What happens to Sprint and Sprint customers in the T-Mobile-Sprint merger? That’s the question we keep getting, so we’ll try to answer that here. In short, it all becomes T-Mobile.
Before we dive into that further, we should probably talk about when this all begins. So with that, you should know that this merger is not even close to being finalized. All we have is an announcement of Sprint and T-Mobile’s plans, which leads to them hoping for approval by the US government. Before the new T-Mobile can move forward, they will attempt to convince the US Department of Justice and FCC that this would be beneficial to all parties (competitors, consumers, etc.). Should the US government give them the thumbs-up, they want to be a single company by “no later than the first half of 2019.”
Sprint -> T-Mobile
Assuming that all happens, by mid-2019 changes will start to take place. According to the presentation that T-Mobile and Sprint provided after announcing that they were merging, Sprint customers will migrate to T-Mobile’s network within 3 years of the merger being finalized. Again – Sprint customers will become T-Mobile customers.
T-Mobile and Sprint say that that’ll happen “without degrading [the] experience on Sprint’s network.” They also point out that 20 million Sprint customers already have devices that are compatible with T-Mobile’s network. I’d imagine over the next year that that number will increase.
Which network gets used?
As far as the network goes, T-Mobile plans to use its network as the anchor network, while increasing density and coverage with selected Sprint “keep” sites. In other words, not all of Sprint’s network infrastructure will remain. With that said, T-Mobile will deploy Sprint’s 2.5GHz spectrum across T-Mobile sites and those Sprint “keep” sites will be outfitted to work with AWS and other T-Mobile bands. In addition to that, T-Mobile will build out 85,000 macro sites and 50,000 small cells.
Related notes:
- What about Sprint’s CDMA? T-Mobile will “aggressively” migrate that over to VoLTE.
- T-Mobile said that it could take 2-3 years to complete migration and integration, but that they are hoping to finish within 3 years.
- BONUS: I should also add that T-Mobile and Sprint announced a roaming agreement that kicks off right away. That means you can roam between networks from either side to have better service. And this agreement will apparently hold even if this merger doesn’t happen.
So those are the basics: 1) Sprint customers will become T-Mobile customers; and 2) T-Mobile’s network will be the anchor, but they will utilize a lot of Sprint’s spectrum, especially for 5G. After listening to portions of the call that executives from each company took following the merger news, they certainly don’t sound worried about the migration of the two networks.
“After listening to portions of the call that executives from each company took following the merger news, they certainly don’t sound worried about the migration of the two networks.”
It’s not the executives’ job to worry – it’s the engineers. They’re the ones who have to work long hours trying to make this all happen within the defined timeline.
I like the roaming agreement. The hospital I work in has sprint antennas in the basement but no TMobile signal.
I just want to keep my cheap Sprint plan, I hope they don’t try to make us switch to a TMobile plan.
This is troubling, Sprint may be crap in a lot of places, but at my job, it’s the only signal out of all all four that penetrates the building..
Why is that troubling? It will still be there, throwing a signal for your phone to catch.
IF you read the article it alludes that T-Mobile may be removing Sprint towers and equipment from areas T-Mobile and Sprint over lap heavily.
I left T-Mobile because I hate them and went to sprint and now this is happening? I’m quitting all this and going with a pre paid phone service. Done with these company’s screwing us over.
You do get that pre-paid operators use the networks of carriers. ie Sprint, T-Mobile, at&t and Verizon. They don’t have their own networks
Shhh. He’s sticking to the carriers. We’ll see how they feel when they don’t get his 45.00 a month!
Yeah, I’m not stupid. The service is not what I’m talking about. It’s the lies and double talk and price ripoff that I hate. They are like car salesmen. I just want to buy my phone and pay 30 bucks a month and not deal with them. Is that more specific?
That Softbank bribe finally paid off. I can’t wait for Verizon and AT&T to finally have some real competition!
So I’m confused about the whole 3 years thing since T-Mobile also said they’d move customers over a month after closing… https://mobile.twitter.com/tmobile/status/990633670296780800?s=21 maybe they mean compatible devices?
They expect CDMA to be converted to LTE witching 3 years
I thought it was already approved. Everyone is counting their chickens before they hatch.
They just agreed to merge. They have to get government approval which can take 12-18 months can still can be denied
What about Boost customers
It was approved between Sprint & T-Mo. The US regulatory committee still needs to approve the merged entity; thus the waiting game until 2019.
Thank you,
Burying the lede on that roaming between networks is active immediately thing .
Also, thanks for the education on “lede” versus “lead.” #TheMoreYouKnow — https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/bury-the-lede-versus-lead
How do I take advantage of the “roam between networks from either side to have better service” part of the agreement?
They haven’t released those details yet, but did mention that they signed the deal and it goes through no matter what. I’ll see what I can do to find out.
They are starting the PR blitz of trying to say “See! We told you this would be good for consumers!” Smart move by them.
Kellen, from what I read they entered into a 4 year roaming agreement, but it differs from your info in that the version I read says that Sprint customers can roam on the T-Mobile network. It doesn’t specifically say T-Mobile customers can roam on the Sprint network… but I don’t find anything that says that isn’t possible.
By making sure your roaming settings are turned on.
That doesn’t sound right. T-Mobile as to open the LAC to allow for roaming. They can selectively block roaming based on LAC.
Currently? Project Fi lol Especially if your phone doesnt support CDMA then you are SOL.
I don’t think T-Mobile customers can roam on Sprint due to CDMA and that wasn’t announced. It was announced that Sprint customers can roam on T-Mobile immediately. It’s a 4 year deal that doesn’t depend on the completion of the merger. T-Mobile roaming will kick in an area where Sprint has no service and T-Mobile does. I’m not sure if you can force your phone to roam on T-Mobile in a Sprint coverage area. I don’t have Sprint so I can’t test that.
effects on project fi users?
Probably nothing since Fi uses both Sprint and Tmobile from my understanding.
Good god people even if this thing does get approved it’s at least 3 years before it effect anything. Worry about 2021 in 2021 not 2018.
Sprint users get a massive bailout from T-Mobile.