"The position of Deutsche Telekom in the USA will improve markedly as a result," WirtschaftsWoche quoted Lehner as saying in a report to be published on Monday.

T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS said last month that they wanted to merge their companies, creating a stronger number four on the U.S. wireless market.

T-Mobile is seeking to catch up with market leaders Verizon Wireless (VZ.N) and AT&T (T.N), and third-place Sprint as the market moves quickly to super-fast mobile Internet offerings.

MetroPCS Communications said on November 19 the U.S. Department of Justice has requested for additional information regarding the proposed merger but continued to expect the deal to close in the first half of 2013.

(Reporting By Marilyn Gerlach, editing by William Hardy)

• A Permanent Economic Emergency