Satellite operator Dish Network has asked the FCC to deny the proposed merger between the number three and four wireless carriers. Sprint and T-Mobile have argued that they need to get together to become a force in 5G and to provide more competition to top carriers AT&T and Verizon. But Dish says they are overstating the impact on 5G of their merger and that it is better for consumers and competition if they remain standalone competitors.

To allow them to merge, Dish says, would be to forfeit years of head-to-head competition. It also says they have not shown that the merged company benefits would outweigh the likely harms.