Sprint wraps up iPCS acquisition, Nextel merger drama may finally be over

It's been eons since Sprint bought Nextel, but regional affiliate iPCS had managed to keep the fallout from the deal tied up in courts for years -- a side-effect of its claim that the merger violated Sprint's agreement to stay off iPCS' turf. After a few court losses, Sprint ultimately decided to bite the bullet and buy iPCS outright, and now, that deal's finalized to the tune of $831 million including Sprint's assumption of $405 million in debt. Though iPCS customers now become Sprint customers as a result of the acquisition, they'll effectively notice no difference -- the regional was already offering Sprint service exclusively under the Sprint brand, so this whole deal is little more than an escape hatch for the head office to tie off these legal wranglings once and for all.

[xdreamwalker Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:39PM]

I've been an iPCS customer for over 8 years. I didn't figure out I was an iPCS customer and not a Sprint customer until about 3 years ago. I am going to guess that this will make very little difference to me at all.

[COCOViper Posted Dec 8th 2009 12:00AM]

@(Unverified)
Yep no difference or maybe better service down the road if network enhancements are made.

The big deal is that it allows Sprint to launch the 4G network/service in iPCS territory though :-)

[BBrooksSux Posted Dec 7th 2009 9:40PM]

Ok now when is Sprint going to get rid of Shentel and Swiftel. The age of the affiliate needs to be over!!!! Affiliates have been making a mockery of Sprint for a while now, and with the IPCS acquiaition it's gotta be more cost effective than to allow them to remain in existence. As Spock said, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few ("few" being affiliate subscribers).

[MFfan310 Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:39PM]

@BBrooksSux Sprint has a 10-year affiliate agreement with Shentel, and settled all lawsuits with Shentel a while back.

[BBrooksSux Posted Dec 8th 2009 9:13PM]

I understand that Shentel has a 10 year agreement, but couldn't SPCS just buy out Shentel. The cost of the company couldn't be that much higher than EBIDTA, then SPCS could spin off their phone and cable company. Believe me agreement our not that are a fly on the horse's ass that is Sprint. And if Sprint wants to swat it, they will be crushed. That's been Shentel's downfall for years they are a chihuahua that thinks they are a pitbull. Eventually a big dog is going to call them on their bluff.

[BoBByGfiredu Posted Dec 15th 2009 9:18PM]

@BBrooksSux
Are you Pissed cause your not working there????? It sure seems like it...You didnt mind Shentel when you worked for them....