T-Mobile Customer Leaves for MVNO After Bill Reaches $113, 9to5Mac Column Says

In the column, the author explained that MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. An MVNO does not operate its own nationwide cellular network; instead, it buys access from a major carrier such as AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon and sells service to its own customers. That means switching to an MVNO does not necessarily mean giving up the network a customer already uses. Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network, Visible uses Verizon’s, and US Mobile gives customers the option of using networks from all three major carriers, according to the column. The author said he focused on those three MVNOs because they were the ones he looked at most closely before leaving T-Mobile, while noting that several other options exist.

MVNOs can charge less because they do not carry all the costs of running a nationwide wireless carrier, the column said. They do not build and maintain their own networks, many operate primarily online rather than through physical retail locations, and they tend to have fewer employees. Those savings can be passed to customers through lower monthly prices. MVNOs also tend to offer simpler plans with fewer perks and extras than traditional carriers. Depending on the carrier and plan, a customer might not get free streaming services or other incentives. The author wrote that he used T-Mobile’s free MLB.TV subscription every season but never watched Netflix, so the “Netflix on Us” perk was wasted on him. Even if he wanted both services, he wrote, paying for them himself could still leave him ahead after switching.

The trade-off is not necessarily worse service but fewer included features, according to the column. What a customer gives up depends on the MVNO and plan. Video streaming may be limited to lower resolutions, the amount of high-speed or premium data may vary, and network priority can differ. The author said he has fast home Wi-Fi and rarely finds himself in congested areas such as concerts or stadiums, so network priority was less of a concern in normal use. Because he occasionally travels overseas, however, international data mattered. Some MVNOs include international data and texting, while others require an additional fee or offer more limited coverage outside the United States.

There are also less obvious differences when buying a new iPhone, the column said. Apple Card Monthly Installments and the iPhone Upgrade Program are not available when a customer chooses an MVNO as their carrier; those options are limited to AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. In practice, that generally means buying an iPhone outright when purchasing directly from Apple. Major carriers can also offer large trade-in credits and other promotions that are not generally available through MVNOs. Apple Watch support is not universal either, so customers with a cellular Apple Watch should check before switching.

Most MVNOs rely more on phone and chat support than on physical stores with face-to-face employees, according to the column. The author said he considers himself tech-savvy and has no desire to wait in line in a store for help. In his experience, a store sales representative will often call and be put on hold with the same people he would end up calling from home, so the lack of retail support was not a dealbreaker for him.

The column cautioned that none of these limitations are universal. They vary by carrier and plan, so customers should look at what they are actually getting before making a switch. The author’s central point was that after years of T-Mobile price increases, an MVNO offered a reliable and more affordable service without the extras he did not need.