More Overstatements About the Lovefest a Merged TMobile-Sprint will Deliver

            Having received FCC approval of its merger proposal, (see https://www.fcc.gov/transaction/t-mobile-sprint), TMobile and Sprint have turbocharged their array of less than meets the eye consumer welfare enhancing promises.  See https://www.finder.com/t-mobile-to-unveil-new-t-mobile-un-carrier-1-0

The companies have targeted states joining in an antitrust law suit to block the merger.  For example, the Attorney General of Colorado, a guy I used to admire, who should know better than to take the bait, agreed to withdraw from the law suit in exchange for significant Colorado-specific employment and facility commitments. See https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sprint-m-a-t-mobile/colorado-abandons-legal-effort-to-stop-sprint-t-mobile-merger-idUSKBN1X01QC

            Today’s New York Times contains the latest reiteration of why 3 national wireless competitors are better than four.  Before I “deconstruct” and refute the value of the Uncarrier’s commitments, I return to a basic question: If TMobile and Sprint can offer such a better value proposition than what AT&T and Verizon offer, would consumers fare even better if TMobile and Sprint also had to compete with each other?  In this age of historically low interest rates and the deep pockets of two foreign owners (Softbank and Deutsche Telekom), what prevents either company from offering what they now make contingent on their merger?

            In a nutshell, TMobile and Sprint treat the 5^th generation of wireless innovation as salvation for consumers, if and only if the companies merge.  If they cannot, then apparently AT&T and Verizon will capture the benefits of faster, better and more efficient technology all for themselves.  Only if Sprint and TMobile merge will the much overcharged and cheated consumer finally get a fare deal.  Again, what prevented either company from offering everything they make contingent on their merger?  At the very least, in light of far more concentrated market shouldn’t the Uncarrier explain why it can only become more competitive and innovative through consolidation, rather than competitive necessity?

            Today’s advertisement characterizes AT&T and Verizon as greedy, slow to innovate and unlikely to change.  Agreed, but doesn’t that make these two incumbents easy targets for lean and hungry competitors?  TMobile has increased its market share by offering consumers a better value proposition.  This company already has a 5G buildout plan and already offers lower prices.

            The ad offers 5G service to 99% of the U.S. population, a 50% discount for its lowest service tier, better rural 5G penetration in rural locales, fixed wireless broadband service and 11,000 more jobs by 2024. 

            I’d be wowed by these promises if I didn’t know the host of caveats, non-disclosures, misrepresentations and inability or unwillingness of the FCC to track and enforce pre-merger commitments.  In a nutshell, the Uncarrier promises far less than it could possibly deliver.

            The major BIG DECEPTION lies in the assumption the Uncarrier expects consumers to make about the nature of delivered 5G technology.  Rural locales will not now, or in the foreseeable future, have the tiny millimeter wave cell contours that will offer the promised vast improvements in transmission speed, capacity and latency.  TMobile has announced plans to use 600 MHz spectrum for rural 5G, far lower than the GigaHertz bands expected to be used in cities.  Every carrier, regardless of competitive necessity and the number of competitors will engage in the same prudent spectrum management process.  No carrier can execute a profitable 5G business plan that offers rural residents truly equivalent geographical market penetration, transmission speed, available capacity, etc.

            TMobile and Sprint will offer 5G networks that are no more or less “transformational” than what other carriers will deploy at the same time.  The Uncarrier may throw a bone to rural residents by installing more 600 MHz towers, but there is nothing I’ve seen from AT&T and Verizon indicating that these carriers will underinvest in the migration from rural 4G to rural 5G. Bear in mind that 5G is a wireless transmission, switching and routing technology, not a service.       The small print in the Uncarrier ad today underscores that 5G will not change the nearly identical technological nature of what any and all U.S. carriers will offer.  The merged company STILL will throttle video to DVD, standard definition 480 lines of resolution, despite the much touted higher capacity.

            TMobile and Sprint have expanded their charm offensive with targeted inducements now including first responders.  The companies imply that the remaining state Attorneys General need to be “educated” about the lovefest the Uncarrier will deliver.  If not, it’s curtains for the free world, American consumers and the country in general.

            Don’t buy it.