Who Owns T-Mobile?
T-Mobile US is majority-owned by Deutsche Telekom, a publicly traded German telecommunications company. Deutsche Telekom holds approximately 48% of T-Mobile US shares. T-Mobile US is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
Parent Company
Deutsche Telekom AG
Acquired
2001
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Bellevue, Washington, USA
Who Owns T-Mobile?
- Parent Company: Deutsche Telekom AG
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 2001
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: Frankfurt Stock Exchange: DTE
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Deutsche Telekom AG | Subsidiary |
History of T-Mobile
- Founded: 1994
- Founders: Deutsche Telekom
- Acquired by Deutsche Telekom AG: 2001
T-Mobile's American story began in 2001 when Deutsche Telekom acquired VoiceStream Wireless Communications for approximately $35 billion. VoiceStream had been founded in 1994 as Western Wireless PCS and operated a GSM-based wireless network in the western United States. Deutsche Telekom rebranded the company as T-Mobile USA, bringing the T-Mobile brand that was already well-established in Germany and other European markets to the American wireless market.
T-Mobile initially struggled to compete against larger rivals AT&T and Verizon, operating as the fourth-largest U.S. carrier behind those two and Sprint. The company's fortunes changed dramatically in 2012 when John Legere was appointed CEO. Legere launched the "Un-carrier" strategy, a series of bold moves designed to disrupt the wireless industry's traditional practices.
The Un-carrier initiatives eliminated long-term contracts, introduced unlimited data plans, ended overage charges, and offered to pay customers' early termination fees to switch from competitors. Legere's unconventional, outspoken leadership style and aggressive marketing generated enormous attention and customer growth. T-Mobile went from losing subscribers to adding millions of new customers each quarter.
The most transformative event in T-Mobile's history was the $26 billion merger with Sprint Corporation, completed in April 2020. The merger combined the third and fourth-largest U.S. wireless carriers, creating a company with over 100 million customers and the spectrum resources needed to build a competitive 5G network. T-Mobile has since invested heavily in 5G deployment, claiming the largest and fastest 5G network in the United States.
Under current CEO Mike Sievert (who succeeded Legere in 2020), T-Mobile has continued its growth trajectory, consistently adding postpaid customers and expanding its home internet service using 5G fixed wireless access. The company has also expanded into business services and is positioning itself as a serious competitor to AT&T and Verizon across all telecommunications segments.
About Deutsche Telekom AG
Deutsche Telekom operates through several business segments. T-Mobile US is the largest segment by revenue and profitability, serving approximately 140 million wireless subscribers in the United States. The Germany segment provides fixed-line and mobile telecommunications services to consumers and businesses across Germany. The Europe segment operates mobile and fixed-line networks in multiple Central and Eastern European countries. The Systems Solutions segment provides IT services to enterprise customers.
The company is one of the world's largest telecommunications providers by revenue, with operations spanning the United States, Germany, and numerous European markets. Deutsche Telekom has invested heavily in 5G network deployment across its markets, positioning itself as a leader in next-generation wireless technology.
Deutsche Telekom employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide, with the majority split between the United States (T-Mobile US) and Germany. The company's "Leading Digital Telco" strategy focuses on network quality, customer experience, and digital innovation.
- Founded: 1995
- Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: Frankfurt Stock Exchange: DTE
Where Is T-Mobile Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
T-Mobile Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Third-largest U.S. wireless carrier with over 100 million customers
- +Industry-leading 5G network coverage and speed
- +Successful Un-carrier strategy driving customer growth
- +Strong financial backing from Deutsche Telekom
- +Growing home internet business through 5G fixed wireless
Considerations
- -Intense competition from AT&T and Verizon in U.S. wireless market
- -Integration challenges from Sprint merger still ongoing
- -Dependence on spectrum assets for network quality
- -Cybersecurity concerns following data breach incidents
- -Regulatory scrutiny of telecommunications industry consolidation
Frequently Asked Questions About T-Mobile
Competitors to T-Mobile
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because T-Mobileoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Deutsche Telekom AG Stock Information
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