T-Mobile killed two birds with one stone this week in an FCC filing that hammered Verizon's new price plans as it said competition in the U.S. wireless market is thriving.
The operator cited its uncarrier marketing strategy, which has disrupted the wireless industry in several ways and driven T-Mobile's recent success. In an FCC filing, T-Mobile said some of its tactics have been adopted by other major wireless carriers – Verizon and AT&T, namely – illustrating that competition is thriving in the U.S. mobile market.
"Since our first Un-carrier announcement more than three years ago, we have relentlessly challenged the status quo in the wireless industry by identifying and removing consumer pain points," T-Mobile crowed. "The large incumbent carriers have taken notice and responded by replicating some of the most popular features of our innovative programs albeit often without offering the same high level of consumer benefit. Nonetheless, the net result is that T-Mobile's Un-carrier initiatives have benefited not only T-Mobile customers, but all wireless consumers."
The filing was submitted as a public comment in advance of the FCC's annual report on the state of competition in the wireless industry, which is due later this year.
Indeed, T-Mobile's move to kill handset subsidies and two-year contracts three years ago eventually prompted its competitors to follow suit to one degree or another. Similarly, the offer it launched in early 2014 to pay up to $650 in early termination fees to customers who switch has been embraced by every major U.S. operator.
The carrier was particularly eager to point to Verizon's move last week to increase both the price and the data allotments in its monthly plans. Verizon also introduced features enabling users to keep unused data and to stay connected at lower speeds after they've surpassed their monthly caps – both of which T-Mobile has long offered.
Verizon representatives insist the new price plans don't mark a rate hike because the price per GB is lower.
Regardless, T-Mobile said its successful initiatives indicate the wireless market has no need for further regulations to increase competition.
"T-Mobile therefore urges the Commission to consider these developments as part of its annual assessment of competition in the mobile wireless market as well as when the agency evaluates potential actions that allow for ongoing and vigorous competition amongst providers," the carrier said. "There is no debate that the ability and willingness of a maverick like T-Mobile to compete effectively has resulted in tangible consumer benefits across the wireless industry."
For more:
- see this T-Mobile filing
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