Sprint Asks Judge to Reject AT&T Bid to End T-Mobile Suit

Sprint Nextel Corp. urged a federal judge to reject AT&T Inc.’s bid to throw out its lawsuit to stop AT&T’s purchase of T-Mobile USA Inc., arguing the deal would leave just two major U.S. wireless companies and hurt its business.

Sprint’s attorney, Steven Sunshine, said at a hearing today in Washington on AT&T’s motion to dismiss the case that the merger would increase AT&T’s market power to secure deals for exclusive handsets. Dallas-based AT&T argued in court papers that Sprint can’t challenge the $39 billion deal under antitrust law because it’s a competitor rather than a consumer.