T-Mobile Asks FCC to Approve Merger With MetroPCS

The merger of Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA with MetroPCS Communications will increase competition with larger rivals and benefit consumers, the companies said in a regulatory filing.

The companies made the arguments in papers they submitted Oct. 18 to the Federal Communications Commission. The companies will file later with U.S. antitrust authorities, according to the filing. By having more customers, the company will be able to distribute the fixed costs of its network over a broader base, giving it greater pricing flexibility, according to the filing. The transaction doesn’t harm competition and strengthens the smallest of what the FCC has described as nationwide carriers, the filing said. It said the new company intends to be the leading low-priced carrier in the U.S., with a focus on offering plans attractive to customers seeking affordability.