T-Mobile
T-Mobile US, Inc. is an American wireless telecommunications company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, that provides nationwide mobile voice, messaging, and data services to postpaid, prepaid, and wholesale customers through its advanced 4G LTE and 5G networks.[1] As the second-largest wireless carrier in the United States, it serves approximately 140 million total customers as of the end of the third quarter of 2025, including significant growth in postpaid phone lines and 5G broadband access.[2] A majority-owned subsidiary of the German multinational Deutsche Telekom AG, T-Mobile operates under the "Un-carrier" brand philosophy, which emphasizes innovative, customer-centric policies such as unlimited data plans without contracts and aggressive device promotions to disrupt traditional industry practices.[3][4] The company's roots trace back to 1994, when it was founded as VoiceStream Wireless PCS, a subsidiary of Western Wireless International, offering personal communications services in the Pacific Northwest and other regions.[5] Deutsche Telekom acquired VoiceStream in 2001 for $11 billion and rebranded it as T-Mobile USA in 2002, expanding the magenta-branded service nationwide and integrating it into its global portfolio.[6] Key milestones include the 2013 merger with MetroPCS, which bolstered its prepaid offerings, and the 2020 completion of its $26 billion acquisition of Sprint Corporation, creating the New T-Mobile with enhanced spectrum assets to accelerate 5G deployment across urban, suburban, and rural areas.[7] More recently, in 2025, T-Mobile completed its acquisition of U.S. Cellular's wireless operations, adding over 4 million customers and expanding its Midwest footprint.[8] Today, T-Mobile leads in 5G coverage and speed, earning top rankings from independent testers like Ookla for its nationwide network, which spans more than 330 million people with ultra-capacity 5G in over 300 million areas.[9] The company reported record postpaid net customer additions of 2.3 million in Q3 2025, driven by iPhone upgrades, fixed wireless access growth to 8 million broadband customers, and strong service revenues of $18.2 billion.[10] Under CEO Srini Gopalan, who succeeded Mike Sievert, T-Mobile continues to invest heavily in network expansion, aiming for $10 billion in capital expenditures in 2025 while raising full-year guidance for customer and financial growth.[11] Its portfolio also includes brands like Metro by T-Mobile for value prepaid services and Mint Mobile for low-cost MVNO plans, alongside emerging fiber and IoT solutions.[12]History
Formation and early development
T-Mobile US traces its origins to VoiceStream Wireless, founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of Western Wireless Corporation by telecommunications executive John W. Stanton.[6][13] Initially focused on Personal Communications Services (PCS) in the 1900 MHz band, VoiceStream targeted markets in the Pacific Northwest, leveraging spectrum won in FCC auctions to build a digital wireless network.[14] The company launched its PCS service in 1996, becoming one of the early adopters of GSM technology in the United States, which enabled features like international roaming and text messaging ahead of many competitors.[14][15] In May 1999, VoiceStream was spun off from Western Wireless as an independent entity and rebranded simply as VoiceStream Wireless, marking a shift toward national ambitions.[6] This period saw aggressive expansion through acquisitions, including Omnipoint Corporation in early 2000 for approximately $1.25 billion in stock, which added GSM operations in the Northeastern United States, and Aerial Communications later that year for $2.96 billion, extending coverage to the Midwest and Southeast.[16][17] These moves significantly broadened VoiceStream's footprint, integrating regional networks and spectrum holdings to form a more cohesive national presence.[18] By the end of 2001, VoiceStream had achieved rapid subscriber growth, reaching over 6 million customers, driven by its focus on affordable PCS plans and GSM compatibility that appealed to younger demographics and tech-savvy users.[19] This expansion positioned the company for its eventual acquisition by Deutsche Telekom in 2001, which would rebrand it as T-Mobile US.[20]Acquisition by Deutsche Telekom
