T-Mobile and Sprint got approval from U.S. national security organizations for their proposed merger as the deal continues to go through the regulatory wringer.
T-Mobile announced the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States as well as what it calls “Team Telecom” — the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense — all signed off on the deal. The security organizations had no objections to the deal in the areas of national security, law enforcement, and public safety.
“We are pleased to achieve both of these important milestones in the journey to build the New T-Mobile. We are a step closer to offering customers a supercharged disruptor that will create jobs from day one and deliver a real alternative to fixed broadband while delivering the first broad and deep nationwide 5G network for the United States,” T-Mobile CEO John Legere said in a statement. “These approvals assure the strong partnership both companies have with the U.S. government will continue with the New T-Mobile. We look forward to continuing our discussions with the remaining regulatory agencies reviewing our transaction to share our story and subsequently achieve similar positive results.”
T-Mobile says these approvals keep the deal on track for full regulatory approval in the first half of next year. The proposed merger still has to clear the Federal Communications Commission, which has been skeptical of past attempts by the two companies to combine.
In April, T-Mobile and Sprint agreed to merge and create a $146 billion company called simply, T-Mobile to challenge established heavyweights Verizon and AT&T. Legere would remain chief executive of the combined company. Its primary headquarters would be in T-Mobile’s hometown, Bellevue, Wash.
