SoftBank’s Son on US: “Regulation in This Country Is Wrong”

SoftBank CEO and Sprint Chairman Masayoshi Son continued his unusual campaign to convince regulators to let him buy T-Mobile but criticizing the US wireless market, broadband speeds and regulation at the Code Conference.

“Regulation in this country is wrong,” Son said, saying that telecommunications and anti-trust regulators have allowed an environment in which “the monopolist can become even more stronger.” Americans are satisfied with their Internet speeds because they don’t know any better, Son said, comparing it to Chinese people who have grown used to living under gray, smoggy skies. While the US dominated the 20th century because of its robust infrastructure -- both highway and electricity -- it’s falling behind now, he said.

Although Son wouldn’t say the word T-Mobile -- he just referred to his desire to buy an American wireless carrier -- he said that regulators haven’t been very excited about talking to him about his possible deal.

“They don’t want to see me,” he said. “They don’t want to talk about things like this.” One thing they might want to talk about is Son’s comment that he “provide network neutrality” on his network if he’s allowed to buy T-Mobile.