History of T-Mobile US in Timeline
T-Mobile US, Inc., headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, is an American wireless network operator and the second-largest carrier in the United States. As of September 30, 2025, it had 140 million subscribers. Deutsche Telekom, a German telecommunications company, is the majority shareholder of T-Mobile.
1998: MobileStar Begins Building Wireless ISP Network
In 1998, MobileStar began building its wireless ISP network. This network would later be acquired by T-Mobile in 2002 and developed into T-Mobile HotSpots.
1998: Jamie Lee Curtis as spokesperson for VoiceStream Wireless
Since 1998, Jamie Lee Curtis was the spokesperson for T-Mobile USA's predecessor, VoiceStream Wireless. VoiceStream's advertising slogan was: "Get more from life".
2001: Unionization Attempts
Beginning as early as 2001, T-Mobile US employees and two labor unions led multiple unionization attempts.
2002: T-Mobile Purchases Bankrupt Wireless ISP MobileStar
In 2002, T-Mobile purchased the bankrupt wireless ISP MobileStar. After the purchase, T-Mobile expanded MobileStar's network into various locations, including Borders bookstores, airport clubs, and lounges operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, forming the T-Mobile HotSpots network.
2002: Catherine Zeta-Jones as spokesperson
Starting in 2002, Catherine Zeta-Jones became the company's spokesperson and was the main figure in its branding strategy.
2004: Snoop Dogg as spokesperson for T-Mobile Sidekick
In late 2004, Snoop Dogg became the spokesperson for T-Mobile Sidekick in a series of commercials. The company also released a series of Sidekick phones known as the D-Wade Edition for basketball player Dwyane Wade.
2004: J. D. Power annual awards
Starting as early as 2004, T-Mobile captured multiple J. D. Power annual awards in retail sales satisfaction, wireless customer care, and overall customer satisfaction.
January 2005: Nicolas Jacobsen Charged with Network Intrusion
In January 2005, Nicolas Jacobsen was charged with intruding into T-Mobile's internal network. He allegedly had access to sensitive customer data, including passwords, emails, addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and Sidekick photos, for about a year. The Secret Service was involved due to affected customers, and Jacobsen was linked to "Operation Firewall," suspected of attempting to sell customer information for identity theft. An unpatched flaw in Oracle WebLogic Server application software was reportedly exploited, along with SQL injection vulnerabilities on T-Mobile's website.
September 2006: Catherine Zeta-Jones dropped as spokesperson
As of September 2006, Catherine Zeta-Jones was officially dropped as the "face" of the company for its advertising campaigns due to a corporate rebranding strategy.
2008: Coordinated Unionization Effort
In 2008, the CWA and ver.di launched a coordinated effort to unionize T-Mobile employees. T-Mobile responded with an employee satisfaction study.
March 13, 2009: Senator John Kerry's letter regarding labor rights
On March 13, 2009, U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) questioned T-Mobile's differing approach to labor rights in Germany versus the United States.
May 2009: Catherine Zeta-Jones returns as spokesperson
In late May 2009, Catherine Zeta-Jones was brought back as a company spokesperson to show customers how to pay less for their wireless plan in a new "Mobile Makeovers" advertising campaign that refers a customer to third-party comparison site BillShrink.com.
June 6, 2009: Data Breach Claim on Full Disclosure Mailing List
On June 6, 2009, a message from "pwnmobile_at_Safe-mail.net" claimed T-Mobile's network was breached and offered databases, confidential documents, scripts, programs, and financial documents up to 2009 for sale. The message was posted to the Full Disclosure mailing list.
October 1, 2009: Sidekick data loss
On October 1, 2009, some users of Microsoft's Sidekick handset temporarily lost personal data, including contacts, notes, and calendars.
November 9, 2009: Service outage
On November 9, 2009, some of T-Mobile's subscribers temporarily lost the ability to send and receive calls and text messages for several hours due to a system software error.
December 9, 2009: American Rights at Work report on labor practices
On December 9, 2009, American Rights at Work published a report by Prof. John Logan detailing anti-union behavior by T-Mobile, including dissemination of anti-union materials and intimidation of pro-union workers.
2009: Removal of AT&T Mobility Roaming Coverage
In 2009, T-Mobile USA began removing AT&T Mobility roaming coverage in many locations across the country.
