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Report: DT CEO names potential buyers for T-Mobile US

The CEO of Deutsche Telekom said this week that selling T-Mobile US could still be an option, but that the German carrier is not looking for a “fire sale.” Timotheus Hoettges named Comcast, Dish Network and América Móvil as potential acquirers, but said he is not in active talks with any of them. Deutsche Telekom owns 74% of T-Mobile US (TMUS).

This is the second time this month that a possible purchase of T-Mobile US by América Móvil has made headlines. Earlier this month, a consulting firm run by Alex Besen said that América Móvil will make an offer for T-Mobile US. His prediction came on the heels of AT&T’s news that it will buy Mexico’s Iusacell, which competes with América Móvil. More specifically, América Móvil owns prepaid provider Tracfone, and T-Mobile US has become a major force in the U.S. prepaid market since its purchase of MetroPCS.

T-Mobile US, currently the fastest-growing carrier in the U.S., has been an acquisition target for years, most notably when AT&T tried unsuccessfully to buy its fellow GSM carrier. The U.S. Justice Department blocked that deal based on antitrust concerns. The expectation of a similar outcome kept Sprint from making a formal bid for T-Mobile US even though its parent company Softbank was clearly interested earlier this year. France’s Iliad did make a formal bid for T-Mobile US this year, but DT rejected that bid, saying the price was too low.

The Mobile Minute is sponsored by Juniper Networks.

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Martha DeGrasse
Martha DeGrassehttp://www.nbreports.com
Martha DeGrasse is the publisher of Network Builder Reports (nbreports.com). At RCR, Martha authored more than 20 in-depth feature reports and more than 2,400 news articles. She also created the Mobile Minute and the 5 Things to Know Today series. Prior to joining RCR Wireless News, Martha produced business and technology news for CNN and Dow Jones in New York and managed the online editorial group at Hoover’s Online before taking a number of years off to be at home when her children were young. Martha is the board president of Austin's Trinity Center and is a member of the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum.