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T-Mobile’s latest ‘Uncarrier’ move seen decimating Sprint

Published Feb 3rd, 2014 3:55PM EST
Sprint Subscriber Losses T-Mobile

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At what point would it be appropriate to suggest that T-Mobile should buy Sprint instead of the other way around? Barron’s flags a new research note from RBC Capital Markets analyst Jonathan Atkin, who says that T-Mobile’s pledge to pay off rivals’ early termination fees could have an absolutely devastating impact on Sprint, the company that just happens to be working on a plan to buy up America’s “Uncarrier.” How bad might things be for Sprint? Well, consider that the consensus expectation for this quarter is that Sprint will report losing somewhere in the neighborhood of 365,000 postpaid wireless subscribers… and Atkin says that estimate was made before factoring in T-Mobile’s ETF payout gambit, which he says could “lead to wider losses” for the carrier than anyone had previously imagined.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.