Sprint’s Likely Buyer May Be CenturyLink After AT&T Deal

Sprint Nextel Corp.’s Dan Hesse told Congress last week the third-largest U.S. wireless operator may end up being acquired if AT&T Inc. purchases T-Mobile USA Inc. The most likely buyer is CenturyLink, the biggest company in telecommunications without a wireless unit, analysts said

AT&T’s proposed deal would create the largest U.S. mobile-phone company, combining the second- and fourth-largest carriers to surpass Verizon Wireless. Sprint Chief Executive Officer Hesse said in a Congressional hearing the merger would pressure his much-smaller company to sell and result in a “duopoly.”