How the Sprint and T-Mobile Merger Volition Bear upon Y'all

We're breaking downward what we know most the merger and how customers can set for it.

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Last Updated: 2 months agone

In April 2020, Sprint and T-Mobile announced that they will exist merging networks. Over the last two years, T-Mobile has been working on transitioning all Sprint customers to its network. Yous tin can find the most up-to-engagement information about the merge on the T-Mobile back up site.

T-Mobile and Sprint have officially merged and we'll go through everything yous need to know, whether you're an existing customer of i of these companies (or their prepaid partners), or but a curious consumer.

But start, a fiddling background on the merger (feel free to skip downwardly to our recap if y'all just want to know what's going to happen to your cell phone service and bill).

A short history of the Sprint and T-Mobile merger

Let'southward get back to the early years of prison cell phones, the 1990s. In the early '90s we had a whole bunch of pocket-size mobile telephone carriers with weird names, like Nextel, McCaw Cellular, and Air Touch. It was the Wild, Wild Wireless West back so.

Merely a lot of that changed with the Telecom Act of 1996.ane This act loosened federal regulation of the telecom industry, making it easier for companies to buy each other out. It didn't take long for smaller companies to consolidate into the Large Four mobile carriers we know today.

For a long time the Big Iv—T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon—and their prepaid equivalents have ruled the industry, making it virtually impossible for new companies to compete. Well, at present the Large Four is becoming the Big Three.

With the closing of T-Mobile and Dart'southward $30 billion (that's thirty,000 millions!) deal, at that place volition basically be just 3 choices for mobile consumers. Some experts fear that this consolidation volition decrease competition and heighten prices.

But other experts argue that T-Mobile and Sprint were non able to compete with AT&T and Verizon anyway, especially in the emerging 5G market.2 These experts suggest that the merger will lead to better service and coverage for about mobile customers.

Of grade, there's a chance that DISH will abound into a new telecommunications giant and we'll be back to a Large Four. The company will buy up Dart's prepaid make, Boost Mobile, as function of the merger. But DISH has a long way to go before it could actually compete.

Only time volition tell how this will all shake out. The merger is official on paper, but information technology will take several years for the industry to really feel the effects. Speaking of which, let's talk most what changes customers tin can expect to see in the coming months and years.

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How the merger will affect Sprint customers

Nosotros beloved Sprint's clay-cheap unlimited plans and spunky, tin can-exercise attitude. Merely, permit's exist honest, the company has lagged far behind the competition when it comes to coverage and overall quality.

So, it's not surprising that Sprint will be absorbed by T-Mobile in this merger, and not vice versa. And this means that Sprint customers will face up more changes than T-Mobile customers.

If you're worried about toll increases (who isn't?), then you'll be happy to hear that T-Mobile guaranteed they won't raise prices on existing Sprint customers for at to the lowest degree iii years.3 After that … well let's just say that whatsoever big corporation is going to try to make every bit much money every bit possible.

Sprint customers may also detect that, somewhen, they'll need to purchase a new device that'southward compatible with T-Mobile's network. This will impact those who accept older devices that use CDMA technology (T-Mobile's 3G network uses a different engineering, chosen GSM).

But most Sprint customers—those who use newer iPhone and Samsung phones—will not demand to upgrade their devices in social club to get on the T-Mobile network. Even those using older devices will be fine in the midterm because T-Mobile won't switch Sprint customers over to its network immediately.

Your program and billing will also stay the same for now. Sprint is still your network, and you'll receive the same perks and privileges that y'all did earlier the merger. You lot might even see increased network coverage in areas that are covered past T-Mobile.

If and when there are changes in your plan construction or billing, you'll be informed by T-Mobile and given alternative options.

Expect your coverage to improve

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According to T-Mobile'south website, Sprint customers can use its "expanded 5G network." That ways every bit a Sprint user, your coverage and information speeds should feel significantly better. Everyone is jealous of your Sprint pricing and T-Mobile coverage combination.

How the merger will affect T-Mobile customers

If you're a T-Mobile client, so it looks like you're on the side of the bigger fish, so to speak. Considering the Big T will be gobbling up Sprint, your plan, pricing, and perks should stay the same, at least for the next couple of years.

T-Mobile'south promise not to raise prices for iii years will likewise apply to those who accept electric current T-Mobile plans.

Somewhen, T-Mobile customers will benefit from increased network power once Sprint's network is merged into T-Mobile'southward. They will too see a faster rollout of 5G technology (more than on that below).

How the merger will touch prepaid customers

The electric current mobile manufacture is awash with mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which utilize the networks of the Big Iv to bring service to their prepaid plans. Many of these companies, like Simple Mobile and Mint, use T-Mobile and Sprint'south networks.

Customers on most of these prepaid MVNO plans should not experience whatsoever changes to their pricing, service, or plans in the coming months. However, eventually these smaller companies will take to rearrange their plans as the T-Mobile and Sprint networks merge. At that indicate there could be cost increases, or some MVNOs could fold altogether.

There are some exceptions to this. Specifically, Sprint is already in the process of endmost Virgin Mobile and migrating the company's customers to Boost Mobile plans.

Meanwhile, Boost Mobile is being sold to DISH under the conditions of the merger. The company will maintain admission to T-Mobile'southward network for at least seven more years.4 But, eventually, DISH may try to expand Boost'southward service to compete with the Large Three.

What else volition change later on the merger?

Cellular consumers should keep an eye on is T-Mobile's 5G rollout. While the company has already begun offering limited 5G service in select locations, it should ramp upward its 5G network much faster now.

And so, if you're looking to make it on the next generation of mobile engineering science, T-Mobile is not a bad company to go with. Just make sure y'all have a 5G-capable device.

Recap: How will the merger affect you?

The short answer is: no 1 knows for sure yet. But there are a few things that we can say with confidence.

  • Sprint will be absorbed by T-Mobile, and eventually Sprint customers volition drift to the T-Mobile network.
  • T-Mobile will not raise prices for existing customers in the next three years. This includes people on T-Mobile, Sprint, and prepaid plans.
  • For now, both T-Mobile and Sprint customers will continue to pay their bills as they have in the past.
  • Sprint should see firsthand benefitsto their wireless coverage and data speeds.
  • Most customers will be able to proceed their current phones. Even so, some Sprint customers with older phones may need to upgrade somewhen to be compatible with the T-Mobile network.

If all of this potential change is making you nervous, so possibly it'southward time to make the switch to AT&T, Verizon, or one of the many MVNOs that operate on their networks.

We'd love to hear from yous, Sprint and T-Mobile customers. How is the merger affecting your service, bills, and plan perks? Chime in down below.

Sources:

Tyler Abbott

Written past

Tyler Abbott

Tyler has been obsessed with watching sports as efficiently as possible since the creation of the DVR. He is always on the lookout for the best tech in TV and wireless so he tin can scout all the sports and withal accept enough fourth dimension to hang out with his baby. He has written about streaming, wireless, and TV for over three years. He hopes the Lakers will eventually get better.

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