BELLEVUE, Wash. & WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS, “T-Mobile”) today announced the Un-carrier is accelerating its geographic expansion efforts in Iowa though a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining interest of Iowa Wireless (“iWireless”) from Aureon. iWireless is a leading regional wireless provider serving Iowa, western Illinois, and eastern Nebraska with 103 full service company stores and authorized dealers that serve approximately 75,000 customers. This will give customers of iWireless access to all of T-Mobile’s Un-carrier benefits and America’s Best Unlimited Network. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2017 or early 2018.
“We’re taking T-Mobile to every corner of the country and this deal shows our commitment to expanding in the heart of America,” said John Legere, President and CEO of T-Mobile. “We’ve been disrupting the wireless industry for the benefit of consumers for the last five years now and customers in Iowa will be able to experience the benefits firsthand.”
Aureon’s CEO, Ron Keller, said “T-Mobile, Aureon and our independent telephone company partners built iWireless over a period of nearly 20 years. Going forward, iWireless will benefit from T-Mobile’s unrelenting focus on growth and continued investments in a high-quality network experience for their customers.”
Since 2015, T-Mobile has doubled its LTE coverage and now covers 315 million people – almost every American and most of those in rural America. By the end of the year, the Un-carrier expects to expand LTE coverage to 321 million people. With its rollout of 700 MHz Extended Range LTE nearly complete, T-Mobile plans to further broaden its LTE footprint for customers with its newly acquired 600 MHz spectrum. In Iowa, T-Mobile will expand its LTE coverage this year in addition to further investment and buildout of 600 MHz in the future.
Expanding and improving the network will enable the Un-carrier to grow its distribution footprint with plans to open 3,000 stores in 2017, including 1,500 T-Mobile stores and 1,500 MetroPCS stores. In total, the company expects to have 17,000 branded locations across the country by the end of 2017.
About T-Mobile US, Inc.
As America's Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. Our advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to 69.6 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
About Aureon
Aureon is a leading business solutions provider offering a comprehensive suite of support solutions focused on Technology, HR, Contact Center and Consulting services. As a trusted partner for organizations both small and large, we provide scalable and customizable solutions that keep our clients focused and productive. For more information, go to: www.aureon.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about T-Mobile US, Inc.'s plans, outlook, beliefs, opinions, projections, strategy, market and distribution expansion, and expected timing of closing the transaction, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "expect," "suggests," "plan," “project,” "believe," "intend," "estimates," "targets," "views," "may," "will," "forecast," and other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, are based on current assumptions and expectations, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could affect future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: adverse economic or political conditions in the U.S. and international markets; competition in the wireless services market, including new competitors entering the industry as technologies converge; the effects any future merger or acquisition involving us, as well as the effects of mergers or acquisitions in the technology, media and telecommunications industry; challenges in implementing our business strategies or funding our wireless operations; any disruption or failure of our third parties’ or key suppliers’ provisioning of products or services; material adverse changes in labor matters, including labor campaigns, negotiations or additional organizing activity, and any resulting financial, operational and/or reputational impact; the ability to make payments on our debt or to repay our existing indebtedness when due; adverse change in the ratings of our debt securities or adverse conditions in the credit markets; and other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.