U.S. Cellular, a regional mobile service provider, primarily serves the Pacific Northwest, New England, and specific areas in the Midwest and Southeast. For individuals outside its core service regions, U.S. Cellular’s network relies on roaming partnerships with the nation’s three larger carriers. The carrier may not be well-known outside its operational zones, but within them, its services are often considered on par with or superior to those of the larger networks.
In August 2023, U.S. Cellular publicized its consideration of a sale by announcing an exploration of “strategic alternatives”, a term often indicating the pursuit of a merger or sale. CEO Laurent Therivel supported the exploration, committing to continue the company’s mission of connectivity. “The U.S. Cellular leadership team and I fully support the decision to review strategic alternatives for U.S. Cellular,” stated Therivel. “We will remain focused on executing our plan and fulfilling our mission of connecting people to what matters most.”
Following this announcement, T-Mobile’s CEO Mike Sievert was queried at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology conference regarding how U.S. Cellular’s news might fit into T-Mobile’s rural expansion strategies. Sievert expressed a preference for T-Mobile’s existing plans but didn’t dismiss the idea entirely, citing the complexities of mergers and acquisitions. “Maybe, but I like our Plan A a lot,” he said, as reported by Cord Cutters News, acknowledging the significant hurdles associated with such deals.
