Wireless CEOs trade jabs over AT&T, T-Mobile merger

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The chiefs of AT&T and Sprint Nextel took their battles to the stage, trading jabs over whether AT&T should be allowed to merge with T-Mobile.

Sprint Nextel chief executive Dan Hesse continued his drumbeat to block the merger during a keynote speech at the CTIA convention in San Diego. He said the merger would eliminate competition and jokingly compared AT&T Mobility chief executive Ralph de la Vega to John Wilkes Booth, President Lincoln’s assassin. De la Vega fired back during his own keynote. He said he doesn’t mind being compared to stage actor Booth. But he added that Hesse, known for his very public complaints about AT&T’s merger, is also “the best actor in wireless, right?” Sprint has been the most vocal opponent of AT&T’s merger with T-Mobile. Verizon Wireless chief executive Dan Mead also spoke, warning against government regulations, which he said would slow down the explosive growth of the mobile industry.


Wireless CEOs trade jabs over AT&T, T-Mobile merger CTIA: Carrier keynotes steer clear of controversy (Connected Planet)