Sprint CEO Vows To Do Whatever it Takes to Stop AT&T, T-Mobile Merger

**Michael Essany** · 06-28-2011, 08:17 AM

In what proved to be an eye-opening interview with Bloomberg this week, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said what we all expected to hear - that he's not too pleased with the possible AT&T, T-Mobile merger. What many of us didn't fully expect, however, was a pledge from the Sprint chief to pretty much do whatever it takes on his part to block the merger from happening.

Dan Hesse’s White Room is closely guarded even within Sprint Nextel Corp. The chief executive officer carries the only key and draws black curtains over his scribblings before leaving. This is where Hesse retreats to map out “nukes” in red, blue and green ink, lately his tactics for stopping AT&T Inc. (T)’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA.

It almost sounds like a bad SNL skit, but it's true. The Sprint boss is really lining up what he calls "nukes" to battle AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA. “Clearly, purely, we want to win and block the merger,” Hesse admitted in his room that, by Bloomberg's own admission, strikingly resembles a war-room for strategic military planning.

Of course, Hesse isn't just concerned with what the merger in question will do to his company (possibly kill it), but the long-term consequences for the mobile industry at large. “The industry just won’t be as innovative and as dynamic as it has been,” Hesse says, trying to make his argument broader in scope. “It’ll gum up the works when everything has to go through these two big tollbooths, one that’s called AT&T and one that’s called Verizon.”

In a surprise announcement late last March, AT&T announced a definitive agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion in cash and stock combo. Ever since, all we've heard about are the regulatory roadblocks that AT&T will have to clear before this transaction is allowed to happen. And from the looks of it, Sprint wants to adorn that potential path to regulatory approval with as many "nukes" as possible.

To read Hesse's full interview with Bloomberg, click here.

Source: Bloomberg

**reverendchewie** · 06-28-2011, 08:32 AM

He's just pissed off that T-Mobile decided to go with a stronger company than Sprint. Sprint had been in talks with Deutsche Telekom to buy T-Mobile for a few years.

**chessyang** · 06-28-2011, 08:33 AM

nice!!

**jcs0190** · 06-28-2011, 08:58 AM

its mobile wars

**KiidTee** · 06-28-2011, 11:25 AM

He is just mad becuase he loosing profit, this doesnt even concern who gives a bleep if he is loosing profit, people are loosing jobs ugh petty fights these days.

**unison999** · 06-28-2011, 01:24 PM

Without the ability to prove monopoly by AT&T or having the funds to buy T-Mobile he can't do jack!! That is why he is announcing this, because his inability to block the merger he hopes someone would help him.

**jose060789** · 06-28-2011, 01:34 PM

Hmm, Sprint sucks anyways.

**delusion950** · 06-28-2011, 02:49 PM

can on me too Dan ! Am with u !

count*

**spider_romeo** · 06-28-2011, 02:55 PM

Sprint....very sucks.......ha...ha....ha....ha

**Painkiller006** · 06-28-2011, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by jose060789

Hmm, Sprint sucks anyways.

Care to explain as to why Sprint "sucks". Out of AT&T, and T-Mobile, Sprint network has given me the best performance. No complaints using my Evo 3D

**Stray** · 06-28-2011, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Painkiller006

Care to explain as to why Sprint "sucks". Out of AT&T, and T-Mobile, Sprint network has given me the best performance. No complaints using my Evo 3D

Easy it just does

. Don't wanna offend lol

**sziklassy** · 06-28-2011, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Str4y

Easy it just does

. Don't wanna offend lol

Saying something sucks "just because" tends to be more offensive than if you actually give valid reasons why...

**Stray** · 06-28-2011, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by sziklassy

Saying something sucks "just because" tends to be more offensive than if you actually give valid reasons why...

my point exactly lol

**Mes** · 06-28-2011, 05:07 PM

AT&T + T-Mobile == GSM monopoly.

Short-term gain for AT&T customers. Everybody looses in the end.

**DevouredDreams** · 06-28-2011, 05:11 PM

...

**Cer0** · 06-28-2011, 05:25 PM

Sprint wasn't bad. But I didn't get service everywhere. Their customer service was ok but not top notch. Nothing against them. But this merger will greatly expand ATT's service.

Think of the big cities that won't allow ATT to build new towers in but those cities already have T-mobile towers. This allows ATT to basically buy new towers in places that have blocked new towers from being built. It also provides them with a new frequency to expand and upgrade services on.

**qbnucca** · 06-28-2011, 05:50 PM

Seriously **** AT&T it's all about Tmobile 12 years a store manager and I got nothing bad to say about Tmobile in Florida.

**Alba-ny** · 06-28-2011, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mes

AT&T + T-Mobile == GSM monopoly.

Short-term gain for AT&T customers. Everybody looses in the end.

This, and this is why I hope it doesn't go through.

**Mes** · 06-28-2011, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by Alba-ny

This, and this is why I hope it doesn't go through.

Write . fill out your the web forms for your representatives in Washington. AT&T + T-Mobile = GSM monopoly. This is a perfect reason to deny the merger.

**GrandMstrBud** · 06-28-2011, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Painkiller006

Care to explain as to why Sprint "sucks". Out of AT&T, and T-Mobile, Sprint network has given me the best performance. No complaints using my Evo 3D

Plus you get the most out of Sprint than any other carrier plus they are the cheapest.

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

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