2009: Politicians' letters to DT's CEO
In 2009, a number of politicians, in one case acting after lobbying efforts by CWA union activists, wrote letters to René Obermann, DT's chief executive officer, in an effort to influence T-Mobile USA's labor practices in the U.S.
2009: T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Commercials
In 2009, commercials for the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G featured the song "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" by Cat Stevens and celebrities such as Chevy Chase, Molly Shannon, Dana Carvey, and Darrell Hammond. Another commercial with the same song performed by a different artist showed Wyclef Jean, Avril Lavigne, and Brad Paisley.
2009: First of Many Cybersecurity Incidents
Since 2009, T-Mobile has had no less than twelve cybersecurity-related incidents.
April 30, 2010: Congressional letter regarding workers' rights
On April 30, 2010, 26 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to DT to protect and respect workers' rights in the U.S., after lobbying by Communications Workers of America activists.
June 29, 2010: Voice Service Launch in Gulf of Mexico
On June 29, 2010, T-Mobile launched voice service in the Gulf of Mexico on GSM via a roaming agreement through Broadpoint.
July 1, 2010: Republican letter regarding workers' rights
On July 1, 2010, seven Republicans addressed the same issue of workers' rights in a letter.
August 10, 2010: Senator Bob Casey supports unionization efforts
On August 10, 2010, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement in support of the worker's efforts to organize a union at T-Mobile.
September 2, 2010: Human Rights Watch report on workers' freedom of association
On September 2, 2010, Human Rights Watch released a report concluding that T-Mobile USA's opposition to workers' freedom of association in the United States betrays Deutsche Telekom's purported commitment to social responsibility.
September 2010: "Kids are free till 2012" campaign launched
In September 2010, the company launched "Kids are free till 2012" for family lines.
2010: Marketing HSPA and HSPA+ as "4G"
In 2010, T-Mobile began marketing both its HSPA and HSPA+ services as "4G", a move that media outlets called deceptive.
2010: DOJ Document on Cellular Provider Retention Periods
In 2010, the Department of Justice released a document advising law enforcement on obtaining cell phone records. The document indicated T-Mobile subscriber information was retained for 5 years, and call detail records were kept for 2 years (prepaid) and 5 years (postpaid).
July 2011: Connecticut technicians vote for union representation
In July 2011, technicians in Connecticut voted for representation by the Communications Workers of America-TU.
December 1, 2011: Flash-mob style performance at Woodfield Mall
On December 1, 2011, a group of 100 Chicago-area women, along with Carly Foulkes, were featured in a flash-mob style performance at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois, singing and dancing to their cover of (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays. The performance was filmed and edited into a successful holiday commercial.
2011: J. D. Power and Associates Awards
In 2011, J. D. Power and Associates stated that T-Mobile retail stores achieved the highest ratings among major wireless carriers for customer satisfaction for the fourth consecutive year, performing particularly well in price and promotions. Also in 2011, J. D. Power and Associates ranked T-Mobile USA highest among major providers in wireless customer care for the second consecutive year.
2011: Law Enforcement Requests for Subscriber Information
In 2011, T-Mobile USA received a portion of the 1.3 million largely warrantless law enforcement requests for subscriber information. While the company refused to specify the number of requests it received, T-Mobile did state the requests have increased by 12 to 16 percent annually in the last decade.
February 23, 2012: Future of 4G Upgrade Path
On February 23, 2012, during the Q4 Earnings Call, T-Mobile outlined its plan for the future of its 4G upgrade path, including rolling out the LTE network on the AWS spectrum and transitioning the HSPA+ network to the PCS band.
August 21, 2012: FCC Approves Spectrum Deal with Verizon
On August 21, 2012, the FCC approved a deal between T-Mobile and Verizon, where T-Mobile acquired additional AWS spectrum licenses in 125 Cellular Market Areas.
December 7, 2012: GoSmart Mobile Launches in Beta
On December 7, 2012, GoSmart Mobile, a T-Mobile branded service offering no-contract SIM wireless services, launched in beta.
February 19, 2013: GoSmart Mobile Officially Available Nationwide
On February 19, 2013, GoSmart Mobile became officially available nationwide. GoSmart offered no-contract SIM wireless services and was sold through authorized dealers.
