FCC Approves T-Mobile Merger With MetroPCS

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the merger of T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS. The deal is expected to be approved by MetroPCS shareholders during an April 12 meeting.

"Based on the record before us and our review of the competitive effects of the proposed transaction, we find that approval of the transaction will serve the public interest," the FCC concluded.

"With today's approval, America's mobile market continues to strengthen, moving toward robust competition and revitalized competitors," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement.

"We anticipate that the combination of T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS would enable the deployment of a substantial LTE network nationally that would enhance competition and provide important benefits for consumers," the commission said. "By merging the two companies, and their network assets and spectrum, we find that the resulting [firm] would provide for a broader, deeper, and faster LTE deployment than either company could accomplish on its own."

T-Mobile, with 33.4 million mobile customers, is the nation's fourth-largest cellphone company; MetroPCS is the fifth with 8.9 million customers. The combined company will still be in the No. 4 position behind Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

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