Should Sprint Still Try to Make a Move on Metro PCS?
Not too long ago word broke that an $8 billion plan to buy Metro PCS spearheaded by Dan Hesse was shot down by Sprint’s board. This was met by many mixed reactions, but no one has really taken a look at the possibilities. Could it possibly be to the Now Network’s benefit to buyout the nation’s fifth largest wireless network? Be sure to share your two cents and let us know if you think the board did the right thing, or if Hesse had a good idea?
[poll id="91"]
Though Sprint is spreading itself thin it needs to acquire spectrum in order to compete with Verizon and AT&T. The Unlimited Data helps but people will take having the option to use data all the time over being able to use data sometimes but the ability to use as much as they want.
Fire the Board of Directors, problem solved Mr. Hesse!
Sprint should just focus on getting LTE up and running and make their customers happy!
Only if they can afford to get Leap (Cricket) along with MetroPCS. Otherwise no, they’d be better served saving their pennies for the inevitable PCS “H” block auction.
It probably makes sense from a spectrum perspective down the road, but I think for right now I’d rather see them focus on the NV buildout.
Instead if going after Metro PCS, Sprit should buy Clearwire and Leap. For 8 Billion both companies would be Sprint’s. This would allow Sprint to have a boat load of spectrum to create an all mighty network that would be able to destroy AT&T and Verizon
I don’t know what MetroPCS’s coverage looks like, but that’s the only possible upside I could see to this… if they use the same equipment as Sprint, and have LTE coverage in areas where Sprint doesn’t. Growing the customer base sounds great on paper, but buying Nextel (who was also #5 at the time of the merger, if memory serves) turned out to be a colossal failure.
So I’d say maybe, leaning toward no.
Certainly the Sprint Nextel merger was a messy one that didn’t really make sense at the time. Fast forward a few years, that mess does have a nice silver lining, spectrum. Spectrum that can be redeployed with CDMA & LTE for the benefit of most Sprint customers. vs a handful for iDEN.
Sprint has alot on its plate right now including a complete network overhaul, the termination of iDEN, the expensive (but necessary) deal with the devil for the iPhone, and trying to kick start Clear’s LTE jump. Let them get those things settled first and improve their numbers before pursuing deals like that.
They already own most of Clear.
I know but only 49.76% voting stake and no acess to spectrum
I love the Idea