AT&T and T-Mobile: A Deal That Will Create a Friendly Cellphone Monopoly

AT&T's $39 billion T-Mobile purchase was quickly denounced by consumer advocates. Zachary Karabell on why the blockbuster deal may instead finally deliver the U.S. first-rate cell service.

Published Mar. 20 2011 9:16PM EDT

articles/2011/03/21/att-and-t-mobile-a-deal-that-will-create-a-friendly-cell-phone-monopoly/karabell-att_168064_dj8yru — AT&T is merging with T-Mobile. Credit: M. Spencer Green / AP Photo; Frank Augstein / AP Photo

After months when markets have oscillated on the ebbs and flows of political tumult in the Middle East and natural catastrophe and near-nuclear disaster in Japan, the business world was pleasantly rocked by the announcement of a mega-deal: the planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA by AT&T.

Zachary Karabell

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AT&T and T-Mobile: A Deal That Will Create a Friendly Cellphone Monopoly

AT&T's $39 billion T-Mobile purchase was quickly denounced by consumer advocates. Zachary Karabell on why the blockbuster deal may instead finally deliver the U.S. first-rate cell service.

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Zachary Karabell