T-Mobile owner performs better than expected by analysts
T-Mobile's owner – namely, Deutsche Telekom – has a reason to celebrate. The company reported a slight increase in its first-quarter core profit, just above what analysts had expected, and raised its full-year forecast.
The company posted adjusted earnings before EBITDA AL of 11.3 billion euros, or about 12.7 billion dollars. That's a 7.9% rise compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts had anticipated 11.1 billion euros, based on a company survey. EBITDA AL is a way to measure how much money a company makes from its main business activities before taking out costs like interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, but after subtracting lease expenses. This means it shows the company's earnings after paying for things like office or equipment rentals, which are often long-term lease agreements. Companies like those in the telecom industry often use EBITDA AL because they have a lot of lease agreements, and this measure helps investors see how well the core business is doing, without being misled by accounting changes.Deutsche Telekom also adjusted its 2025 outlook, raising its expected core profit to around 45 billion euros, up slightly from the earlier target of 44.9 billion. Free cash flow after leases is now expected to reach roughly 20 billion euros, compared to the prior forecast of 19.9 billion. This follows a similar move in April by its US-based subsidiary, T-Mobile US, which lifted its own profit expectations despite slower-than-anticipated growth in wireless subscribers.
Image credit – PhoneArena
In late April, T-Mobile reported strong results for the first quarter of 2025, calling it not just its best Q1 ever, but the best quarter in the industry overall. The company added 1.3 million postpaid customers, including 495,000 new phone customers and 424,000 new internet subscribers, leading the sector in customer growth. This performance drove a 5% year-over-year increase in service revenue to $16.9 billion, while postpaid revenue rose 8% to $13.6 billion. Net profit reached $3.0 billion, up 24% from the same period last year. The free cash flow also saw a sharp jump of 52.4% year-on-year, beating analyst estimates by over one billion euros.
In Germany, however, the company faced challenges. It pointed to intense competition and a cooling broadband market, which led to a net loss of 7,000 customers. UBS analyst Polo Tang suggested this could be due to rival Vodafone's use of indirect sales channels, such as price comparison websites like Check24. Some market watchers, including ODDO BHF's Stephane Beyazian, noted that these negative trends in the German broadband segment might concern investors. Still, Deutsche Telekom's performance across the rest of Europe remained solid, with revenue rising organically by 3.7%.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Phone Arena
3 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Some Verizon reps are making it harder than ever to just get what you need
Every so often, mobile carrier reps surprise people with just how pushy they can be – and it doesn't matter if it is T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon. But this time, Verizon is the one getting called out again, as some reps seem more focused on meeting quotas than actually helping customers – to the point that they are pushing people away instead of bringing them in. At least, that's what people online are Reddit user shared how they tried to switch from AT&T to Verizon – something you'd think Verizon would welcome – but instead, they ended up frustrated by reps trying to upsell them on something they didn't want. –Ok_Lake_1168, Reddit, June 2025 This kicked off a wave of replies, with several users explaining how Verizon 's internal pressure leads to this kind of behavior. – crashbandit3, Reddit, June 2025 The aggressive sales culture doesn't stop with in-store reps either – even support staff feel the heat. –Superb-Climate2415, Reddit, June 2025 Others shared how they've been on the receiving end of these tactics, even when they already had what they needed. – Jay_B_23, Reddit, June 2025 And for some, even corporate stores aren't immune to the pressure-heavy approach. – FluidSpecific503, Reddit, June 2025 Eventually, the original poster did go to a corporate Verizon store and finally got what they wanted – just two lines, no hassle. But the whole situation raises a fair question: is this really how Verizon wants to run things at non-corporate locations? Customers shouldn't have to worry about being pushed into buying more than they need, no matter what store they walk into. At the end of the day, it is still Verizon 's name on the door. And it's not just this. Online forums are full of people complaining about surprise charges on their Verizon bills – charges they say they never agreed to. Whether it's reps chasing extra commission or AI-driven upselling gone too far, even Verizon's own employees don't seem to love the system. Still, there is a reason why so many people stick with Verizon – its coverage is hard to beat and the service is usually solid. And to be fair, Verizon isn't the only one with this kind of reputation. T-Mobile has been called out, too. A while back, an employee told us about how T-Mobile turned a blind eye to shady selling tactics. Another one broke down all the "sleazy" moves reps use in stores. Of course, not every experience is bad – sometimes you get lucky with a great rep. But it is kind of wild that we've reached a point where people are hoping not to get scammed just for walking into a carrier store. We've reached out to Verizon for a comment and will update the story when we have a response. Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Buy at Total Wireless
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
AT&T is now covering more ground than anyone else and it's only halfway done
