximately 50 million subscribers.
Safe to assume these ads will be a thing of the past…
