MetroPCS CEO: Softbank Deal Complicates Any Sprint Bid

MetroPCS Communications Chief Executive Roger Linquist said the timing of Sprint-Nextel's pending deal to sell a 70% stake to Softbank "certainly could be" problematic if Sprint wants to make an offer for MetroPCS.

Linquist declined to say whether Sprint had made an offer for MetroPCS, but he noted that Sprint—which he also referred to as an interloper—is busy with the Softbank deal. "How many balls do you have in the air at once? One of those balls isn't going to be there," Linquist said, referring to the T-Mobile takeover. Linquist acknowledged that further deals are likely, although it is unclear if the recent activity would bring pause or stimulate something larger. He said a "roll-up of the industry," including the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, is likely in coming years. "It has to happen at some point," he said, noting that timing and the regulatory environment will play a factor.