US telecommunication giant AT&T on Monday won court approval to postpone an antitrust trial over its planned $39-billion takeover of a smaller rival firm.
The case over the Texas-based company's purchase of T-Mobile USA, the US unit of German firm Deutsche Telekom, was originally scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 13.
Yet US District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle on Monday approved a motion by AT&T, Deutsche Telekom and the US Justice Department to cancel the February trial, according to US media reports.
"AT&T and Deutsche Telekom advised Judge Huvelle this morning that they wish to stay any further court proceedings until January 18, 2012, to allow the two companies time to evaluate all options. The US Department of Justice joined in the filing," AT&T said in a statement.
"We are actively considering whether and how to revise our current transaction to achieve the necessary regulatory approvals," the statement said.
In granting the delay of the antitrust trial, Judge Huvelle set the next hearing for the case for Jan. 18.
The development came as the planned deal was under increasing government opposition, and analysts warned that the deal had a slim chance of getting approved.
Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA provide more than 90 percent of the mobile wireless services in the US market.
US regulators fear that the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA would reduce competition and lead to higher consumer prices in the country.