AT&T, Verizon Probe Heralds New Era of Greater Telecom Scrutiny
- Justice asks whether mobile carriers making it hard to switch
- Agency is seen giving a warning shot on antitrust issues
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The Department of Justice opened another front in its scrutiny of the U.S. telecom industry, signaling it’s set on maintaining a deeply competitive environment in a market where four major carriers are jostling for new subscribers.
Antitrust officials are investigating whether AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. colluded to make it tougher for consumers to change wireless carriers, people familiar with the matter said last week. Apple Inc., a pioneer in the so-called eSIM technology that makes switching easier, was among those to have complained about the practices, the people said.