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Here's how this mega-merger could be good or bad for long-time customers.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

T-Mobile John Legere and Marcelo Claure of Sprint at the press conference announcing the merger.(Photo: T-Mobile)

The Federal Communications Commission has paused the 180-day clock in its review of the T-Mobile and Sprint merger to give it more time to review the transaction.

The agency generally approves or refuses mergers and other transactions within 180 days from the date of official notification of the transaction. T-Mobile, the country's No. 3 wireless phone provider, and Sprint, which is No. 4, announced the merger on April 29.

A combined company valued at $ 146 billion with more than 90 million retail customers would be better positioned to compete with industry leaders, AT & T and Verizon.

The two companies have complementary spectrum stocks that could help them deploy a robust 5G network, which would boost the investment and deployment of its biggest competitors, John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, and Marcelo Claure, Executive Chairman of Sprint. told the senators in June.

The FCC announced Tuesday that it was counting down – currently on Day 55 – as both companies had submitted new information, including a "substantially revised" network engineering model, a new business model and economic modeling. additional.

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"Given the complexity and potential importance of these newly provided and expected models, the 180-day informal clock needs to be stopped to allow time for review", said the responsible in a letter to both companies. "The Commission will decide whether to extend the response time after receiving the rest of the candidate modeling proposals."

Consumer groups argued that the merger could lead to higher prices for wireless customers, a concern the Justice Department considers in its own review of the transaction.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.

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