T-Mobile Completes UScellular Acquisition

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile has completed its acquisition of UScellular's wireless operations, T-Mobile announced today. T-Mobile paid $4.3 billion for UScellular, in a deal that included UScellular's wireless customers, stores, and 30 percent of its cellular spectrum.

T-Mobile announced the acquisition back in May 2024, but it was contingent on regulatory approval. According to Reuters, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved the merger in mid-July after T-Mobile ended its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

T-Mobile sent the FCC a letter [PDF] with a promise to end DEI on July 9, and the deal was approved two days later. T-Mobile said that it was eliminating its DEI-related policies "not just in name, but in substance."

According to T-Mobile, the UScellular acquisition is a "big win for customers." Existing UScellular customers will be incorporated into the T-Mobile network. While UScellular users can keep their plans for the time being, T-Mobile will begin allowing them to the transition to T-Mobile unlimited plans "as networks and systems are integrated."

T-Mobile previously acquired MetroPCS and Sprint. The MetroPCS acquisition was completed in 2013, and the Sprint acquisition was completed in 2020.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: T-Mobile Completes UScellular Acquisition

 

[ss2cire]

Well I guess im a t-mobile customer now... I hope the quality of service doesn't go down, not to mention price increases.

 

[Gengar]

It’s gonna be so funny watching these companies like T-Mobile scramble to do 180° when the administration changes.

 

[machpost]

It’s gonna be so funny watching these companies like T-Mobile scramble to do 180° when the administration changes.

These executives would eat their own children if it resulted in further enrichment.

 

[dustin_]

damn i didn’t even realize this was happening. sad to hear. uscc regularly held offers for free devices without trade in & had fairly priced rate plans. t-mo tends to be a bit shady with offers and billing.

 

[UltimaKilo]

What the heck is UScellular?

 

[dustin_]

What the heck is UScellular?

Regional carrier w focus on the Midwest. Also have a presence in the Northeast, West, and South. My parents still use them in Washington state.

 

[Rychiar]

damn i didn’t even realize this was happening. sad to hear. uscc regularly held offers for free devices without trade in & had fairly priced rate plans. t-mo tends to be a bit shady with offers and billing.

How so? T-Mobile has always had flat rate billing

 

[nikaru]

It’s gonna be so funny watching these companies like T-Mobile scramble to do 180° when the administration changes.

Still 3.5 long years until administration changes and DEI is almost dead in all major corporations. A few still resist but there in notable downscale already.

 

[iMac The Knife]

I honestly didn't know that US Cellular was still around. I will say this though, back in the day it was the best cell coverage in the Midwest, where I lived anyway.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Still 3.5 long years until administration changes and DEI is almost dead in all major corporations. A few still resist but there in notable downscale already.

Where I can, I patronize DEI friendly companies.

 

[Plutonius]

My opinion only but most acquisitions seem to cost customers more money in the long run.

 

[masterhiggins]

Eliminating DEI? Looks like I'm switching from ATT to T-mobile.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Well I guess im a t-mobile customer now... I hope the quality of service doesn't go down, not to mention price increases.

I think I kept my Sprint plan for about two and a half years before they dragged me over to their Magenta plan. The bill was roughly $10 more.

 

[michaelscarn]

US Cellular was wonderful until about 2010. To my knowledge, all stores were corporate owned, so it was very easy to make changes, upgrade, etc. The service itself declined to the point where it was unusable outside of your "zone." They were one of the last carriers with roaming charges, and once I started traveling frequently, I HAD to switch. I've had AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and now AT&T again. None of them match US Cellular's store experience, but the service is much better. US Cellular customers should be happy with this change, especially if they're keeping the legacy plans active.

 

[Spock]

I remember a time when T-Mobile was the little guy, good prices with decent coverage. Now they are just like the other two.

 

[switz]

Been with Verizon since 1988. They had the best coverage then and seems like now also.

May not be the cheapest, but has coverage where we need it in less populated areas.

 

[Dr McKay]

I remember a time when T-Mobile was the little guy, good prices with decent coverage. Now they are just like the other two.

Here in the UK T-Mobile merged with Orange back in 2010 and went from being one of the cheapest networks to the largest, most expensive carrier in the country.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I wonder at which point we'll let one of the big 3 swallow another?

 

[CopyChief]

I remember a time when T-Mobile was the little guy, good prices with decent coverage. Now they are just like the other two.

Which was exactly the point of their aggressive marketing and pricing, all the free line giveaways and “perks”‘that are just marketing partnerships. It’s about customer acquisition to build enough value to swallow the competition. And they were masters at every step.

 

[jlc1978]

That a company had to bow to the whims of the administration to get a merger approved is a dangerous precident; the Republican's used to be the party of small government but that part of the party is dead and buried. It works for both sides, and today's cheers all turn into tomorrow's lamentations when the party in power changes. Those who have ceded power to the presidency may come to regret it when it is too late. That won't make the other side's actions any more right or desirable, but as we said in the Navy, 'payback is an (insert expletive)...'

 

[turbineseaplane]

I remember a time when T-Mobile was the little guy, good prices with decent coverage. Now they are just like the other two.

The "UnCarrier" is now very much "Carrier"

 

[CopyChief]

The "UnCarrier" is now very much "Carrier"

And forgive my cynicism, but it was always the plan. Most “uncarrier” moves ended up being marketing, apart from separating service contracts from phone financing, which was brilliant.

 

[turbineseaplane]

And forgive my cynicism, but it was always the plan. Most “uncarrier” moves ended up being marketing, apart from separating service contracts from phone financing, which was brilliant.

Oh 1000%

The fact that anyone thought different has always amazed me.

As I've grown older, I've come to terms with the fact that a segment of the population is incredibly gullible.

 

[xander49x]

it's time for me to find another phone carrier. t-moble is showing it's true colors.