“After more than a year of regulatory battles, T-Mobile’s $26.5 billion takeover of Sprint is close to happening,” reports CNET.

The story adds, “Justice Department antitrust head Makan Delrahim said Friday that the DOJ will approve the deal because T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom signed an agreement to sell off several Sprint assets to Dish Network, creating a new nationwide wireless carrier.”

The CNET article also explains that “While the DOJ decision smooths the path for the T-Mobile-Sprint deal, it’s not signed, sealed and delivered just yet.

“Thirteen state attorneys general, as well as the District of Columbia, have filed a multistate lawsuit to block the T-Mobile-Sprint deal on the grounds that it will lead to higher prices and less competition. Although the new agreement paves the way for Dish to replace Sprint as a fourth wireless carrier, it remains to be seen whether the states will continue to pursue their legal action.”