Skip to main content

SoftBank edging closer to T-Mobile acquisition, report says

softbank trump news
Image used with permission by copyright holder

SoftBank is edging closer to acquiring T-Mobile, America’s fourth largest wireless carrier, according to a report Wednesday from reputable Japanese media outlet Nikkei.

To secure the deal, the Tokyo-based telecommunications giant is planning to buy a majority of shares in T-Mobile through Sprint, its recently acquired US subsidiary. The purchase, which SoftBank reportedly wants to have sorted by next spring, is expected to cost the carrier more than $19 billion.

SoftBank is said to be in “the final stages of talks” with T-Mobile’s parent company Deutsche Telekom, Nikkei reported, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

It’s believed the Japanese company has plans to merge T-Mobile with Sprint, a move that would create a US-based carrier with around 100 million subscribers. This would put it just behind the nation’s two largest players, AT&T and Verizon, each of which has around 110 million subscribers.

SoftBank’s increase in handset sales resulting from a T-Mobile deal would likely give it more leverage in negotiating prices with phone manufacturers, Nikkei said in its report.

If the Japanese company manages to acquire T-Mobile, it would make SoftBank the second largest carrier on the planet in terms of revenue from mobile operations. China Mobile, which recently inked a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone through its service, is the current market leader.

Of course, any acquisition would have to be green-lighted by the US Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice. This is where things could get interesting, as it was both of these bodies that in 2011 scuppered AT&T’s attempt to buy T-Mobile for $39 billion, believing a reduction in the number of carriers would restrict choice and lead to higher prices.

However, according to Nikkei’s report, SoftBank “apparently grew emboldened” by a recent decision from the Department of Justice where it gave the go ahead to the American Airlines-US Airways merger to create the world’s biggest airline. It had originally objected to the merger fearing it could adversely affect competition and lead to higher fares, but changed its mind after concessions were offered by the companies.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Sidestep banking fees with the nationwide launch of T-Mobile Money
t mobile revvl news

After a limited four-month trial period, T-Mobile is finally launching its T-Mobile Money banking service to the entire U.S., offering a powerful banking service with extra perks, and none of the usual fees.

It's not your usual banking service. As you might expect, it's proudly mobile-first, which means a powerful mobile app on your Android or iOS smartphone. Boot up the T-Mobile Money app and you'll be able to do everything you expect from your banking service, from checking your account balance to sending checks, or even sending direct person-to-person payments. The app also supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, biometric logins -- including fingerprint sensors and Face ID -- and also comes with the ability to lock a lost debit card or send an alert when your balance is low.

Read more
The OnePlus Watch 2 is the Wear OS smartwatch I’ve been waiting for
Person wearing OnePlus Watch 2 with a green strap on their left wrist.

The OnePlus Watch 2 -- the company's first Wear OS watch -- has entered a market that Samsung dominates. However, OnePlus' popularity as a smartphone brand can be expected to bring small, yet meaningful changes that benefit not only OnePlus users, but all of the Wear OS segment in general.

For almost a decade, Samsung and Apple have predominantly been the default options if you want a smartwatch that is actually useful and goes beyond flashy features. With Samsung shifting gears and migrating from its own Tizen OS to the (relatively) more universal Wear OS platform and Google releasing its own Pixel Watch after struggling with an identity crisis in the smartwatch world, the platform has much more traction than it did a few years ago. As OnePlus carves its way into the segment, it has the opportunity to entice people who don't wish to live within Samsung's limitations when using a Galaxy Watch with another brand's phone.

Read more
Buying an iPad Mini today? You need to know about this deal
The Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad mini magnetically.

If you've had an eye on iPad deals for the latest model of the Apple iPad Mini for a while now, this may be the offer that you've been waiting for -- a $100 discount from Best Buy on the tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, slashing its price to $400 from $500. It's still pretty popular years after its release, so we don't expect stocks of the device for this sale to last long. If you're thinking about taking advantage of this bargain, you better push through with your purchase as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Mini 2021
The latest generation of the Apple iPad Mini was released in 2021, but it's still featured in our roundup of the best iPads because it's the model that you should buy if you want a smaller and more compact version of Apple's tablets. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is smaller than the screens of its peers, but it's still big enough to enjoy watching streaming shows and browsing websites, while allowing you to use the device with one hand. Unlike its predecessor, there's no Home button, so the Touch ID sensor is instead built into the power button at the side of the Apple iPad Mini 2021.

Read more