(Telecompaper) Sprint has abandoned plans for a merger with its closest rival T-Mobile US, the Wall Street Journal reports citing people familiar with the matter. The company has decided to end its pursuit of T-Mobile in the face of stiff opposition from regulators, the board decided on 05 August. When Sprint executives met with the FCC to discuss the deal last winter, they were given the signal that a deal would face high hurdles. Last week, the FCC underlined its opposition by saying it would propose rules that would prevent Sprint and T-Mobile from bidding together in the upcoming spectrum auction. Sprint will now continue independently, focusing on its recent network upgrades and new price plans planned for later this year. According to various reports, the operator will also get a new CEO, the head of Brightstar, Marcelo Claure.