![AT&T Drops Its T-Mobile Merger Bid In $4b Fail [telecom]](https://forums.cabling-design.com/media/22512/conversions/60370904e3b7d2.87847498-medium.jpg)
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Faced with the prospect of a long war with U.S regulators it seemed destined to lose, AT&T announced on Monday it would give up on its $39-billion attempt to purchase T-Mobile, even though the decision will cost the nation's number-two carrier at least $4 billion to walk away from the deal.
The proposed merger would have brought together the second- and fourth-largest telecommunications carriers in the United States, ultimately surpassing Verizon Wireless to be the largest telecom in the country. As recently as 11 days ago AT&T said it would not back down (though Chief Financial Officer John Stephens did seem to betray a bit of uncertainty). Instead, AT&T is out $4 billion with nothing to show for a proposed merger that drew instant fire from consumer groups and spectrum geeks.