Justice Department

AT&T to DOJ: EchoStar Spectrum Deal Won’t Harm Competition

T-Mobile, rural carriers want conditions ensuring rural deployment.

Jake Neenan

Nov 26, 2025 — 4 min read

Photo of a worker installing an AT&T antenna from the company

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2025 – AT&T is telling the Justice Department that its pending $23 billion purchase of spectrum licenses from EchoStar isn’t worsening competition in the wireless market.

The agency said earlier this year it was concerned about the three dominant national carriers consolidating spectrum resources.

AT&T said in a white paper submitted to the DOJ's antitrust division that the extra spectrum would allow it to improve and expand its fixed wireless service. The carrier also argued EchoStar would be better able to compete on price after decommissioning its own radios and operating on AT&T’s infrastructure, a component of the deal.

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