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Sprint considering acquisition of T-Mobile US -- report(UPI Business News Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Wireless carrier Sprint Corp. is eyeing T-Mobile US Inc., a merger that would reduce the market to three companies, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Sources told the newspaper Sprint is studying industry regulations and could make a move for T-Mobile in the first half of 2014 in a deal that could be worth more than $20 billion. Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. are the nation's top two carriers, with Sprint and T-Mobile at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Antitrust authorities likely would oppose the merger, believing the lack of a fourth national competitor could force consumers to pay more, the newspaper said. The Justice Department in 2011 nixed AT&T's attempt to acquire T-Mobile. SoftBank Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son bought control of Sprint this year and is said to be interested in expanding in the U.S. market. Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI). Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent. |