Dish Network Considering T-Mobile Bid In 2014 Says Source

Dish Network has made no secret of its desires to own some wireless spectrum and a wireless phone provider. Dish bid $25.5 billion for Sprint back in April, but was unable to seal the deal. Dish is also working with another wireless carrier in a plan to put fixed 4G broadband in place in a test in Texas.

Sources tipped this week that Dish may be eyeing another attempt to purchase a wireless carrier in 2014. According to the sources, Dish is thinking about buying T-Mobile in 2014. Dish has reportedly already been in talks with Deutsche Telekom AG, the majority owner of T-Mobile about the possibility of a deal.

Dish owns a bunch of wireless spectrum and is looking to make the moves allowing it to make the most of its holdings. Reports indicate that the takeover bid could come in the first half of 2014. Dish hasn't yet made the decision to move forward with a buyout offer according to the sources. However, if Sprint makes a bid for T-Mobile, the sources say Dish is ready to move quickly.

Any bid by Sprint for T-Mobile would require significant regulatory hurdles to be crossed. The path to purchase for Dish would likely be easier. Even if Sprint purchased T-Mobile, it would still be smaller than both Verizon and AT&T but the government has said in the past it wants four carriers in the US.

SOURCE: Reuters