In July 2000, Deutsche Telekom announced its agreement to acquire VoiceStream Wireless Corporation for approximately $50.5 billion in a combination of stock and cash, marking the German company's major entry into the U.S. wireless market.[21] The deal faced regulatory scrutiny but received FCC approval in April 2001.[22] Completion occurred on June 1, 2001, alongside the parallel acquisition of regional GSM operator Powertel Inc. for about $5.9 billion in stock, bringing the total transaction value to roughly $56 billion and positioning the combined entity as Deutsche Telekom's primary U.S. wireless subsidiary under the T-Mobile International umbrella.[23] This move provided Deutsche Telekom with over 5 million U.S. subscribers and a nationwide GSM footprint, complementing its European operations.[24] Post-acquisition, the company underwent a significant rebranding from VoiceStream to T-Mobile USA in 2002, aligning it with Deutsche Telekom's established T-Mobile brand in Europe and emphasizing a unified global identity.[6] The transition began with test markets in California and Nevada in July 2002, featuring new service launches under the T-Mobile name, and culminated in a nationwide rollout on September 4, 2002.[25] This rebranding involved updating logos, stores, and marketing materials to incorporate the distinctive magenta color scheme, which became a hallmark of the brand's visual identity.[26] The integration period presented early challenges, particularly in merging the disparate networks of VoiceStream, which focused on the West Coast and Midwest, and Powertel, which served the Southeast, to create a cohesive national service.[27] These efforts were compounded by broader cost-cutting initiatives at Deutsche Telekom, which included workforce reductions across its operations to address financial pressures from the high acquisition costs and a cooling telecom market.[28] Approximately 5,000 jobs were eliminated in the U.S. unit during this phase to streamline administration and support the rebranding.[29] To promote the new brand, T-Mobile USA launched its first national advertising campaign in 2002, centered on the "Get More" slogan and prominently featuring the magenta branding to highlight affordable plans and innovative service.[30] The campaign, which included TV, radio, and print ads, aimed to build consumer awareness and differentiate T-Mobile from competitors in a saturated market.[26]Merger with MetroPCS
In October 2012, T-Mobile USA announced an agreement to merge with MetroPCS Communications in a $4 billion all-stock transaction, with MetroPCS shareholders receiving a 26% stake in the combined company.[31] The merger, which aimed to accelerate T-Mobile's network upgrades to LTE and expand its prepaid offerings, faced regulatory review but was approved by the FCC in March 2013.[32] It closed on May 1, 2013, adding approximately 9 million MetroPCS subscribers and bolstering T-Mobile's position in the value-oriented wireless segment, particularly in urban markets.[33] Post-merger, MetroPCS was rebranded as Metro by T-Mobile, integrating its operations while retaining a focus on no-contract plans.[34]Merger with Sprint
In April 2018, T-Mobile US and Sprint Corporation announced a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $26 billion for Sprint, creating a combined entity worth about $146 billion.[35][36] The merger aimed to position the new company as a stronger competitor to Verizon and AT&T in the U.S. wireless market by accelerating 5G network deployment and enhancing overall service capabilities.[37][35] The merger faced extensive regulatory scrutiny, including prolonged reviews by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The DOJ approved the deal on July 26, 2019, conditioned on divestitures of certain prepaid and Boost Mobile assets to Dish Network to preserve market competition.[38] The FCC voted to approve the merger on October 16, 2019, with its order released on November 5, 2019, imposing conditions such as network expansion commitments and public interest safeguards.[39][40] A subsequent federal court ruling on February 11, 2020, upheld the approvals against challenges from state attorneys general, clearing the final major hurdle.[41] The transaction closed on April 1, 2020, with T-Mobile as the surviving brand and Sprint's operations integrated into it.[7] Following the merger, T-Mobile began integrating Sprint's subscriber base, focusing on network unification and customer retention amid the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2020, the combined company had reached approximately 100 million total customers, reflecting successful post-merger growth and synergies in operations.[42][43] One of the primary immediate benefits was enhanced spectrum access, particularly Sprint's valuable 2.5 GHz mid-band holdings, which provided T-Mobile with up to 160 MHz of additional capacity in key markets to bolster 5G deployment.[44] This spectrum synergy enabled faster rollout of mid-band 5G, offering improved coverage and speeds compared to higher-frequency alternatives used by competitors.[45][35]Post-merger expansions and acquisitions
