科技英语新闻:NY Attorney General to analyze AT&T, T-Mobile merger

NEW YORK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Tuesday that his office will undertake a thorough review of AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile for potential anti-competitive impacts on consumers and businesses.

Schneiderman stressed that his review will weigh the benefits of the merger to New Yorkers, such as expanding the coverage of AT& T's next generation broadband wireless network to rural areas in upstate New York, against the anti-competitive risks posed to them.

"Cell phones are no longer a luxury for a few among us, but a basic necessity. The last thing New Yorkers need during these difficult economic times is to see cell phone prices rise," said Schneiderman in a statement. "We want to ensure all New Yorkers benefit from these important innovations that improve lives."

AT&T's proposed 39-billion-U.S.-dollar purchase of T-Mobile would create the nation's largest wireless company with a total of 130 million subscribers nationwide, opening the door to a near duopoly shared by the merged firm and Verizon, according to the New York Attorney General's office.

T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, is a low-cost provider of choice for millions of New Yorkers and currently has 34 million customers nationwide, making it the fourth-largest wireless company in the United States.