Leadership Transition and Growth Achievements

T-Mobile underwent a significant leadership change in November 2025, replacing Mike Sievert with former COO Srini Gopalan as CEO. This pivotal moment came alongside a milestone where T-Mobile dethroned Verizon to become the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. by subscriber base. Over the years, T-Mobile has climbed the ranks, overtaking competitors such as Sprint and AT&T.

Financial Performance and Subscriber Growth

T-Mobile is set to announce its fourth quarter and full year earnings on February 11th, but preliminary reports indicate strong performance in the first three quarters of 2025, boasting $63.98 billion in revenue and $8.93 billion in net income. The carrier added 2.33 million new postpaid phone subscribers during this period, which is a critical growth measure for telecom companies.

Postpaid phone additions are crucial as they reflect the most valuable segment of T-Mobile's customer base. T-Mobile reported a remarkably low postpaid phone churn rate of only 0.90%, a sign of consumer loyalty amidst increasing competition.

Digital Transformation

Throughout 2025, T-Mobile has been actively shifting towards a digital carrier model. This move, facilitated by the T-Life app, encourages customers to manage their accounts digitally, leading to potential layoffs and store closures. The company is betting on this strategy to cut costs and boost profitability, evidenced by internal revelations indicating a complete transition to digital operations soon.

T-Satellite Service Launch

Another major development was the rollout of T-Satellite, a groundbreaking service that allows users to maintain connectivity in areas without cellular service. This innovative service enables SMS and MMS text messaging via native apps, provides access to essential applications like Google Maps, and allows users to reach emergency services.

Stock Performance in 2025

T-Mobile's stock performance has seen volatility throughout the year. Starting at approximately $220, the shares hit a high of $276 in March but faced fluctuations that saw them close at $203.04 at the end of the year, marking an 8% decline.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we approach 2026, T-Mobile's ability to effectively transition to a digital carrier will be under scrutiny. While it retains its cell towers and spectrum as a Mobile Network Operator, how customers interact with T-Mobile may change significantly. Observers will also be keen to see how T-Mobile maintains its position as a 5G leader amidst increasing competition.

The changing landscape, shaped by Verizon's new customer-first approach under CEO Dan Schulman, will pose further challenges for T-Mobile. With its inspiring growth story, 2026 stands to be another pivotal year. We will continue to monitor T-Mobile's journey as it strives to solidify its status as the nation's top wireless carrier.