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Public Knowledge Senior Staff Attorney John Bergmayer on what the planned merger between T-Mobile and MetroPCS means for consumers and competition in ...
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Biggest wireless carriers if approved by federal regulators the planned merger would create a carrier with 42 and a half million subscribers.
And news tonight Sprint's board is expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the possibility of a MetroPCS but now here to break it down what it means for consumers.
Any industry is John -- Meir senior staff attorney for public knowledge.
-- a lot of people up -- saying that it's very possible this could be a bad thing for consumers.
Making fewer options in the industry and raising prices what's European.
Now normally I wouldn't say that a merger between the number four in the number five provider and a market.
Is gonna be good for consumers are good for competition but I think the facts of the wireless industry are little different.
The key thing about the wireless industry -- it's dominated by eighteen -- Verizon.
And I think that's something that makes the number four provider T-Mobile stronger and better able to compete with then it's gonna be good for consumers particularly.
When T-Mobile and they're especially say they still intend to specializes a value carrier.
And that's -- that's the key thing here when you say value carrier explain the service they provide has its very different.
-- -- -- -- That's right they offer lower priced plans and a lot more prepaid options and cheaper phones then eighteen -- Verizon do.
So they specialize in going after different part of the market.
I think it would be pretty good for consumers if they're able to offer better service by having more spectrum more wireless towers and all the other things that go along with this merger.
You know that said there might be one or two minor things that the FCC much in particular might want to take a look at to make sure that.
-- customers don't get left behind that people don't have to change their price plans -- buy new equipment those are all the legitimate concerns but I think on balance this given the facts of the market.
This'll end up being good -- -- You know what's happened pricing -- I mean ultimately does this mean they're going to be higher prices consumers who -- -- be in the slowing part of the market.
I don't think that there's any plans by T-Mobile to raise their prices.
I'm interested to see if MetroPCS has even lower prices then T-Mobile civil new customers be able to break those lower prices that I don't now.
And is there going to be any improvement to service for people in that low and market.
Yeah I think the new company is gonna have a lot more flexibility just because we'll have more infrastructure.
In order to expand their service and roll out new features like LT.
John thanks for coming on tonight it's a fascinating story and that.
Contrarian you know popular wisdom I think what you're saying here great stuff thanks for being on with us tonight.
-- thank you.