March 2013: T-Mobile Introduces Simple Choice Plan
In March 2013, T-Mobile introduced a new streamlined plan called Simple Choice for new customers as part of the Un-carrier initiative, which dropped contracts, subsidized phones, overage fees for data, and early termination fees.
March 2013: Transitioning to LTE
In March 2013, T-Mobile started transitioning their HSPA+ network to the PCS band to be more compatible with other networks. They also began the rollout of LTE.
September 25, 2013: MetroPCS workers in Harlem, NY, vote for union representation
On September 25, 2013, MetroPCS workers in Harlem, NY, voted for a union voice and representation by CWA-TU.
October 9, 2013: Simple Global Service Announcement
On October 9, 2013, T-Mobile announced Simple Global, a service included with eligible Simple Choice plans, allowing roaming in over 100 countries with unlimited text and speed-limited data and calls at $0.20/minute.
2013: T-Mobile's Data Retention Policy Revealed
In 2013, Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey revealed T-Mobile's response to an inquiry regarding user information disclosed to law enforcement. T-Mobile US retains customers' historic cell site information and cell tower dump information (180 days); call details records (7–10 years); text message content, data requests, and geo-location data not stored; voicemail content (up to 21 days); subscriber information (6 years after the account is closed).
2013: T-Mobile Takes Over MetroPCS
In 2013, T-Mobile took over MetroPCS, forming T-Mobile US. The new company continues to offer prepaid wireless services under the Metro by T-Mobile brand.
2013: Un-carrier marketing campaign launched
Starting in 2013, T-Mobile launched the Un-carrier marketing campaign, introducing cheaper rate plans, cheaper global coverage, and other benefits.
January 22, 2014: T-Mobile Announces Expansion into Banking
On January 22, 2014, T-Mobile announced its expansion into banking, providing a Visa card with banking features and a smartphone money management application with reduced-fee or zero-cost services for T-Mobile wireless customers. Customers would have access to over 42,000 ATMs with no fees.
February 25, 2014: 4G LTE Network Coverage Announcement
On February 25, 2014, T-Mobile announced in its Q4 2013 earnings call that their 4G LTE network covered 209 million people in 273 metro areas and planned to roll out their 700 MHz A-Block spectrum by the end of 2014, which would cover 158 million people by the end of the rollout.
March 7, 2014: Simple Global Expansion
On March 7, 2014, T-Mobile announced that the Simple Global service would be increasing to 122 countries.
March 13, 2014: Plan to Upgrade 2G/EDGE Network to 4G LTE
On March 13, 2014, T-Mobile announced a new plan to upgrade its entire 2G/EDGE network to 4G LTE, expecting 50% completion by the end of 2014 and substantial completion by mid-2015.
September 14, 2014: T-Mobile Partners with GoGo for Free In-Flight Texting
On September 14, 2014, T-Mobile partnered with GoGo to provide free texting on airplanes for its customers. GoGo services are provided on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.
September 2014: T-Mobile Partners with GoGo for Free In-Flight Texting
In September 2014, T-Mobile partnered up with GoGo to provide free texting on airplanes for its customers. GoGo services are provided on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
December 16, 2014: 4G LTE Network Coverage Update
On December 16, 2014, T-Mobile announced their 4G LTE network covered 260 million people and their 700 MHz Band 12 LTE had been rolled out in Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. They also stated that they covered 121 metro areas with their Wideband LTE.
August 2015: T-Mobile Joins Competitive Carriers Association's Data Services Hub
In August 2015, T-Mobile joined the Competitive Carriers Association's Data Services Hub. This enabled the company to broaden its roaming partnerships with numerous rural and regional carriers, granting smaller carriers access to T-Mobile's LTE network for roaming while allowing T-Mobile to expand its partnerships and network footprint with members using previously incompatible technologies.
August 31, 2015: T-Mobile to Remove Unlimited Plans for Tethering Abusers
On August 31, 2015, T-Mobile announced it would remove access to unlimited plans for users who abuse its unlimited on-smartphone data plan by violating Terms & Conditions regarding tethering. Users would be migrated to a tiered data plan where all plans after a select amount of inclusive high-speed data result in automatic throttled speeds. This was in response to a small number of users who were using as much as 2 TB per month via tethering.
