CTIA reports US wireless data usage reached 159.3 trillion MB in 2026—still a record, but the year-over-year growth rate has slowed versus recent years. CTIA forecasts demand could be 4x higher by 2032, with AI traffic growing faster than traditional usage. Dealers should pivot from “more data” hype to “better experience” selling: Wi‑Fi offload, device upgrades, fixed wireless comparisons, and connected-device bundles.

Xfinity Mobile dealer review: current plan pricing, Verizon network coverage, data speeds, activation basics, and who to pitch it to.

A dealer-friendly look at Verizon postpaid and Simple Mobile prepaid: coverage, data policy, international calling and which customer fits each brand.

Assurance Wireless (Lifeline) offers eligible households unlimited talk/text plus 10GB of high-speed data each month on T-Mobile’s 4G/5G network—often with $0 monthly bill and no contract. Dealers can use this as a traffic driver: eligibility checks, device setup, number transfers, and upsells to affordable prepaid/home internet for customers who outgrow 10GB.

T-Mobile named former Shell CFO Jessica Uhl as CFO Designate, with a planned handoff from current CFO Peter Osvaldik in February 2027. For dealers, this signals continued focus on disciplined spending, “digital-first” cost reduction, and pricing/plan changes—so prepare for more bill-audit conversations and retention offers.

As T-Mobile continues layoffs and store closures, more customers say they’re being pushed into digital support, AI chatbots, and the T‑Life app—yet the experience isn’t consistent. Some report waiting 30 minutes or more for a “talk to Customer Care” button to appear, while others say chat waits can run an hour or longer (or never connect). Customers often need urgent help (unlocks, SIM issues), and being told to use the app even in-store is fueling frustration.

A new editorial argues the “classic T‑Mobile” customers loved under John Legere isn’t coming back. The piece points to longtime exec Mike Katz exiting and signaling that T‑Mobile must evolve now that it can’t keep growing by simply contrasting itself with AT&T and Verizon. Readers largely agree: a poll shows 67% believe Katz was hinting the old Un‑Carrier era is over, as T‑Mobile pushes app-first service (T‑Life), layoffs, and retail changes.

New Street Research says Verizon’s “comeback” is showing early traction as CEO Dan Schulman nears his one-year mark. Analyst David Barden notes Verizon’s postpaid phone losses were improving before Schulman, but the pace has picked up since he took over in Oct. 2025. Gross adds are up close to double digits, churn improved in Q2 2026, and cost cuts are boosting EBITDA—though New Street warns Verizon can’t “cut its way to greatness,” and ARPU/ARPA pressure remains.

Charlie Ergen's CONX is buying control of MobileX, reuniting him with Boost founder Peter Adderton. What the deal could mean for telecom operators.

Spectrum Mobile spotlight for telecom operators: current plan prices, Verizon network coverage, activation basics, and where this cable MVNO fits your business.

T-Mobile is reportedly telling district-level employees and higher to spend at least two days working in a retail store or call center—an “optional” requirement that tips say is tied to bonuses/stock grants. The move comes as customers complain about being pushed to use the T‑Life app in-store, plus ongoing issues with app access, promotions, and store policies (like trade-ins being refused despite the app offering in-store drop-off). The goal: give leadership real front-line

Optimum is expanding its MVNO agreement with T-Mobile to add access to T-Mobile’s 5G standalone (SA) core—while still keeping Optimum’s own in-house mobile core. Optimum says the move will unlock a wider device portfolio (phones, wearables, tablets), improved international roaming options, and new product launches starting early next year after platform upgrades. Optimum ended Q2 2026 with 724,000 mobile lines.

While the Big 3 push customers toward app-first service, Consumer Cellular is leaning the other way—opening larger stores designed for comfort and high-touch help. CEO Ed Evans says forced app downloads in-store (like requiring T‑Life before speaking to a rep) are driving an uptick in ports, especially from T-Mobile. Consumer Cellular has opened its 100th store, targets ~120 by year-end, and focuses on an older customer base (avg age 66–67), including a 75+ brand with plans s

T-Mobile is continuing its shift to a digital-first model, with more transactions moving into the T-Life app—and that transition is showing up in retail. In Washington state, the carrier is permanently cutting 77 jobs, closing six retail stores, and shutting a corporate office, according to a LinkedIn post and a WARN notice filing. Layoffs are scheduled between Sept. 21 and Nov. 18, 2026, and include retail mobile experts and corporate roles.

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon scored a rare joint win after a federal jury in Texas rejected Asus’ 2023 lawsuit alleging infringement of standard essential patents tied to 4G/5G. Asus argued the carriers violated its patents through use of Ericsson and Nokia network equipment and sought $436M in damages. The jury rejected the claims, found Ericsson and Nokia not liable, and determined Asus breached fair-licensing obligations—avoiding potential royalties or injunction risk.

Outgoing T-Mobile product chief Mike Katz says what many customers already feel: the Un-carrier era changed because it wasn’t sustainable. Katz recounts how “pain-free wireless” helped T-Mobile grow from low-double-digit share to roughly a third of the market—but now the focus is retention, not acquisition. T-Mobile has dropped several Un-carrier policies and is leaning into AI (IntentCX) to proactively reduce churn. Dealers should prepare for more bill predictability and ret

Broadband Nation Expo (BBNE) is coming to New Orleans Nov. 18–20, 2026 with the theme “Broadband & Beyond: The Next Era of End-to-End Connectivity.” The agenda is built around three tracks—Hybrid Horizons, Built to Last, and No AI Without Broadband—and adds a co-located Data Center Excellence Summit focused on scaling infrastructure behind the AI economy. Early bird pricing ends Sept. 17.

As T-Mobile shifts upmarket, longtime bargain hunters feel left behind. Navi data says 53% of T-Mobile shoppers pick premium tiers (vs mid-40s for AT&T/Verizon), and T-Mobile says 60% of new customers choose high-end plans. But readers overwhelmingly want lower prices (65%) or fewer fees (25%). With AT&T and Verizon undercutting T-Mobile’s cheapest plan, dealers should prepare for more bill-audit and switch conversations.

Total Wireless announced an expanded partnership with Western Union, bringing money transfers, bill pay, and money orders to Total Wireless retail stores nationwide. Services start in select locations now and expand through the end of 2026. Eligible customers on MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G, and ALL ACCESS plans also receive one fee-free Western Union money transfer each month (transfer fee waived; exchange rates and taxes may apply).

T-Mobile says it detected suspicious router activity tied to the Salt Typhoon threat in 2024 and stopped the intrusion by physically severing a connection to a compromised provider’s network. While core subscriber data wasn’t accessed, some edge routing infrastructure was impacted. Here’s what this means for dealers—and how to turn security headlines into practical customer and SMB conversations.