Following the completion of its merger with Sprint in 2020, T-Mobile US Inc. focused on bolt-on acquisitions and diversification initiatives to enhance its customer base and service offerings. In March 2023, T-Mobile announced an agreement to acquire Ka'ena Corporation, the parent company of the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, in a deal valued at up to $1.35 billion.[46] The acquisition, which closed on May 1, 2024, after receiving U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval, integrated approximately 3 million prepaid subscribers into T-Mobile's ecosystem, strengthening its position in the budget and international calling segments while leveraging Mint's innovative direct-to-consumer model.[47] This move allowed T-Mobile to expand its prepaid offerings without significant infrastructure investment, capitalizing on the growing demand for affordable wireless plans.[48] Building on this momentum, T-Mobile pursued further geographic and demographic expansion through the acquisition of United States Cellular Corporation's (UScellular) wireless operations. Announced on May 28, 2024, the $4.4 billion transaction—comprising $2.6 billion in cash and $1.8 billion in assumed debt—involved the purchase of UScellular's wireless licenses, network assets, and about 30% of its spectrum holdings across multiple bands.[49] The deal, which received FCC and U.S. Department of Justice clearance, closed on August 1, 2025, adding roughly 4.5 million subscribers and significantly improving T-Mobile's rural coverage in 23 states, where UScellular had a strong foothold.[50] This acquisition enhanced T-Mobile's 5G network density in underserved areas, enabling better service for customers in regions with limited competition from larger carriers.[51] In parallel, T-Mobile ventured into the fixed broadband market to diversify beyond wireless services. Starting in 2023, the company formed strategic partnerships and investments, including a collaboration with open-access fiber providers, to build out fiber-optic infrastructure.[52] This initiative culminated in the official launch of T-Mobile Fiber Home Internet in June 2025, initially available to over 500,000 households in select markets with symmetrical speeds up to 2 Gbps and pricing starting at $60 per month, bundled with wireless perks.[53] The entry into fiber broadband positioned T-Mobile to compete in the high-speed home internet space, targeting 12 to 15 million homes by 2030 through joint ventures like its $950 million investment in Lumos.[54] These post-merger efforts contributed to robust subscriber growth, with T-Mobile reaching approximately 140 million total customers by September 2025, fueled by aggressive promotions such as bundled pricing and enhanced 5G perks.[10] The company's Q3 2025 earnings reported a record 2.3 million net customer additions, including over 1 million postpaid phone net adds, underscoring the impact of these expansions in driving market share gains amid intensifying competition.[8]Corporate structure
Ownership and governance
T-Mobile US, Inc. is majority-owned by Deutsche Telekom AG, the German telecommunications conglomerate, which holds approximately 52.1% of the company's outstanding shares as of June 30, 2025, accounting for treasury shares held by T-Mobile US.[55] The remaining shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol TMUS, allowing for broad investor participation while Deutsche Telekom maintains controlling interest through its stake. This ownership structure reflects Deutsche Telekom's strategic role as the parent company, guiding long-term decisions on investments, technology integration, and international alignment without direct operational interference. The Board of Directors comprises 14 members, ensuring a balance of independent expertise and parent company representation to oversee corporate strategy and risk management.[56] Deutsche Telekom appointees, including Chairman Timotheus Höttges (CEO of Deutsche Telekom), Thomas Dannenfeldt (CFO of Deutsche Telekom), and Dr. Abdurazak Mudesir (CTO of Deutsche Telekom), hold key positions that provide majority influence on board matters, particularly in areas like technology and finance.[57] Other members include independent directors such as Srikant M. Datar and Marcelo Claure, contributing diverse perspectives from academia, finance, and industry. In September 2025, Dr. Abdurazak Mudesir was added to the board effective September 19 as a Deutsche Telekom designee, bringing expertise in technology and innovation to support T-Mobile's 5G and network advancements. T-Mobile's governance framework emphasizes sustainability through policies integrated into its operations, including environmental goals for reducing carbon emissions and promoting energy-efficient infrastructure, as detailed in its annual Corporate Responsibility Reports submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).[58] Regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the company previously maintained dedicated programs and councils to foster inclusive practices, but in July 2025, T-Mobile discontinued these initiatives—including eliminating DEI-specific roles, teams, and website references—in response to political pressures and to facilitate FCC approvals for pending transactions.[59] These changes were disclosed in SEC filings, reflecting adjustments to align with evolving regulatory expectations while upholding core ethical standards.[60]Executive leadership
