Sprint and T-Mobile are eager to merge their two networks to step up competition with Verizon and AT&T, but as with any mergers of this size, everything is subject to a ton of regulatory scrutiny. So far things have been looking good for both carriers, and now they've reportedly cleared another hurdle on that road.
The US security panel, one of the key groups that will decide whether or not the deal does go through, has agreed to allow the merger with one key condition. Sprint and T-Mobile can join, but they can't use any Huawei equipment for their new network. Yep, someone a buyout between two American telecoms turned into yet another slap in the face to Huawei.
Currently neither Sprint nor T-Mobile actually uses any Huawei equipment in their networks, so they're technically in good shape for those rules, but there's a catch; Deutsche Telecom and Softbank both do use Huawei, and they own T-Mobile and Sprint, respectively. So while that merger technically doesn't have anything to do with networks outside of the US, strings are getting pulled to hurt Huawei around the globe.
Both companies are currently in talks to swap out their Huawei networking equipment with parts from Nokia and Ericsson, so it looks like they'll be agreeing to those demands. The merger still has to go through a few hoops, and FCC approval isn't expected until sometime in 2019, but the wheels are in motion.
source: Android Police