Just like mushrooms stay connected through underground networks, we are too – though ours is way less natural and a lot more high-tech: fiber. And when it comes to laying down that fiber, AT&T is doing more than anyone else – including T-Mobile and Verizon – and plans to keep pushing hard to meet growing this is coming straight from AT&T itself, as the company just hit a major milestone. It says it has now passed over 30 million homes and businesses with its fiber broadband network – ahead of schedule – officially cementing its spot as the nation's top fiber internet provider. – John Stankey, chief executive officer of AT&T , June 10, 2025 AT&T says it is expanding its fiber reach in multiple ways – growing its in-region network organically, teaming up through its Gigapower joint venture, signing commercial open-access deals, forming public-private partnerships and recently moving to acquire most of Lumen's fiber business. That deal alone brings in around 1 million existing fiber customers and more than 4 million fiber locations across 11 states. Between 2020 and 2024, AT&T poured over $145 billion into its network – both wireless and fiber – with investments covering infrastructure, spectrum buys and everything in between to help bring high-speed connections to more homes and businesses. What sets AT&T apart, according to the company, is its unique blend of network scale, tech know-how and a go-to-market strategy that lets it grow faster and more cost-effectively than the rest. Now that it has hit 30 million+ fiber locations passed, it's doubling down on its plan to reach 60 million by the end of 2030. AT&T also points out that it is the first and only provider to roll out a customer guarantee that covers both wireless and fiber – for consumers and small businesses – which it says shows its full commitment to keeping people connected at home, at work, and wherever life takes indeed, millions of AT&T customers already have access to faster, more reliable fiber internet and the company is also modernizing the in-home setup too. Its new All-Fi Pro system is basically a future-proof router setup – built to upgrade just like your phone – giving users a smarter, more powerful Wi-Fi experience throughout the house. But while AT&T is celebrating a big win, its rivals aren't sitting back either. Verizon just scored FCC approval for its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, setting the stage for a huge fiber expansion across 25 states. And T-Mobile is making moves too – it recently acquired Lumos, an internet provider, and is now rolling out T-Mobile Fiber in more places across the US. The un-carrier is also offering a five-year price lock for new fiber customers, giving them one more reason to jump on board (although price locks don't always guarantee no price hikes down the road, as we recently saw). So yeah, the fiber race is definitely heating up. And no matter which carrier you're with, this competition could mean better speeds, wider coverage, and more deals heading your way. Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Buy at Total Wireless
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Best carrier smartphone deals: score a free phone with these hot offers
If you're looking to save big on a new smartphone, snagging one with a generous carrier deal might be a great choice. While you'll likely need to add a new line and opt for an eligible unlimited plan, carriers often have promos that let you get your dream phone for free. But when you visit the official sites of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, you're bombarded with deals, making it hard to find which are the best carrier deals available right now. Since we understand how confusing most carrier offers are, we decided to round up the top phone deals from carriers in one space—this article. So, check the best carrier deals below and save while the offers last! $36 off (100%) The Galaxy S25 Ultra is available with a plan by Verizon for up to $1,300 off. To get the discount, you must activate a new line on the Unlimited Ultimate plan. Buy at Verizon $37 off (100%) Trade in an eligible device with a minimum trade-in value of $95, upgrade your existing plan, or activate a new line, and you can score big savings on the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025). Meeting those requirements lets you purchase the smartphone for as low as $0.00/mo. instead of $36.67/mo. Buy at AT&T $33 off (100%) Add a new line, opt for an eligible unlimited plan to score up to $1,199.99 in promo credits over 36 months. This way, you can get the top-of-the-line iPhone 16 Pro Max for free. Buy at Verizon $28 off (100%) The Pixel 9 Pro has received a generous promo at Verizon as well. Over here, you can get the phone for $0.00/mo. instead of $27.77/mo. To get the discount, you must activate a new line on the Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan. Buy at Verizon $25 off (90%) Add a new line, opt-in for an eligible unlimited plan, and trade in your old phone to score up to $1,000in bill credits. Buy at Verizon No words can describe the feeling of rocking one of the best phones on the market. Whether you're an Android fan with the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra or an Apple user with the top-of-the-line iPhone 16 Pro Max, owning and using a high-end phone is something special. The snappiness... the gorgeous display... the stunning photos... However, high-end phones like the latest iPhone Pro model or Samsung's Galaxy S Ultra come at a cost. Unless... you get them with a generous deal. And with these types of devices being the center of attention, wireless providers often have the best carrier deals on these very phones. For instance, you can get a free Galaxy S25 Ultra , Razr Ultra (2025), iPhone 16 Pro Max , or Pixel 9 Pro if you meet the required conditions. $14 off (100%) The Pixel 9a is available at Verizon at an excellent price: $0.00/mo! That saves you $499.99, though you must activate a new line on an eligible Unlimited plan to get the discount. Buy at Verizon $12 off (70%) Verizon's current iPhone 16e promo lets you get the latest iPhone for $4.99/mo. with select unlimited plans. That saves you a total of $420, but you must activate a new line. Buy at Verizon $18 off (100%) Get the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE for free when you add a new line and choose an eligible Unlimited plan. This way you'll score a $650 discount. The savings are applied over 36 months. Buy at Verizon While high-end devices offer incredible features, not everyone needs all the bells and whistles. Some people simply want a fast, reliable phone with solid specs—without the hefty price tag. For them, mid-range phones provide the perfect balance of performance and affordability. You can find top carrier phone deals on mid-rangers, too. Right now, you can get a Galaxy S24 FE or Pixel 9a for free at Verizon . The carrier also has a solid deal on the iPhone 16e, allowing you to score one for as low as $4.99 a month. $3 off (50%) Get the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G for just $2.99/month with AT&T's limited-time promo—no trade-in required! Just purchase the phone on a 36-month installment plan and activate an eligible Unlimited plan to receive bill credits. Buy at AT&T $5 off (46%) Score the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G for only $5.99/month without a trade-in! Just grab it through AT&T's 36-month installment plan and sign up for an eligible Unlimited plan. Buy at AT&T Looking for an affordable phone? Well, we can't say that the best carrier deals are on budget phones, but we managed to find a few at AT&T . You can currently get the Galaxy A16 5G for just $2.99/month or the Galaxy A36 5G for $5.99/month if you simply buy the phone of your choice on a 36-month installment plan and opt for an eligible Unlimited plan. No trade-in is required.