As of late 2025, T-Mobile's executive leadership is led by Srini Gopalan, who serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he assumed on November 1, 2025, succeeding Mike Sievert. Gopalan, previously Chief Operating Officer since March 2025, oversees the company's overall strategy, including technology, consumer, and business operations, building on his prior experience as CEO of Deutsche Telekom's German operations where he expanded fiber infrastructure and boosted growth.[61][62] Mike Sievert held the CEO role from August 2020 until his transition in November 2025, during which he directed the integration following the 2020 merger with Sprint, driving customer growth and network expansion to position T-Mobile as a leading U.S. wireless provider.[61][63] Peter Osvaldik is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, responsible for financial planning, capital allocation, and investor relations; under his leadership, T-Mobile reported $21.96 billion in total revenue for the third quarter of 2025, reflecting an 8.8% year-over-year increase driven by postpaid customer additions.[64][65] John Saw serves as President of Technology and Chief Technology Officer, leading network engineering, 5G deployment, and innovation initiatives; he assumed expanded responsibilities in September 2025 following the retirement of Ulf Ewaldsson, continuing T-Mobile's focus on advanced connectivity and spectrum utilization.[66][67] Recent leadership transitions include Gopalan's rapid ascent from COO to CEO amid strategic succession planning, as well as organizational realignments in technology and business units to support ongoing digital transformation and market expansion.[68][69]Headquarters and operations
T-Mobile US is headquartered at 12920 SE 38th Street in Bellevue, Washington, serving as the central hub for its executive and administrative functions.[70] The company also maintains significant operational facilities, including a major network operations center in Frisco, Texas, which supports monitoring and management of its nationwide infrastructure.[4] As of 2024, T-Mobile US employs approximately 70,000 people, primarily in the United States, enabling its extensive service delivery across the country.[71] The company operates a vast retail network with over 7,500 locations nationwide, including both corporate-owned stores and authorized dealer outlets, providing customer access to devices, plans, and support services.[72] T-Mobile's operational divisions encompass retail sales, customer service, and technical support, with key customer care centers located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada.[73][74] These facilities handle inbound inquiries, billing assistance, and technical troubleshooting, contributing to the company's customer experience strategy. In alignment with broader environmental goals, T-Mobile US has committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its entire carbon footprint by 2040, marking it as the first U.S. wireless carrier to set such a target.[75] This initiative includes efforts to source 100% renewable electricity, enhance energy efficiency in operations, and promote circularity in product lifecycles, reflecting a focus on sustainable business practices.Network and technology
Infrastructure and spectrum holdings
T-Mobile's spectrum portfolio includes significant holdings in low-band spectrum, particularly the 600 MHz band, which provides wide-area coverage for its network. The company has expanded its 600 MHz assets through acquisitions and swaps, including a 2025 deal with Grain Management exchanging 800 MHz licenses for additional 600 MHz spectrum, and further swaps with AT&T and Verizon involving 600 MHz alongside other bands.[76][77] Mid-band spectrum forms the core of T-Mobile's capacity, encompassing 1.9 GHz PCS and 1.7/2.1 GHz AWS bands, with the 2.5 GHz band acquired via the 2020 Sprint merger enabling high-performance 5G deployments.[78] T-Mobile also holds millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands for dense urban applications, though it prioritizes mid-band for broader rollout.[79] The company's core network infrastructure relies on 4G LTE and 5G NR technologies, supporting a nationwide deployment of over 82,000 macro towers as of mid-2025, supplemented by thousands of small cells for enhanced capacity.[80] This extensive site count, which exceeds 100,000 when including distributed antenna systems and small cells, underpins T-Mobile's network reliability. For backhaul connectivity, T-Mobile maintains long-term partnerships with infrastructure providers like Crown Castle, which supplies fiber optic links essential for transporting data from cell sites to the core network, with agreements renewed to support 5G densification.[81] T-Mobile invests heavily in infrastructure upgrades, with capital expenditures projected at approximately $10 billion for 2025, focused on spectrum integration, site expansions, and fiber enhancements following acquisitions like UScellular.[82] These investments bolster the foundational assets that enable the company's ongoing 5G network evolution.[83]Coverage and 5G rollout
