EchoStar, CWA opposes $4.4bn T-Mobile UScellular deal

EchoStar and Communications Workers of America (CWA) have stepped up their opposition to T-Mobile's proposed $4.4 billion deal to acquire significant assets from regional carrier UScellular. In a filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week, Dish Network owner EchoStar stated that the deal would threaten its ability to compete in the market.

"T-Mobile is asking for the commission's blessing to further entrench its dominance over the wireless voice and broadband markets, making it harder for others (like EchoStar) to compete. The commission should deny this transaction, which threatens to substantially harm competition while offering only illusory public interest benefits," said EchoStar in the filing.

According to EchoStar, T-Mobile's planned acquisition would see it further grow its market share, while at the expense of EchoStar. "EchoStar is committed to disrupting the US wireless market and fostering robust competition through the deployment of its innovative Open RAN network, which represents a significant investment in American infrastructure through new technology that offers increased efficiency, security, and flexibility. But T-Mobile’s proposed acquisition threatens to undermine EchoStar’s ability to compete effectively," EchoStar added.