Season 2, Episode 8: T-Mobile / Sprint

The Acquired podcast explores the proposed Sprint T-Mobile merger by diving into the complex history of both companies and the evolution of the wireless telecom industry. The hosts trace the origins of McCaw Cellular, founded by Craig McCaw, and its influence on both AT&T and Sprint. They further detail how John Stanton and Terry Gillespie, McCaw alumni, created T-Mobile USA. The discussion highlights the disruptive impact of John Legere, who rebranded T-Mobile as the "un-carrier," and SoftBank's tumultuous investment in Sprint. Ultimately, the hosts debate whether the merger will increase competition and benefit consumers, considering the regulatory hurdles and the need for scale in the 5G era.