October 27, 2015: LTE Coverage Expansion
On October 27, 2015, T-Mobile announced that they covered over 300 million people with LTE, reaching their 2015 end of year goal months ahead of schedule. They had 245 markets with Wideband LTE and 204 markets with Extended Range 700 MHz Band 12 LTE.
December 3, 2015: Consumer Reports names T-Mobile #1
On December 3, 2015, Consumer Reports named T-Mobile the number one American wireless service provider based on data from customer service, voice quality, text messaging services, and data speeds.
February 6, 2016: JD Power Award for Customer Satisfaction
On February 6, 2016, T-Mobile was awarded the JD Power Award for customer satisfaction in the full-service wireless category for the second year in a row, receiving the highest score ever in the wireless industry.
May 25, 2016: Purchase of 700Mhz A-block license
On May 25, 2016, T-Mobile announced it will be purchasing the 700Mhz A-block license (LTE band 12) for the Chicago metro area.
June 6, 2016: T-Mobile Expands GoGo Partnership with Free In-Flight WiFi and Messaging
On June 6, 2016, T-Mobile expanded its partnership with GoGo to offer T-Mobile users one hour of free WiFi on their phones during flights. T-Mobile One Plus and One Plus International users receive free WiFi throughout the entire flight. T-Mobile also included other messaging apps such as iMessage, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp and Viber in addition to SMS texting that was provided since September 2014.
August 2016: T-Mobile Introduces T-Mobile ONE Plan
In August 2016, T-Mobile introduced T-Mobile ONE as a replacement for Simple Choice. The plan received criticism for potentially violating net neutrality rules and making previously included features paid extras.
September 2016: Launched 4x4 MIMO and 3 channel carrier aggregation
In September 2016, T-Mobile launched 4x4 MIMO and 3 channel carrier aggregation allowing theoretical speeds of 400 Mbit/s, and announced that the company's LTE network reaches over 312 million potential subscribers.
September 2016: T-Mobile Sells GoSmart Mobile to TracFone Wireless
In September 2016, T-Mobile sold the GoSmart Mobile brand and 326,000 customers to TracFone Wireless. The customers were reclassified as wholesale subscribers.
October 7, 2016: T-Mobile One Adoption
As of October 7, 2016, about a quarter of the overall account numbers have moved over to T-Mobile One, and about three-quarters of new postpaid accounts are activating on T-Mobile One.
2016: Tello Mobile Founded
Founded in 2016, Tello Mobile now uses the T-Mobile network to provide MVNO talk, text, and data to its customers. Tello originally used the Sprint network but transitioned to the T-Mobile network after the T-Mobile and Sprint merger.
2016: Naming rights contract for Las Vegas Strip venue
In 2016, T-Mobile signed a contract to place its name on a venue nearing completion on the Las Vegas Strip, which became T-Mobile Arena.
2016: T-Mobile Discontinues Banking Cards
In early 2016, T-Mobile decided to discontinue the banking cards, and they can no longer be purchased at T-Mobile.
August 15, 2017: Rollout of LTE on 600 MHz Band
On August 15, 2017, T-Mobile started the rollout of LTE on the 600 MHz spectrum band after purchasing 45% of available 600 MHz spectrum in the US earlier in 2017.
September 12, 2017: T-Mobile Introduces Netflix On Us Program
On September 12, 2017, T-Mobile introduced the Netflix On Us program, which was initially limited to T-Mobile ONE family plans and included the Standard ad-free Netflix plan. The plan was valued at $11/month after an October 2017 price increase.
October 2017: T-Mobile Announces LTE Speed Limitations and US Cellular Partnership
In October 2017, T-Mobile announced that starting November 12, 2017, LTE speeds would be limited after 5 GB of data usage while roaming in Canada and Mexico, but calling and texting in those countries would still remain free. T-Mobile also announced a partnership with US Cellular in California, Iowa, Washington, and Wisconsin to expand 4G LTE coverage.
October 2017: Netflix Price Increase Impacting T-Mobile "Netflix On Us" Program Value
In October 2017, a price increase occurred with Netflix. As a result, the Netflix plan included in T-Mobile's "Netflix On Us" program was valued at $11/month.
