American telecommunications giant AT&T purchased T-Mobile from German rivals Deutsche Telekom, in a $39bn (£24bn) deal. AT&T should pay up to $25m in 'cash', while the rest would be repaid in stock, granting the German firm an 8 per cent stake.

It is estimated that the resulting company will earn back the price of the deal in the next three years.

This transaction implies a merger between the second and third largest groups in American wireless systems. The resulting firm will boast 130 million customers, thus overtaking current market leaders, Verizon Wireless, by a third of its clients and doubling the size the soon-to-be third biggest company, Sprint Nextel.

However, given the size of both companies involved, the deal still needs to be scrutinized by tight American anti-trust laws. Last year, the Federal Communications Commission - the American telecommunications watchdog - warned against growing concentration among mobile providers.

AT&T chairman and chief executive stated the merger would bring "significant customer, shareowner and public benefits".

His company issued a press release setting out what will likely be their main arguments in front of the commission: it said American wireless industry is "one of the most fiercely competitive markets in the world", adding that this merger would generate a better broadband service.