T-Mobile's 5G network rollout has prioritized broad geographic accessibility, achieving coverage for more than 330 million people across over two million square miles by mid-2025.[84] The Extended Range 5G, leveraging low-band spectrum, extends reliable connectivity to approximately 99% of Americans, surpassing traditional 4G LTE in speed and indoor penetration while reaching remote and urban areas alike.[85] This milestone reflects ongoing densification efforts, ensuring consistent performance for voice, data, and IoT applications nationwide. Complementing this foundation, T-Mobile's Ultra Capacity 5G utilizes mid-band spectrum to deliver higher speeds and capacity, covering more than 300 million people by early 2025.[86] This deployment enhances user experiences in densely populated regions, supporting bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming and gaming with median download speeds exceeding 200 Mbps in tested areas. Independent benchmarks, including Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence data for the first half of 2025, rank T-Mobile first in 5G availability and overall mobile network experience, outperforming competitors in download speeds and video streaming reliability.[87] The 2024 acquisition of U.S. Cellular, completed in August 2025, significantly bolstered T-Mobile's rural footprint by integrating approximately 4,000 additional cell sites in underserved markets.[88] This expansion added substantial coverage in rural and small-town areas, serving over 4 million customers and improving 5G access where prior options were limited, thereby addressing connectivity gaps in approximately 30% more sites across key non-urban regions.[89] Post-acquisition enhancements have enabled seamless network integration, further solidifying T-Mobile's leadership in nationwide 5G penetration.Technological innovations
T-Mobile pioneered the use of 600 MHz low-band spectrum for 5G networks, enabling superior signal penetration through buildings and rural areas compared to higher-frequency bands. In January 2019, the company, in collaboration with Ericsson and Intel, achieved the world's first 5G data and video calls on this spectrum over a live commercial network, demonstrating its potential for extended coverage and reliability. This development laid the foundation for T-Mobile's nationwide 5G rollout, which prioritized low-band spectrum to reach over 200 million people by late 2019. The 600 MHz band's propagation characteristics allow for cell sites spaced up to three times farther apart than mid-band alternatives, significantly reducing deployment costs while maintaining consistent indoor and outdoor connectivity. In 2024, T-Mobile expanded its radio access network (RAN) capabilities through strategic partnerships with Nokia and Ericsson, focusing on open and AI-integrated architectures to enhance network flexibility and performance. These collaborations, announced alongside NVIDIA, established an AI-RAN Innovation Center to integrate artificial intelligence directly into RAN operations, starting with joint trials and aiming for field deployments in 2026. By leveraging open RAN principles, T-Mobile aims to disaggregate hardware and software components, allowing for multi-vendor interoperability and accelerated innovation in 5G and future 6G networks. This initiative builds on T-Mobile's earlier Open RAN efforts, positioning the company to dynamically optimize spectrum usage and reduce operational complexities for scalable enterprise solutions. T-Mobile has also announced plans to phase out its LTE (4G) service starting in late 2025, repurposing LTE spectrum for 5G through a process known as re-farming. This transition, spanning over two years, will end most LTE coverage by 2028, with a narrow LTE channel retained until at least 2035 for legacy IoT devices. The shift aims to create a 5G-only network, requiring upgrades for LTE-only devices such as certain flip phones and some non-standalone 5G equipment.