DOJ Approves $4.4B T-Mobile UScellular Acquisition

U.S. antitrust regulators under President Donald Trump's administration have approved T-Mobile's $4.4 billion acquisition of UScellular's wireless business, including its customers, retail stores, and 30% of its spectrum assets. The Department of Justice (DOJ) decided not to challenge the deal, citing UScellular's inability to keep pace with escalating technology investment costs, which would have led to a degradation of its network quality. DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater emphasized that customers would benefit from the transaction, though she acknowledged concerns about spectrum concentration, as the Big Three carriers—Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile—now control over 80% of U.S. wireless spectrum, raising risks for future competition. The approval is consistent with the Trump administration's more lenient antitrust stance, contrasting with the previous administration's stricter approach, as seen in recent clearances of other major deals. The decision also followed T-Mobile's announcement to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs amid regulatory pressures. Both T-Mobile and UScellular did not immediately comment on the approval.