Deutsche Telekom AG is in talks to acquire MetroPCS in a stock-swap transaction that would give T-Mobile USA control over the upstart regional carrier.

MetroPCS shares jumped nearly 30 percent on the news, reported by Bloomberg.

MetroPCS operates a CDMA and LTE 4G network incompatible with T-Mobile USA’s GSM service, but would be an asset to T-Mobile’s prepaid phone unit, which could co-exist with T-Mobile’s existing network. MetroPCS primarily operates in the Boston-New York-Washington corridor, Southern California, Florida, southern Michigan, northern Georgia, and northeastern Texas. It is best known for delivering aggressive pricing on no-contract service plans, much like Leap Wireless’ Cricket.

Analysts predict T-Mobile would have little trouble winning approval for a merger between the two carriers. MetroPCS maintains an inconsequential 2.7% market share in the wireless industry. Speculation immediately increased that Leap Wireless’ Cricket unit could be the next target for a merger, potentially with Sprint or T-Mobile.

If T-Mobile sought to assume control of MetroPCS’ spectrum for its own operations, it would have to supply existing MetroPCS customers with new phones that operate on T-Mobile’s network standard.