Page 32 - aruba-today-20200213

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 13 February 2020
AP Explains: What T-Mobile takeover of Sprint means for you

By MAE ANDERSON and lenge to the deal.
TALI ARBEL But Marrero said the states
Associated Press had not convincingly ar-
Technology Writers gued that the deal would
NEW YORK (AP) — T-Mo- lead to higher prices and
bile's $26.5 billion takeover lower quality service. He
of Sprint could mean high- said Dish would become
er or lower phone bills, de- an aggressive competitor,
pending on whom you ask. while T-Mobile had the in-
A federal judge in New York centive to continue com-
ultimately took T-Mobile's peting aggressively.
track record of aggressive WHAT'S THIS 5G ALL ABOUT?
competition into account 5G is a new technical
in ruling Tuesday that the standard for wireless net-
deal would be good for works that promises faster
consumers. In doing so, he speeds; less lag, or "laten-
rejected a challenge by cy," when connecting to
a group of states worried the network; and the ability
about reduced competi- to connect many devices
tion. Though the deal still to the internet without bog-
needs a few more approv- ging it down. 5G networks
als, T-Mobile expects to In this Feb. 13, 2019, file photo Sprint Corporation Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure, left, speaks will ideally be better able to
close it as early as April 1. with T-Mobile US CEO and President John Legere during the House Commerce subcommittee handle more users, lots of
Here's what a combined hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. sensors and heavy traffic.
T-Mobile-Sprint company Associated Press The major U.S. wireless com-
could mean for you and company will continue panies have all launched
your phone bill: to be the "Un-carrier" and 5G networks and will con-
FOR MOST T-MOBILE AND keep Verizon, AT&T and tinue rolling them out. There
SPRINT CUSTOMERS others on their toes. aren't many users yet, as
Sprint customers will get a "Look out Dumb and Dumb- the networks are limited in
T-Mobile bill, but that transi- er and Big Cable – we are coverage, and few phones
tion may take a few years. coming for you … and you are currently equipped for
If you are a T-Mobile cus- haven't seen anything yet!" 5G. Sprint's 5G network is
tomer, you might not see Legere said in a statement now in parts of nine cities,
many changes. However, on Tuesday. Legere is step- while T-Mobile says its ver-
because the goal of the ping down as CEO in April; sion already could cover
takeover is to roll out a next- T-Mobile Chief Operating 200 million people. They
generation, 5G cellular net- Officer and president Mike have promised to cover
work, subscribers of both Sievert will replace him. 97% of the U.S. within three
are ultimately expected to In his ruling, Judge Victor years of finalizing the deal
get faster service. Karl-Anthony Towns surprises unsuspecting customers as an Marrero in New York said and 99% in six years. T-Mo-
WHAT ABOUT PREPAID CUS- employee at a Metro by T-Mobile store on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 he found T-Mobile's prom- bile says its goal is a na-
TOMERS? in Minneapolis. ises credible. tionwide network that will
As part of the deal, Dish will Associated Press SO WILL PHONE BILLS GO UP be five times faster than
get Sprint's prepaid Boost it has to rely on T-Mobile's saying it is risky, as there is OR DOWN? current LTE service in a few
Mobile customers. Dish has network in the meantime. no guarantee Dish will suc- Opinion is divided. years and 15 times faster by
committed to building its Dish says it will offer service ceed as a major competi- Generally, fewer competi- 2024. T-Mobile and Sprint
own cellular network, but it to 70% of the U.S. popula- tor, and that it does not fill tors mean higher prices, would have built a 5G net-
will use T-Mobile's for now, tion by 2023. But while it's the hole left by Sprint. which is why the Depart- work even without combin-
so customers aren't sup- billed as 5G, Dish is prom- AND FOR VERIZON AND ment of Justice required the ing, but Marrero agreed
posed to see service qual- ising speeds that are only AT&T CUSTOMERS? companies to sell part of its with the companies that
ity drop. slightly higher than what's T-Mobile was instrumental business to Dish to keep the their standalone networks
HOW STRONG IS DISH? typical today. in pushing the more estab- number of major wireless would be more limited in
That has yet to be tested. Dish co-founder Charlie lished players to be more providers at four. This is also scope and take longer to
Sprint is an existing compa- Ergen said in a statement consumer friendly, doing central to the states' chal- build.q
ny with more than 40 million that the company is ea- away with two-year phone
customers. Dish would start ger to start serving Boost contracts and offering un-
from scratch building a net- customers, while bringing limited data plans. T-Mobile
work that will cost billions of consumers lower prices, has offered goodies for its
dollars. It gets only 9 million greater choice and more customers like free or dis-
customers from the deal innovation. counted Netflix and free
and will have to fight to win But it may take a while be- international data. With just
more. fore Dish can challenge three major providers, the
As for the network, Dish al- the bigger companies — if worry is that there would be
ready owns spectrum, or it ever does — the way T- less incentive to add servic-
airwave rights, but hasn't Mobile developed a repu- es that consumers like or to
been using it. The deal tation as the "Un-carrier" compete on price.
would give Dish additional by promoting consumer- T-Mobile has promised not
airwaves that travel far and friendly practices that shat- to raise prices for three Karl-Anthony Towns surprises unsuspecting customers as an em-
work well in rural areas. Dish tered industry norms. Many years, but after that, it's fair ployee at a Metro by T-Mobile store on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 in
is supposed to put those to public-interest groups have game. But T-Mobile CEO Minneapolis.
use in its own network, but criticized the Dish solution, John Legere said that the Associated Press