AT&T is Losing More Subscribers Than Any Other Carrier A new report by Cowen and Company Equity Research highlights how AT&T is losing more subscribers per quarter than any other US wireless carrier. That's of course largely thanks to T-Mobile, which continues to gobble up most of AT&T's defecting customers, who are being lured by the promise of (sort of) unlimited data and lower prices. For whatever reason, AT&T continues to lose more subscribers than Verizon or Sprint in the face of T-Mobile competition, even with the company's unlimited data DirecTV bundle promotions.

"When asking postpaid subscribers that have been with their carrier (less than) two years which carrier did they previously have, the top answer for current Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon respondents was 'previously AT&T,'" the analyst firm said in a research note to investors spotted by Fierce Wireless "Whereas in previous surveys it’s been more mixed," the company added. "The survey is in line with AT&T reported results where the carrier has lost postpaid phone subs for the past eight consecutive quarters as it has pivoted to a more surgical retention strategy of keeping high-value/high-margin subscribers.” Of course most telecom companies, when faced with a rash of defecting subscribers, will claim this was all by ingenious design, and that the losses are solely due to companies just letting less profitable and bad credit customers leave. But look at earnings reports and talk to actual customers, and it should be clear most of these users are leaving because they believe T-Mobile gives them a better deal, with less nickel and diming. And there's no indication these losses are slowing down anytime soon. Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche predicts AT&T lost 220,000 postpaid subscribers during the fourth quarter, potentially the worst fourth quarter in company history. And there's no indication these losses are slowing down anytime soon. Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche predicts AT&T lost 220,000 postpaid subscribers during the fourth quarter, potentially the worst fourth quarter in company history.







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Most recommended from 32 comments



UnloadedOne

join:2015-04-04

Astoria, NY 9 recommendations UnloadedOne Member The new Sprint? It's like they are becoming the next Sprint without the nightmare Nextel merger. That takes some skill.

gigahurtz

Premium Member

join:2001-10-20

USA 5 recommendations gigahurtz Premium Member There are many options to choose from, so this doesn't surprise me. There are many options to choose from in the wireless market. You have your big four of AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile but there are countless prepaid/MVNO options that are more than sufficient for a vast majority of people.



AT&T GoPhone

Verizon Wireless Prepaid

Boost Mobile

Cricket Wireless

MetroPCS

Straight Talk

and countless others!



Explore the options out there. All the MVNOs and Prepaid options piggyback off one of the big four networks so you'll notice little to know change in your service. Os

join:2011-01-26

US 4 recommendations Os Member AT&T Isn't That Bad I will admit I had a gap between 2006 and 2014 when I didn't have them, but I've found their coverage to be reliable, and their plans are more affordable than Verizon.



Granted, I changed mine during a double data promotion, and get an employee discount. T-Mobile still isn't cheaper for me, but if I switched to anyone, it would probably be them. The disaster of Sprint coverage (who is a roaming partner for US Cellular, who I had from 2006 to 2014) is why I went back to AT&T.