T-Mobile Just Got Even Bigger—Bye Bye UScellular

Rewind the clock 10 years ago. T-Mobile was kind of the scrappy underdog compared to Verizon and AT&T. However, fast forward to today, and T-Mobile is one of the largest carriers in the US. T-Mobile had previously acquired one of its competitors, Sprint, and now it looks like it has gobbled up its next: UScellular.

T-Mobile UScellular deal officially closes

In a press release, T-Mobile has officially announced that its deal to acquire UScellular has officially closed. This means that moving forward, UScellular customers can essentially be viewed as T-Mobile customers.

According to Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, “Today is such an exciting one because we get to officially welcome UScellular customers to Team Magenta and we’re doing it with some pretty amazing Un-carrier gifts: America’s best network, value-packed benefits, and a best-in-class experience.”

Laurent Therivel, former CEO of UScellular, adds, “I am proud of the entire UScellular team and grateful for their contributions to our company and their support of our customers over the years. The completion of this transaction with T-Mobile is a win for customers and communities across the United States.”

That being said, there will be a transition period. UScellular customers can remain on their existing plans for now. However, once the networks and systems integrate, these customers will have to select from one of T-Mobile’s plans. They will also get perks if they choose a T-Mobile unlimited plan, such as free international roaming in over 215 countries, free in-flight WiFi, and more.

History of the acquisition

T-Mobile’s acquisition of UScellular was first announced back in 2024. However, it is a joint acquisition by T-Mobile and Verizon. This was done to prevent regulators from blocking the deal. T-Mobile would acquire $2 billion of the carrier’s assets, while Verizon would take the rest.

There was some initial pushback by the FCC, partly due to a lack of staff. However, the deal was ultimately approved. With this acquisition, T-Mobile continues to remain one of the largest carriers in the US. It’s great for the company, but we have to wonder if it could be good for customers who now have one less carrier to choose from.