[http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/08/atttmob.jpg](http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/metropcs-may-be-top-contender-for-atandts-post-acquisition-assets/)
The likelihood of a successful [acquisition of T-Mobile](http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/atandt-agrees-to-buy-t-mobile-from-deutsche-telekom/) by AT&T may largely depend on what the latter is willing to give up. The largest GSM carrier in the US may need to throw a few assets overboard in order to satisfy the Department of Justice, and has reportedly been Rethinking Possible by [engaging in discussions](http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/19/atandt-reportedly-talking-to-rivals-about-asset-sales-in-effort-to/) with several parties interested in scooping up the leftovers. According to *Bloomberg*, [MetroPCS](http://www.engadget.com/tag/metropcs/) appears to be the frontrunner in the talks, and plans to meet with the Justice Department (alongside AT&T, of course) in the next two weeks to determine if the strategy will appease the regulating body. No guarantees here, of course: it seems like *a lot *of assets would have to change hands for MetroPCS -- a regional carrier with roughly nine million subscribers -- to be considered a large enough competitor to assuage the government's concerns here. We can't imagine the Feds would be satisfied with any small offering, considering the Department's [filed a lawsuit](http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/us-government-files-to-block-propsed-atandt-t-mobile-merger/) against Ma Bell to block the merger. We have a feeling this saga is just starting to get *real* interesting, so stay tuned.
MetroPCS may be top contender for AT&T’s post-acquisition assets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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