For months now, I've been talking about all the good things the New T-Mobile
will do for consumers and for the country.
But today, we took another very important step in this process.
We filed a set of specific verifiable and enforceable commitments with the Federal Communications Commission.
We've laid out in detail how the New T-Mobile will 1) Build a world-leading 5g network across America,
2) bring real 5G to rural America and 3) deliver in-home broadband competition.
Listen, we built this whole Un-Carrier movement by listening and then acting decisively.
So, we've been listening to the FCC and others over the last year as we've made our case for the New T-Mobile
and now, we're taking decisive action with our detailed commitments.
Because when we say we'll do something, we do it!
Before we dive in, I want to thank Ajit Pai,
the chairman of the FCC, for his statements and supported the merger in these voluntary commitments.
We are absolutely aligned with his vision to ensure that the US is a leader in the 5G era.
So here's what we did today:
First, and maybe most importantly, we provided detailed milestones around when and how will deliver 5G for all
on a nationwide level, for rural America and for in-home broadband.
My blog has a lot of this in detail and the public filing has even more,
but there are just a few of the high-level details that I want to be clear about.
In three years, we have committed to blanket 97% of the country's population with 5G including
85% of rural America and in just six years we have committed to cover 99% of
the population with 5g including 90% of rural America it's going to be amazing
for in-home broadband we mapped out how we will bring badly-needed competition
and choice to households across the United States and in rural America we
have shared specifics as to how we'll be able to support millions of households
across the country in the coming years but more than that we set all kinds of
targets on the road to 5g specific targets around the network build out
around network speeds and around how many people will be covered with low
band and mid band spectrum that last part is critically important
because utilizing both mid and low band spectrum ensures that this country will
have broad and deep nationwide 5g I also hope that today's news will force
Verizon and AT&T to reevaluate their 5g strategies and expand 5g beyond the
exceptionally limited millimeter wave spectrum they're using today because
millimeter wave alone cannot provide the truly nationwide coverage we need to
make America a leader in 5g the new t-mobile will deliver a nationwide 5g
network for everyone but you don't have to take my word for it because these
commitments we just made are not just words they are real enforceable targets
and if we don't hit them we will make significant payments and that won't stop
until our milestones are achieved and the network is fully deployed and
performing to the targets we are committed now you might be asking
yourself why would we commit to that I'll tell you why because we have said
all along that we will bring this kind of world-class 5g network to all corners
of America and create real competition to the entrenched broadband providers
and I'm very confident that we are going to nail all of these targets like I said
when we say we'll do something we do it in addition we heard feedback from the
FCC about the prepaid segment in response to this we plan to divest Boost
Mobile Sprint's prepaid business after the close of the merger we'll work to
find a serious credible buyer with all the assets needed to run and grow the
boost business and we'll make sure that the buyer has attractive wholesale rates
this is good news for boost customers and employees who will get a world-class
5g Network and a buyer with the ability to invest in the brand that's a win-win
and make no mistake the new t-mobile will continue to be committed to prepaid
we have always chosen to serve prepaid customers to give hard-working people
everywhere the great wireless service they deserve
we aren't backing down from that commitment at all and we plan to compete
aggressively with Metro and virgin and finally I've already written a letter
blogged about and talked about our commitment to deliver the same or better
prices with the new t-mobile and that includes 5g
we actually already made this commitment in a letter to the FCC but we reiterated
that commitment again today opponents of this deal continue to insist that will
raise prices and they're just dead wrong while Verizon adds surcharges for 5g I
don't want there to be any doubt that the new t-mobile will have the ability
to deliver 5g at the same or better prices than today's plans again when we
say we'll do something we do it period with the new t-mobile we will have the
opportunity to build the 5g network that America deserves and challenge the
status quo that has failed millions the new t-mobile will be a disruptive rival
that has the resources to go toe-to-toe with huge established corporations in
many markets and drive competition and innovation that benefits everyone
everywhere I am more excited than ever about the difference we can make in
millions of people's lives with the new t-mobile and I look forward to
continuing to make the case and share our plans with regulators and other
stakeholders across the country so stay tuned because we are working hard to
supercharge the uncarrier by making this merger a reality thank you