The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday paused its review of T-Mobile US Inc.’s proposed purchase of Sprint Corp., adding to an already protracted battle to win approval to combine the third- and fourth-largest U.S. wireless providers.

The move from the Republican-led agency created fresh turmoil for the $26.5 billion merger, which has been under review for more than eight months.

“All indications were this would be decided in the next few weeks” but now it appears “they haven’t made the case to the policy makers,” said Gigi Sohn, a former FCC aide and merger opponent. “They’re still grasping at new theories.”

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