T-Mobile US Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Legere said that a combination with Dish Network Corp. could be a good match because of the satellite-TV provider’s video technology and massive cache of airwaves.
“I look at the spectrum portfolio and video content that Dish has as a fascinating idea,” Legere said Thursday on a conference call to discuss the company’s earnings. “Dish is a great opportunity for the country and possibly T-Mobile.”
Dish CEO Charlie Ergen reached out to Deutsche Telekom AG last year to express interest in an acquisition of its T-Mobile unit, people with knowledge of the matter said in September. AT&T Inc., SoftBank Corp. and Iliad SA all failed at various levels to acquire T-Mobile, the fourth-largest U.S. wireless carrier.
Dish’s recent acquisition of wireless spectrum and its debut of Sling TV, an online streaming service, has drawn industry attention as the company ponders its next move.
“The big question now relates to what Dish is going to do with their capability,” Legere said.
T-Mobile reported earnings earlier today that exceeded analysts’ estimates, sending the stock up as much as 7.2 percent.
