Washington: The future of the US wireless industry hinges on a court battle kicking off today in federal court in Manhattan, a case that could end with T-Mobile US Inc buying Sprint Corp, and Dish Network Corp getting the go-ahead to enter the market.

US judge Victor Marrero will weigh arguments from a group of states that say he should block the US$26.5bil Sprint deal because it will raise prices on consumers by eliminating competition between the two carriers.