Pennsylvania Utilities Commission Approves T-Mobile-Sprint Merger

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved the purchase of its rival Sprint Corp by T-Mobile US Inc. for $ 26 billion, bringing the megger closer to its conclusion.

The commission voted 3-2 to approve the agreement, he said in a statement.

The companies are still awaiting approval from the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and two other state commissions in California and Hawaii. It was not clear whether state attorneys general will oppose the proposed transaction.

The agreement received approval in principle from the Federal Communications Commission and other state utility boards.

Critics of the transaction said it would lead to higher prices for consumers, especially the poorest who use prepaid wireless plans that do not require credit checks.

The companies pledged not to raise their prices and said that the merger would allow them to build faster the 5G, the new generation wireless network.