November 12, 2017: T-Mobile Implements LTE Speed Limitations
On November 12, 2017, T-Mobile implemented limitations on LTE speeds when roaming in Canada and Mexico. After 5GB of data usage, speeds were reduced (to 128 kbit/s or 256 kbit/s on some plans). Calling and texting remained free from roaming charges. This change was announced in October 2017.
December 13, 2017: T-Mobile US to Acquire IPTV Provider Layer3 TV
On December 13, 2017, T-Mobile US announced its intent to acquire the IPTV provider Layer3 TV, which operates in Chicago and Washington, as the basis of its own subscription television service.
2017: T-Mobile Launches Magenta Express Shuttle Bus Service
In 2017, T-Mobile launched a shuttle bus service called the Magenta Express to serve its buildings and other commute trips for employees in the Factoria neighborhood of Bellevue, Washington.
2017: Military Friendly Employer Designation
In 2017, T-Mobile was awarded a Designation for the top 100 Military Friendly Employer by Military Friendly for the tenth time.
February 16, 2018: Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For
On February 16, 2018 Fortune announced their 100 best companies to work for, naming T-Mobile 86th.
February 26, 2018: 5G Rollout Announcement
On February 26, 2018, T-Mobile announced it would roll out 5G to 30 cities by the end of 2018, with compatible handsets delivering early 2019.
June 25, 2018: First bi-directional 5G NR transmission
On June 25, 2018, T-Mobile and Nokia completed their first bi-directional 5G NR transmission in the 28 GHz frequency compliant with 3GPP 5G standards.
July 24, 2018: Forbes' Best Places to Work for Women list
On July 24, 2018, Forbes ranked T-Mobile 182nd on their top 300 Best Places to Work for Women list.
July 30, 2018: $3.5 Billion Contract with Nokia for 5G Network
On July 30, 2018, T-Mobile and Nokia announced a $3.5 billion contract for equipment and software to build out a nationwide 5G network that will be compliant with 3GPP 5G standards.
August 2018: T-Mobile Introduces ONE Plus Family Plan
In August 2018, T-Mobile introduced the ONE Plus family plan, which allows HD streaming and adds 20 GB of mobile hotspot at 4G LTE speeds, and Name ID.
September 11, 2018: $3.5 Billion Contract with Ericsson for 5G Network
On September 11, 2018, T-Mobile and Ericsson announced a $3.5 Billion contract for equipment to build out a nationwide 5G network that will be compliant with 3GPP 5G standards.
November 20, 2018: First downlink 5G NR transmission
On November 20, 2018, T-Mobile and Nokia completed their first downlink 5G NR transmission in the 600 MHz frequency compliant with 3GPP 5G standards in Spokane, Washington.
2018: Naming rights deal for Seattle Mariners' stadium
In 2018, T-Mobile US signed a naming rights deal with Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners, resulting in Safeco Field becoming T-Mobile Park on January 1, 2019.
2018: T-Mobile Announces Team of Experts Customer Care Concept
In 2018, T-Mobile officially announced its new customer care concept called Team of Experts, which ensured customers never get transferred to another department. Representatives are trained in billing, payment arrangements, and cancellations, and are assigned specific markets within the region of the call center.
2018: Continued LTE Rollout and Upgrades
In 2018, T-Mobile stated that they will not discontinue rollout and upgrades of LTE in favor of 5G. Instead, they will continue to grow and support their LTE network to work simultaneously with 5G.
2018: Nine Data Breaches Since 2018
Since 2018, T-Mobile has had a total of nine data breaches.
January 1, 2019: Safeco Field becomes T-Mobile Park
On January 1, 2019, the former Safeco Field officially became T-Mobile Park as a result of a naming rights deal.
January 7, 2019: First audio and video call using a live 5G NR network
On January 7, 2019, T-Mobile and Ericsson completed the first audio and video call using a live 5G NR network using 3 separate frequency bands; 600 MHz, 28 GHz, and 39 GHz.
January 22, 2019: LTE-Advanced Deployment
As of January 22, 2019, T-Mobile's LTE-Advanced upgrade has been deployed in 6,000 cities and towns.
