Sprint is a storied American brand, but it’s one that could cease to exist if its $26 billion merger with T-Mobile is approved.

If the long-awaited merger goes through, it would mean not only the end of Sprint’s long corporate history, it would also mark the end of several bruising decades of failed bets and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Even if the deal falls through, the future of Sprint will still be up in the air.

Both the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice have approved the merger with T-Mobile. But the deal’s opponents — including 15 states and the District of Columbia suing to block it — argue it will consolidate the US wireless market from four to just three nearly equal-sized carriers, leading to higher prices and fewer options for consumers.

Though it remains the fourth-largest wireless provider in the country, Sprint’s missteps have put it well behind larger rivals Verizon and AT&T (CNN’s parent company) in terms of customer numbers and network performance, and as the costly rollout of 5G looms large. Many think that without T-Mobile, Sprint may struggle to stay afloat and will probably find itself in bankruptcy court, something even Sprint has begun to hint at.

More at CNN.