Washington (CNN Business)T-Mobile’s mega-merger with Sprint can move forward, the Justice Department said Friday, paving the way for an unprecedented combination of America’s third- and fourth-largest wireless providers.The DOJ’s blessing marks a critical breakthrough for T-Mobile (TMUS) and Sprint (S) as they seek to join forces against Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T), which owns CNN. The smaller carriers argue they must merge in order to compete more effectively, especially as the industry moves toward next-generation 5G technology. But critics argue the tie-up will lead to higher prices and less innovation, and the merger may not close until a multi-state lawsuit to block the deal is resolved.

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