June 2, 2019: T-Mobile Launches Magenta Plan
On June 2, 2019, T-Mobile launched the Magenta plan, replacing the T-Mobile ONE plans. The Magenta family of plans included 3 GB of mobile hotspot data for standard plans, and retained enhanced HD streaming and 20 GB of mobile hotspot data for the ONE Plus plans.
July 11, 2019: First n71 data session completed
On July 11, 2019, T-Mobile and Ericsson completed their first n71 (600 MHz) data session in their lab in Bellevue, Washington on a commercial 5G modem, the Snapdragon X55.
October 28, 2019: LTE Coverage Update
As of October 28, 2019, T-Mobile's LTE network covered 326 million people.
November 7, 2019: 600 MHz 5G Network Launch Announcement
On November 7, 2019, T-Mobile announced that its 600 MHz 5G network would launch on December 6, 2019. The network would launch alongside the first two 600 MHz 5G-capable devices, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition.
December 2, 2019: 600 MHz 5G Network Officially Launched
On December 2, 2019, T-Mobile officially launched its 600 MHz 5G network, with an initial coverage of 200 million people and over 5,000 cities or towns.
2019: Fortune's Top 100 Companies To Work For
In 2019, T-Mobile was recognized as one of Fortune's Top 100 Companies To Work For, ranking #49.
2019: T-Mobile Releases "T-Mobile Money" Online Banking Option
In early 2019, T-Mobile released an online banking option called "T-Mobile Money".
February 6, 2020: 600 MHz Network Reach
As of February 6, 2020, T-Mobile's 600 MHz network reached 8,900 cities and towns, covering 248 million people.
April 21, 2020: Ultra-Capacity 5G Launch
On April 21, 2020, T-Mobile launched the T-Mobile branded 2.5 GHz as Ultra-Capacity 5G with the spectrum it acquired in the Sprint merger in Philadelphia.
June 15, 2020: Service outage across the United States
On June 15, 2020, subscribers across the United States suffered a service outage (primarily voice and text) due to routing issues.
August 4, 2020: Standalone 5G Network Launch
On August 4, 2020, T-Mobile launched standalone (SA) mode across their national 5G network, becoming the first operator in the world to do so. They also stated SA mode improved 5G coverage.
October 27, 2020: T-Mobile US Introduces TVision Streaming Services
On October 27, 2020, T-Mobile US introduced over-the-top streaming services under the TVision branding. It included TVision Vibe, TVision Live, and TVision Channels.
December 30, 2020: TVision Home Ceases Operations
On December 30, 2020, TVision Home ceased operations.
2020: T-Mobile US Headquarters in Bellevue
In 2020, T-Mobile US's headquarters, located in the Factoria neighborhood of Bellevue, Washington, included ten buildings employing 8,000 workers.
2020: Merger with Sprint
In 2020, T-Mobile completed its merger with Sprint.
2020: Assurance Wireless Carried by T-Mobile Network
Since the 2020 Sprint merger, the T-Mobile network has carried Assurance Wireless, a service subsidized by the federal Lifeline Assistance program. It provides low-income people with a free phone, free monthly data and minutes, and unlimited texting.
January 15, 2021: T-Mobile Updates Netflix On Us Benefit
On January 15, 2021, T-Mobile changed the Netflix On Us benefit to the Netflix Basic plan for Magenta subscribers and the Netflix Standard plan for Magenta Plus and ONE Plus subscribers.
January 22, 2021: T-Mobile Unveils Magenta MAX 5G Smartphone Plan
On January 22, 2021, T-Mobile unveiled its newest 5G smartphone plan, Magenta MAX, with no throttling. It included unlimited Premium Data (4G and 5G), unlimited 4K UHD video streaming, complimentary video streaming services, 40 GB of mobile high-speed hotspot data, unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada with up to 5 GB of high-speed data, T-Mobile Tuesdays free thank you gifts and discounts, unlimited Gogo in-flight texting and Wi-Fi, free texting and data in 210 countries, and free Scam Shield Premium protection. The plan cost $57 per line per month for three lines with autopay, including taxes and fees.
March 29, 2021: T-Mobile Announces Discontinuation of TVision
On March 29, 2021, T-Mobile announced that TVision would be discontinued on April 29, 2021, and the provider would instead offer promotional bundles with Philo and YouTube TV.
