US: Sprint’s openness to joint ventures signals potential deal with Dish

Sprint Corp. CEO Dan Hesse told reporters this week that the company would be open to partnerships with other wireless companies to share spectrum, and while Hesse declined to name specific companies, reports say the company could be looking towards a joint venture with Dish Network Corp.

Dish network currently is at a crossroads as to what the company will do with the billions of dollars worth of spectrum it has accumulated; the Federal Communications Commission said Dish will be required to offer wireless services with the spectrum by 2017, and industry insiders have speculated that the company may create its own wireless network.

Dish, however, also has the option of partnering with an existing carrier. Both Sprint and rival T-Mobile have been cited as possible partners for Dish.

Both Sprint and T-Mobile, the nation’s number-three and number-four carriers respectively, have hinted at openness to a merger to be able to compete with market leaders Verizon Wireless and AT&T, though no such deal has been made.

Full content: Market Watch

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.