Sprint asks court to allow lawsuit against AT&T-T-Mobile merger to go forward

Sprint and C Spire Wireless filed a joint motion in federal court Friday to move forward with their lawsuits challenging the merger of rivals AT&T and T-Mobile.

AT&T filed motions to dismiss both of those lawsuits last month, arguing that the two wireless carriers lack the appropriate legal standing to challenge the deal. In Friday's filing, Sprint and C Spire Wireless (formerly Cellular South) asked the court to reject AT&T's motion.

"With today’s filing, we are keeping our promise to continue to fight for consumers and for competition in the wireless industry,” said Susan Haller, Sprint's vice president for litigation.

The Justice Department has also sued to block the $39 billion merger, arguing it would stifle competition in the wireless industry. 

AT&T said Sprint is just trying to protect its own interests.

"Despite their disingenuous rhetoric, Sprint is obviously afraid of competition," Wayne Watts, AT&T's general counsel, said. "Antitrust law is not about protecting a particular competitor, but rather is about protecting competition, and that is why we are confident that Sprint's complaint will ultimately fail."

If AT&T is allowed to acquire T-Mobile, it and Verizon will be the nation's largest wireless carriers, leaving Sprint a distant third. 

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