April 29, 2021: TVision Discontinued
On April 29, 2021, T-Mobile discontinued TVision. The provider offered promotional bundles with Philo and YouTube TV as an alternative.
August 16, 2021: T-Mobile Confirms Data Breach
On August 16, 2021, T-Mobile confirmed it was subject to a data breach, declining to initially specify if customer personal information was accessed or the extent of the damage. This acknowledgment followed reports that hackers were selling "full customer info" from T-Mobile servers.
August 18, 2021: T-Mobile Update on Data Breach Findings
On August 18, 2021, T-Mobile updated the public on the data breach, stating that hackers obtained records of more than 40 million former and prospective customers and 7.8 million existing postpaid customers. Stolen data included names, birthdates, driver's licenses/ID numbers, and Social Security numbers, but not phone numbers, account numbers, PINs, or passwords. T-Mobile offered two years of free identity protection services and recommended PIN changes. Metro by T-Mobile, former Sprint prepaid, and Boost Mobile customers were not affected.
2021: T-Mobile Data Breach and Cybersecurity Spending
In 2021, T-Mobile experienced a widely reported data breach. In response to the 2021 data breach, T-Mobile spent $150 million on cybersecurity.
2021: Acquisition of C-Band 3.7 GHz Licenses
In early 2021, T-Mobile acquired C-Band 3.7 GHz licenses for an average of 40 MHz of spectrum covering 225 million people nationwide.
January 31, 2022: Bid on C-Band 3.45 GHz Licenses
On January 31, 2022, T-Mobile announced that they have bid on C-Band 3.45 GHz licenses for approximately $3 billion.
May 31, 2022: Sprint CDMA Network Shutdown
On May 31, 2022, Sprint's CDMA network was completely shut down as part of the integration into T-Mobile's network.
June 30, 2022: Sprint LTE Network Shutdown
On June 30, 2022, the LTE network of Sprint was discontinued and integrated into T-Mobile's network. Sprint used bands 25, 26, and 41 to provide LTE coverage and band n41 for NR coverage.
August 2022: T-Mobile and SpaceX Announce "Coverage Above and Beyond" Partnership
In August 2022, T-Mobile and SpaceX announced a partnership called "Coverage Above and Beyond," which aims to use SpaceX's Starlink satellites to provide cellphone connections throughout the US, including remote areas without existing service. The goal is to eliminate dead zones, allowing customers to have service everywhere, initially focusing on text messages and messaging apps using existing hardware.
February 13, 2023: Widespread network outages
On February 13, 2023, T-Mobile users across the United States experienced widespread network outages, and the company responded that they were looking to address the disruption that caused the cellular service outage.
February 15, 2023: 600 MHz Network Coverage
As of February 15, 2023, T-Mobile's 600 MHz network covered an estimated 323 million people.
April 2023: T-Mobile Announces Go5G and Go5G Plus Plans
In April 2023, T-Mobile introduced its new Go5G and Go5G Plus plans. The Go5G Plus plan guaranteed subscribers 24-month device financing terms and access to the best available device promotions on new purchases, costing $90 per month for a single voice line. It included features from Magenta MAX, like Netflix and Apple TV+, an extra 10 GB of premium mobile hotspot data for a total of 50 GB per month, and 15 GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico.
October 2023: Ultra-Capacity 5G Coverage Update
In October 2023, T-Mobile announced that their Ultra-Capacity 5G (including PCS, 2.5 GHz and 24/28/39 GHz) currently covers over 300 million people, by providing an average speed of 400 MB/s.
2023: Multiple Data Breaches in 2023
In 2023, T-Mobile had at least two data breaches.
2023: Ultra-Capacity 5G Deployment
In 2023, deployment of C-Band 3.7 GHz spectrum began for an additional layer of "Ultra-Capacity 5G".
2023: T-Mobile US Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Earnings
In the fiscal year 2023, T-Mobile US reported earnings of US$8.317 billion, with an annual revenue of US$78.558 billion, representing a decrease of 1.3% over the previous fiscal cycle.
2023: C-Band deployment
T-Mobile intended to deploy its C-Band Spectrum in 2023.
