T-Mobile’s biggest shareholder not interested in Dish merger

The head of T-Mobile’s controlling shareholder is not very interested in merging with Charlie Ergen’s Dish Network. Instead, Timotheus Höttges, the chief executive of Deutsche Telekom, said he would like to see the No. 4 US wireless carrier combine spectrum with Sprint. That combination would create huge value, Höttges told investors. Adding Dish makes sense -- but in the future, the CEO said.

Dish Network and T-Mobile US were reported to be in talks over a merger. The reports sent T-Mobile shares up 5 percent over two days, to $40.24. Since, T-Mobile shares have eased a bit, closing June 8 down 1.9 percent, to $39.49. Apparently, the CEO said his Sprint strategy was tied to the belief that Comcast might buy or partner with a larger T-Mobile.