[90] T-Mobile launched its T-Satellite direct-to-device service in July 2025, partnering with SpaceX's Starlink to provide satellite-based connectivity for unmodified smartphones in areas beyond traditional cellular coverage. Initially focused on text messaging and emergency communications, the service utilizes low-Earth orbit satellites to enable SOS features and basic connectivity during disasters or remote travel, automatically switching when terrestrial signals are unavailable. By October 2025, the offering expanded to include limited data services, covering nearly the entire continental U.S. and supporting first responders with reliable access in challenging environments. In November 2025, T-Satellite further enabled Text-to-911 emergency texting nationwide, enhancing public safety in areas without voice coverage.[91] This innovation addresses critical gaps in emergency response, ensuring connectivity for public safety applications without requiring specialized hardware. T-Mobile has advanced 5G network slicing to deliver customized virtual networks tailored for enterprise applications, enabling isolated, optimized segments of the shared infrastructure for specific use cases. In August 2025, the company introduced the first nationwide 5G Standalone (SA) network slice designed for businesses, incorporating enhanced security, priority access, and adaptive bandwidth allocation to support industries like manufacturing and logistics. This slicing capability, built on T-Mobile's 5G Advanced core, allows enterprises to deploy dedicated slices for low-latency IoT operations or high-throughput data transfers, such as real-time video from drones in production environments. As the first U.S. carrier to commercialize network slicing at scale, T-Mobile's implementation facilitates monetizable services for sectors requiring guaranteed performance and privacy.Products and services
Wireless plans and pricing
T-Mobile offers a range of postpaid unlimited wireless plans under its Experience lineup, introduced in April 2025 to replace the previous Go5G series, providing varying levels of data priority, hotspot allowance, and bundled perks while emphasizing a 5-Year Price Guarantee that locks in rates for new customers without increases during that period.[92] As of October 2025, the entry-level Essentials plan starts at $60 per month for a single line with AutoPay, dropping to $25 per line for four lines ($100 total), and includes unlimited talk, text, and data with 50 GB of premium data before potential deprioritization, plus 3 GB of high-speed hotspot data.[93] Mid-tier Experience More, priced at $85 per month for one line or $25 per line for four lines ($100 total) with AutoPay, builds on Essentials with 100 GB of premium data, 50 GB of hotspot, and inclusions like Netflix Standard with Ads.[94] The premium Experience Beyond plan costs $100 per single line or $35 per line for four lines ($140 total), offering 200 GB of premium data, 250 GB of high-speed hotspot, an annual device upgrade option after 12 months, and enhanced perks such as Apple TV+ and Hulu (with ads).[95] Family plans feature built-in multi-line discounts, reducing costs progressively from one to five or more lines—for instance, Experience More falls to $100 total for four lines, saving up to $200 monthly compared to single-line equivalents—while maintaining shared unlimited data pools and family-oriented perks like parental controls.[96] Premium tiers such as Experience More and Beyond include international roaming benefits, providing up to 15 GB of high-speed data and unlimited texting in over 215 countries and destinations, along with 5 GB in Canada and Mexico, eliminating traditional roaming fees for short-term travel.[97] In 2015, T-Mobile expanded its contract-free model with Carrier Freedom, allowing customers to switch carriers without early termination fees by covering up to $650 in outstanding device balances, which evolved into the current Equipment Installment Plan (EIP) offering 0% interest financing for devices over 24 months, enabling flexible upgrades without long-term contracts.[98] This EIP integrates seamlessly with plan subscriptions, where device payments are bundled into monthly bills at no upfront cost.[99] T-Mobile implemented price increases on legacy plans in 2023 and 2024, ranging from $2 to $5 per line monthly, attributed to rising operational costs and substantial investments in 5G network expansion to enhance coverage and speeds for existing subscribers.[100] These adjustments affected older plans like Magenta and Simple Choice but spared newer Experience plans under the price guarantee.[101]| Plan | Single Line (with AutoPay) | 4 Lines (with AutoPay) | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $60/mo | $100/mo ($25/line) | 50 GB premium data, 3 GB hotspot, Mobile Without Borders (Canada/Mexico) |
| Experience More | $85/mo | $100/mo ($25/line) | 100 GB premium data, 50 GB hotspot, Netflix Standard with Ads, 15 GB international data |
| Experience Beyond | $100/mo | $140/mo ($35/line) | 200 GB premium data, 250 GB hotspot, annual upgrades, Apple TV+ & Hulu, 30 GB Canada/Mexico data |