United States-based wireless network operator, T-Mobile, on Thursday announced that it soon plans to begin delivering home broadband service using its wireless network. According to the company, this broadband service would cost its customers just $50/month and would initially be available for 50,000 select mobile customers.
This move is also being telegraphed as rationale for the Sprint acquisition, as the company fights against big cable giants like AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ). This also serves as an example of how mobile carriers are planning their next push into the cable internet business.
Critics are of the opinion that the Sprint and T-Mobile deal would mean fewer choices and higher prices for consumers. In response, CEO of T-Mobile, John Legere, said that the new company would be a stronger competitor to giants like Verizon Communications and AT&T. He even promised not to raise prices for three years if the deal was approved.
According to the company, the pilot program would be available by invitation only and only in the areas where T-Mobile’s LTE 4G network has capacity to deliver high-speed internet access. T-Mobile further added that it would be able to cover more than half the nation’s households with advanced 5G broadband service by 2024.