Could Sprint's SoftBank deal be a boon to U.S. wireless customers?

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Sprint CEO Dan Hesse may have a lot to smile about (Photo: JBTaylor|Flickr)

SoftBank's 70 percent stake gives Sprint a much-needed infusion of cash (Cash image: Shutterstock)

Could Sprint's SoftBank deal be a boon to U.S. wireless customers?

Verizon and AT&T play a game where the cards are stacked in their favor

Article Summary

The U.S. wireless industry: so good for AT&T and Verizon, yet so bad for everyone else. In some respects, it's the world's leading market. Its LTE rollout has been aggressive and expansive, and it gets the hottest devices first. For customers, though, things aren't always so rosy. The two carriers' virtual duopoly keeps prices high and new policies unfair. The sole hope for increased competition may lie with Sprint. For US$20.1 billion, Japan's SoftBank today acquired a 70 percent stake in the carrier. Though the move could be seen as a sign of desperation for the (distant) third-place Sprint, it could also ultimately invigorate competition and swing some of the power back to customers.