1.   But some executives and analysts are convinced that horizontal mergers alone will not create companies with heft enough to break into entrenched local telephone markets.

2.   Furthermore, Sprint and its cable partners may offer phone service in cities across the country, battling entrenched local telephone company monopolies.

3.   If MCI Worldcom does actually build local networks to compete for residential customers against the entrenched local telephone companies, it would be the first to do so.

4.   Sprint also has teamed up with three cable industry companies to offer cellular phone service and local basic service in competition with entrenched local telephone companies.