Analysts: T-Mobile could become takeover target for Altice, other cable players following Cablevision deal

T-Mobile US is once again the subject of merger and acquisition speculation following French telecommunication conglomerate Altice's $17.7 billion deal to buy Cablevision, with financial analysts suggesting T-Mobile could be in play for a cable operator. "We believe T-Mobile could be a primary acquisition target of cable operators and today are increasing our price target on T-Mobile to $50 from $42 by moving the basis of our valuation target to 2017 estimates, a year we expect T-Mobile to generate $3 billion of free cash flow," BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk said.

Altice Chairman Patrick Drahi said that he would need to look into moving into the mobile market, and could see Altice owning a mobile network -- but that such a move would happen over time and "not next week."