The combination of LDDS Communications Inc with WilTel Network Services will create a long-distance company doing some $2,500m business a year, compared with number three in the business Sprint Corp, running at $12,500m and MCI Communications Corp, at $13,200m; in terms of market share, it will have about 4% against about 10% for Sprint, which is much more diversified than MCI, 20%, and AT&T Corp, now down to 60%; the combination will also create a US-wide long distance force big enough to be a contender for alliances with European and Far Eastern phone service operaters – and one likely to be keen to do a deal for cash to reduce what will be an enormous borrowings burden.
