Give AT&T and Deutsche Telekom credit: The companies are certainly trying to find every avenue to close the purchase of T-Mobile. Now the companies are pondering a joint venture that would create a new wireless network.
According to the Wall Street Journal, AT&T and Deutsche Telekom have talked about pooling network assets into a joint venture. Given that regulators are likely to crush AT&T’s bid for T-Mobile, a joint venture may be a nice end run.
This joint venture backup plan would give both companies spectrum and keep T-Mobile as a competitor.
The details here will be key, but it’s not like there isn’t precedent for wireless joint ventures. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone. In the U.K., Orange and T-Mobile formed a joint venture.
It’s unclear where the AT&T and T-Mobile saga will go, but there will be a February court date with the Department of Justice before any joint venture plans are drawn up.
FCC twists knife in AT&T’s chest; Criticizes ‘false claims’ over acquisition of T-Mobile