January 24, 2024: T-Mobile Subscribers Receive Ad-Supported Netflix
As of January 24, 2024, all T-Mobile subscribers with the Netflix On Us benefit received the ad-supported Standard plan from Netflix, regardless of their T-Mobile plan. This plan is missing several titles compared to ad-free plans, and some devices with older Netflix software are unsupported.
February 2024: T-Mobile's Share Value and Market Capitalization
In February 2024, T-Mobile's shares traded at over $160 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at over US$195 billion.
April 2024: FCC Fines T-Mobile for Sharing Location Data
In April 2024, the FCC fined T-Mobile $92 million for illegally sharing access to customers' real-time location information to location information aggregators LocationSmart and Zumigo without customer consent. T-Mobile responded by stating that the FCC decision was "wrong" and intended to challenge the fine.
May 1, 2024: T-Mobile US Acquires Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile
On May 1, 2024, T-Mobile US acquired Ultra Mobile, a prepaid MVNO, alongside Mint Mobile. Ultra Mobile offers limited and unlimited plans that include international calling and texting to select countries.
September 30, 2024: Divestiture of 3.45 GHz Upper Mid-Band Spectrum Holdings
On September 30, 2024, T-Mobile divested its 3.45 GHz upper mid-band spectrum holdings. Seven percent of the portfolio valued at $159 million was swapped for 2.5 GHz licenses with SoniqWave in May with the remaining 93 percent sold to Columbia Capital for over $2.7 billion.
2024: Time's list of influential companies
In 2024, T-Mobile was named in Time's list of influential companies for the year.
January 2025: Announcement of GSM Network Retirement
In January 2025, T-Mobile US announced plans to retire its GSM network, with the shutdown scheduled for February 9, 2025, in line with the industry's shift to more advanced mobile technologies.
February 9, 2025: GSM Network Retirement
T-Mobile US retired its GSM network on February 9, 2025, reflecting the broader industry effort to transition customers to more advanced mobile technologies.
March 2025: John Erin Binns Identified as Primary Hacker
As of March 2025, John Erin Binns, also known as IRDev, was identified as the primary hacker involved in the T-Mobile data breach, based on unsealed court documents. Binns was also involved in other hacks involving Snowflake customers and is currently held in a Turkish prison.
July 11, 2025: FCC approves acquisition of UScellular
On July 11, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission approved T-Mobile US's acquisition of the wireless operations of UScellular.
August 1, 2025: T-Mobile Closes UScellular Acquisition
On August 1, 2025, T-Mobile closed the deal to acquire the wireless operations of UScellular after the FCC approved the acquisition on July 11, 2025.
August 2025: Acquisition of UScellular
In August 2025, T-Mobile acquired the wireless operations of UScellular, expanding its services and customer base.
September 30, 2025: 140 Million Subscribers
As of September 30, 2025, T-Mobile is reported to have 140 million subscribers, making it the second largest wireless carrier in the United States.
October 2025: LTE and 5G non-standalone activation acceptance end
As of October 2025, T-Mobile will reportedly no longer accept most LTE and 5G non-standalone activations beginning in January 2026.
2025: Donation for White House East Wing demolition
In 2025, T-Mobile was one of the donors who funded the White House's East Wing demolition and the planned building of a ballroom.
2025: Equivalent Value of 2006 Investment
In September 2006, T-Mobile made a significant investment in its network infrastructure by participating in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction, securing licenses in the 1700 MHz and 2100 MHz Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) bands for US$4.18 billion (equivalent to $6.68 billion in 2025).
2025: Equivalent Value of Additional Investment for Initial Rollout
The initial rollout targeted major markets and offered projected speeds of 7.2 Mbit/s, exceeding competitor offerings at the time. This ambitious initiative required an additional investment of $2.6 billion (equivalent to $4.2 billion in 2025) beyond the spectrum acquisition cost.
January 2026: LTE and 5G non-standalone activation acceptance end
As of January 2026, T-Mobile will reportedly no longer accept most LTE and 5G non-standalone activations.
2028: LTE spectrum phase out
In 2028, T-Mobile plans to phase out the majority of LTE spectrum, in favor of its 5G standalone network.
2035: Full LTE Network Shutdown Anticipated
By 2035, it is anticipated that the full LTE network will be shutdown, though there is not an official date when these changes will occur.
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