As the US operator releases its Q1 2025 financials, it simultaneously boasted that it now has the US’s “only nationwide 5G Advanced network, built on the industry’s only 5G Standalone (5G SA) architecture.”
The operator says this means more immersive applications like XR, seamless cloud gaming, interactive live events, intuitive smart home integrations, innovative wearables, and highly accurate enhanced location services – all the usual things promised by 5G SA.
It also says 5G Advanced incorporates AI capabilities throughout the RAN, core network, and management layers, which enables things like dynamic resource allocation, predictive optimization, and real-time adaptability.
“At T-Mobile, our vision for 5G Advanced is not defined by a single moment, but by our continuous commitment to adapt and evolve,” said Ulf Ewaldsson, President of Technology, T-Mobile. “Our 5G Advanced journey is already underway — we’re not just adopting technologies; we’re actively shaping them to deliver more meaningful experiences for our customers.”
In terms of its numbers, the operator said it clocked its highest ever postpaid net and gross customer additions during the quarter. Total service revenues increased 5% YoY to $16.9 billion, and postpaid service revenues increased 8% YoY to $13.6 billion. Meanwhile net income increased 24% to $3billion, and core adjusted EBITDA increased 8% to $8.3 billion
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“T-Mobile delivered big yet again with outstanding Q1 results across wireless and broadband, including our best ever Q1 total postpaid customer gross and net additions—proof that our consistent customer-first focus has put us in the best position to succeed in this dynamic environment,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile.
“A record number of customers chose the Un-carrier in Q1 — we grew postpaid gross additions year-over-year across the board and our High Speed Internet business led the industry in net customer additions for the 13th straight quarter. And all of this customer growth drove fantastic financial growth with strong net cash provided by operating activities and our highest-ever Q1 Adjusted Free Cash Flow. This is a great start to 2025, and we’re excited about what’s to come as we continue to deliver innovative experiences, our best-in-class network, and unmatched value to customers.”
T-Mobile also says it now operates the only satellite network in the US that works on “most modern smartphones”, and has hundreds of thousands of active customers using it and over a million messages delivered to those enrolled in the beta.
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In terms of outlook, it’s raised its prior guidance on core adjusted EBITDA for 2025 – now expected to be between $33.2 billion and $33.7 billion – and postpaid net customer additions are expected to be between 5.5 million and 6.0 million.
As reported by Light Reading, T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said the operator will continue looking at merger and acquisition opportunities, but would favour "pureplay fibre" options.
"We are interested in the space,” said Sievert. “We're out there kicking the tires. Our appetite is limited. It has to be just the right thing. And we've kind of shown our preference for pureplay fibre. That doesn't mean we're going to limit ourselves to that, but we've shown our preference for that."
Last year T-Mobile and KKR announced a JV to acquire US fibre company Metronet – including its broadband infrastructure, residential fibre business operations and customer base, as well as Oak Hill Capital’s existing stake – with the former expecting to spend $4.9 billion on the deal, it was stated at the time.
Meanwhile it was reported last month that rival US operator AT&T is mulling a $5.5 billion swoop for Lumen's consumer fibre unit, following reports from last December that Lumen had put the division up for sale and hired Goldman Sachs to help it find a buyer.
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