T-Mobile U.S. and Sprint have agreed to merge in a move to better compete against their two larger rivals in the cellphone business.
Why it matters: Regulators must still approve a deal and, in the past, authorities have been opposed to any deal that would reduce the number of national competitors from four to three.
T-Mobile and Sprint executives said that the coming together of tech and media, along with the looming arrival of 5G networks necessitate their combination. The companies also said a deal will create jobs, not kill them.
Why it matters: The companies face a tough battle to convince regulators to allow them to merge, reducing the number of national cell phone providers from four to three.
Electric scooters are popping up in cities all over the U.S. They're a convenient and fun way to get around, but local governments are now trying to regulate them.
The bottom line: Transportation innovation isn't slowing down, and these companies will be asking for forgiveness — not permission.
Reports that Sprint and T-Mobile are, once again, close to a merger raise key questions about regulatory approval and what the deal means for consumers.
Why it matters: Despite a few false starts, Wall Street sees the deal as inevitable, as the smaller wireless carriers struggle to compete against their larger rivals, AT&T and Verizon. The combination of Sprint and T-Mobile would would remove one of the four national carriers from the market, something Obama-era regulators opposed.
