SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen says Starlink plans to launch “5G-quality” mobile satellite service for smartphones in the first half of 2028, powered by V3 satellites deployed through 2027. He says SpaceX can use midband spectrum bought from EchoStar and already has FCC approval for direct-from-space and terrestrial capability. The Big Three have refused MVNO deals—creating a major dealer opportunity around backup connectivity.

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.

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.

A new Light Reading report fuels skepticism that SpaceX can challenge AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon by mounting small cellular base stations (femtocells/small cells) onto residential Starlink terminals. Analysts argue the approach breaks the “SIM card simplicity” consumers expect, requires antennas/radios and permitting similar to macro sites, and runs into hard physics: limited coverage

EchoStar Chairman Charles Ergen is buying MVNO MobileX for $200 million through his SPAC CONX, and Verizon is taking a small equity stake in the company. MobileX will remain a Verizon-network MVNO—customers use Verizon 5G/LTE—and ownership is shared among CONX, MobileX founder Peter Adderton, and Verizon (with Ergen and Adderton said to be in charge). MobileX’s pitch is that most people overpay for unlimited plans; its app uses AI to analyze usage and Wi‑Fi habits, then sugge

Verizon denied rumors that it’s preparing for a sale to SpaceX, but many subscribers say they wish it were true. In a reader poll with 3,114 responses, 38% wanted Verizon to stay as-is, while 37% wanted SpaceX to buy it; 23% preferred another buyer (not AT&T, T‑Mobile, or SpaceX). The frustration is driven by repeated price hikes and Verizon’s premium positioning—many customers don’t feel the service justifies the cost.

Wolfe Research says T-Mobile’s “undisputed leader” status is fading as AT&T and Verizon improve postpaid value plans, cable companies push aggressive device promos, and SpaceX’s next-gen Starlink V3 satellites threaten T‑Mobile’s 5G home internet business. After migrating customers off legacy plans and raising prices, T‑Mobile has less room to squeeze ARPU, while rivals are forecasted to grow faster and potentially match T‑Mobile over the next four years. Dealers should treat

T-Mobile has completed the sale of an 800 MHz spectrum portfolio to Grain Management, a move that highlights how valuable low-band spectrum remains for wide-area coverage—especially in rural and small-town markets. While customers won’t see an overnight “speed boost,” low-band spectrum can improve reach, in-building coverage, and reliability when deployed well. Dealers should treat this as a coverage and rural connectivity story: run location-based fit checks, watch for netwo

Recent Verizon outages are putting network reliability back at the center of customer conversations. When service fails, customers don’t want carrier jargon—they want a fast diagnosis, a clear credit/escalation path, and a plan to prevent downtime next time. Dealers can win these moments by running a simple outage checklist (device, SIM/eSIM, settings, Wi‑Fi calling), documenting impact for support, and bundling “connectivity insurance” like hotspots/routers, power protection

A Morningstar outlook says economic growth for the North American telecom market is still possible in 2026—good news for dealers if they sell what customers actually buy in “steady growth” years: practical upgrades, home internet, and business connectivity. The playbook is simple: target families who need reliable streaming/Wi‑Fi, SMBs that need uptime, and switchers frustrated by app-only support. Win with location-based fit checks, bill audits, and bundles (router/mesh, hot

A new report ties rising customer frustration to telcos shrinking human support while pushing digital-first tools. Deutsche Telekom’s Q2 2026 report shows T-Mobile US full-time employees fell from 70,036 (end of 2025) to 65,365 (end of June 2026)—about 4,700 fewer people (a 6.7% drop). At the same time, T-Mobile is pushing customers toward the T‑Life app for upgrades and account actions. Dealers should treat this as a “support gap” opportunity: sell paid setup, bill audits, a

T-Mobile is leaning more premium as plan tiers blur across carriers. Dealers can win with bill audits, fit checks, and value-based bundles.

An editorial warns that T-Mobile’s push to move upgrades, add‑a‑line, and new account creation into the T‑Life app by Q4 2026 will corner a specific group: customers who refuse to use the app but also won’t leave. Poll results show 52.17% would switch, 24.03% refuse the app, and 23.8% don’t mind it. For dealers, this is a “friction-to-service” opportunity: offer app setup/teach-back, keep a human fallback plan ready, and build a clean switch menu for customers who want a pers

FirstNet, Built with AT&T, launched what it calls the first and only nationwide 5G standalone (5G SA) network core dedicated to public safety. Built with direct feedback from first responders, the core is physically separate from AT&T’s commercial core to deliver enhanced security, reliability, and operational control. AT&T says the architecture uses multiple geographically distributed core sites for redundancy and supports faster upload speeds and improved responsiveness—fou

A new editorial highlights growing backlash as T-Mobile forces millions off legacy plans—some with “permanent price lock” expectations—triggering bill hikes, FCC complaints, and rising churn. Despite frustration, many customers stay because T-Mobile still undercuts AT&T and Verizon on price and performs well in many markets. For dealers, this is a “trust + math” moment: run quick bill audits, document promises vs. current costs, and offer a clear menu—stay and optimize, restr

After a network outage, customers often want one thing: a fair credit and a clear explanation. This guide walks through the fastest way to request a T-Mobile outage credit, what account details to check first (plan, add-ons, autopay, device settings), and how dealers can turn a frustrating moment into retention—by documenting the issue, escalating correctly, and offering a simple “backup connectivity” plan for next time.

AT&T has closed a reported $23 billion spectrum deal with EchoStar, a major move that could strengthen AT&T’s 5G capacity and long-term network positioning. Spectrum is the “raw material” of wireless performance—more usable spectrum can translate into better speeds, more consistent service during congestion, and improved home internet viability in certain markets. Dealers should treat this as a credibility headline and prepare a simple “where will it improve first?” coverage