The FCC today announced the agency will approve T-Mobile’s $26.5 billion planned acquisition of Sprint, despite widespread condemnation of the deal by consumer groups, unions, and antitrust experts. These critics have repeatedly noted how a reduction in overall major telecom competitors almost universally results in higher rates and worse overall service. 

In a press release issued Monday morning, the Ajit Pai FCC proclaimed that the industry’s latest megamerger would result in better broadband for Americans.

To get regulatory approval, T-Mobile and Sprint claim they’ll deploy a 5G network that will cover 97% of the US population within three years of the closing of the merger and 99% of Americans within six years. The FCC said the companies had also promised not to raise prices for three years, and would divest ownership of prepaid wireless operator Boost Mobile. 

But even with these conditions, experts say the deal isn’t likely to drive the benefits the FCC promises. There’s not a consumer group in America that supports the merger; in large part because global telecom history repeatedly shows that when you reduce the overall number of major competitors, prices inevitably rise due to decreased competition.

More at Vice Motherboard.