MetroPCS shareholders have removed the final hurdle to a merger with T-Mobile USA, voting Wednesday to approve a sweetened offer from the fourth-ranked U.S. operator. The approval was expected after T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom, improved its original offer following objections from major MetroPCS shareholders. The shareholders voted "yes" at a special meeting in Richardson, Texas, Reuters reports. The merger is expected to close Thursday. The merger will create a wireless operator with 42.5 million subscribers. Combining T-Mobile and MetroPCS's advanced wireless spectrum (AWS) will provide greater network coverage and a path to at least 20x20 MHz channels of 4G LTE in many cities. Existing MetroPCS customers will be migrated to a common LTE-based network as they upgrade their handsets. For More