U.S. mobile carrier Sprint has reportedly begun talks with cable television providers Charter Communications and Comcast regarding a potential mobile business partnership.
According to financial sources quoted by the Nikkei, Sprint will prioritize negotiations with Charter Communications and Comcast for the time being, but also plans to continue integration talks with the third-largest player, T-Mobile US, which is majority owned by Deutsche Telekom.
According to sources, the two companies will pay the costs of building the communications network and Sprint will provide its lines under preferential terms. Charter and Comcast may also acquire stakes in Sprint.
SoftBank acquired Sprint in 2013. At the time, Sprint agreed a business integration with T-Mobile with the aim of becoming a carrier that could challenge industry leader Verizon Communications and No. 2 AT&T. But the plan was shelved in the face of opposition from the Obama administration on anti-monopoly grounds.