WHAT T-MOBILE TAKEOVER OF SPRINT MEANS FOR YOU
AppleMagazine|February 14, 2020
T-Mobile’s $26.5 billion takeover of Sprint could mean higher or lower phone bills, depending on whom you ask.
WHAT T-MOBILE TAKEOVER OF SPRINT MEANS FOR YOU

A federal judge in New York ultimately took T-Mobile’s track record of aggressive competition into account in ruling Tuesday that the deal would be good for consumers. In doing so, he rejected a challenge by a group of states worried about reduced competition. Though the deal still needs a few more approvals, T-Mobile expects to close it as early as April 1.

Here’s what a combined T-Mobile-Sprint company could mean for you and your phone bill:

FOR MOST T-MOBILE AND SPRINT CUSTOMERS

Sprint customers will get a T-Mobile bill, but that transition may take a few years. If you are a T-Mobile customer, you might not see many changes. However, because the goal of the takeover is to roll out a next-generation, 5G cellular network, subscribers of both are ultimately expected to get faster service.

WHAT ABOUT PREPAID CUSTOMERS?

As part of the deal, Dish will get Sprint’s prepaid Boost Mobile customers. Dish has committed to building its own cellular network, but it will use T-Mobile’s for now, so customers aren’t supposed to see service quality drop.

HOW STRONG IS DISH?

That has yet to be tested.

Sprint is an existing company with more than 40 million customers. Dish would start from scratch building a network that will cost billions of dollars. It gets only 9 million customers from the deal and will have to fight to win more.

As for the network, Dish already owns spectrum, or airwave rights, but hasn’t been using it. The deal would give Dish additional airwaves that travel far and work well in rural areas. Dish is supposed to put those to use in its own network, but it has to rely on T-Mobile’s network in the meantime.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM APPLEMAGAZINEView all
A TOP ENERGY STRATEGIST IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. AND HE HAS THE DATA TO BACK THAT UP
AppleMagazine

A TOP ENERGY STRATEGIST IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. AND HE HAS THE DATA TO BACK THAT UP

When it comes to energy, Jarand Rystad is the numbers guy. The former McKinsey Company partner founded Oslo-based Rystad Energy, an independent research and energy intelligence company that sells data and analysis on oil, gas, coal and renewable forms of energy.

time-read
4 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
CHINA ANNOUNCES MORE SUPPORT FOR ECONOMY BUT HOLDS BACK ON MAJOR SPENDING PACKAGE
AppleMagazine

CHINA ANNOUNCES MORE SUPPORT FOR ECONOMY BUT HOLDS BACK ON MAJOR SPENDING PACKAGE

China’s economic planning agency outlined details of measures aimed at boosting the economy this week but refrained from major spending initiatives.

time-read
2 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
GOOGLE SAYS IT WILL STOP LINKING TO NEW ZEALAND NEWS IF A LAW PASSES FORCING IT TO PAY FOR CONTENT
AppleMagazine

GOOGLE SAYS IT WILL STOP LINKING TO NEW ZEALAND NEWS IF A LAW PASSES FORCING IT TO PAY FOR CONTENT

Google said it will stop linking to New Zealand news content and will reverse its support of local media outlets if the government passes a law forcing tech companies to pay for articles displayed on their platforms.

time-read
2 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK USERS IN EUROPE GET FORUM TO CHALLENGE SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT DECISIONS
AppleMagazine

FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK USERS IN EUROPE GET FORUM TO CHALLENGE SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT DECISIONS

Social media users in the European Union will soon have a new forum to challenge decisions by platforms to remove posts and videos for breaking their rules or leave up others that may violate them.

time-read
3 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
'JOKER 2' STUMBLES AT BOX OFFICE AMID POOR REVIEWS FROM AUDIENCES AND CRITICS
AppleMagazine

'JOKER 2' STUMBLES AT BOX OFFICE AMID POOR REVIEWS FROM AUDIENCES AND CRITICS

“Joker: Folie à Deux” is the No. 1 movie at the box office, but it might not be destined for a happy ending.

time-read
4 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
CONTROL THE PATH AND POWER OF HURRICANES LIKE MILTON? FORGET IT ,SCIENTISTS SAY
AppleMagazine

CONTROL THE PATH AND POWER OF HURRICANES LIKE MILTON? FORGET IT ,SCIENTISTS SAY

Hurricanes are humanity’s reminder of the uncontrollable, chaotic power of Earth’s weather.

time-read
3 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
JUDGE RULES THE FTC CAN PROCEED WITH ANTITRUST LAWSUIT AGAINST AMAZON, TOSSES OUT FEW STATE CLAIMS
AppleMagazine

JUDGE RULES THE FTC CAN PROCEED WITH ANTITRUST LAWSUIT AGAINST AMAZON, TOSSES OUT FEW STATE CLAIMS

A federal judge said the Federal Trade Commission can proceed with its landmark antitrust lawsuit against Amazon. But, he also gave the company a small victory by tossing out a few claims made by states involved in the legal fight.

time-read
2 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
HYUNDAI HAS BEGUN PRODUCING ELECTRIC SUVS AT ITS $7.6 BILLION PLANT IN GEORGIA
AppleMagazine

HYUNDAI HAS BEGUN PRODUCING ELECTRIC SUVS AT ITS $7.6 BILLION PLANT IN GEORGIA

Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs in Georgia less than two years after breaking ground on its sprawling, $7.6 billion manufacturing plant west of Savannah.

time-read
1 min  |
AppleMagazine #676
A SPACECRAFT IS ON ITS WAY TO A HARMLESS ASTEROID SLAMMED BY NASA IN A PREVIOUS SAVE-THE-EARTH TEST
AppleMagazine

A SPACECRAFT IS ON ITS WAY TO A HARMLESS ASTEROID SLAMMED BY NASA IN A PREVIOUS SAVE-THE-EARTH TEST

A spacecraft blasted off Monday to investigate the scene of a cosmic crash.

time-read
3 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676
FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS GOOGLE TO OPEN ITS ANDROID APP STORE TO COMPETITION
AppleMagazine

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS GOOGLE TO OPEN ITS ANDROID APP STORE TO COMPETITION

A federal judge this week ordered Google to tear down the digital walls shielding its Android app store from competition as punishment for maintaining an illegal monopoly that helped expand the company’s internet empire.

time-read
3 mins  |
AppleMagazine #676