T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet has proven to be in such high demand that over a million people are currently stuck on a waitlist, according to T-Mobile Consumer Group President Jon Freier. Reported by the Phone Arena, the revelation came during the UBS TMT Summit in December 2024.
Why Is There a Waitlist for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet?
T-Mobile, America’s largest fixed wireless access (FWA) provider, ended Q3 of 2024 with an impressive 6 million customers. However, as Freier explained, the waitlist reflects both the popularity of the service and T-Mobile’s efforts to maintain network performance.
“We have a million people on our waitlist right now for 5G broadband at T-Mobile — a million people that want to be a part of us, but we don’t have a slot open for them right here right now based on where they live,” said Freier.
The company’s 5G Home Internet relies on excess network capacity to deliver broadband service. This means it’s only available in areas where T-Mobile has additional bandwidth to spare. Although the 5G network covers significant portions of the country, broadband service cannot be offered everywhere due to capacity limitations. Customers are added on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure a seamless internet experience for existing subscribers.
“Our fixed wireless Home Internet runs on the extra capacity on our wireless network. In some areas, we have extra capacity on the network, but in others, we don’t. So, we allocate access to Home Internet on a sector-by-sector, home-by-home basis,” a T-Mobile spokesperson explained.
Currently, about 59% of the U.S. population has access to T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet.
Plans to Expand: Fiber Solutions and New Internet Plans
To address the growing demand, T-Mobile has been working to acquire two fiber companies: Lumos and Metronet. This move will enable the carrier to offer fiber broadband in addition to its wireless service. Once the acquisitions are complete, T-Mobile projects that it will be able to serve 12 to 15 million customers with its fiber network by 2030.
The fiber expansion won’t just help those waiting for 5G broadband—it will also cater to users seeking faster speeds than what fixed wireless can deliver. The acquisitions are being carried out through a joint venture, marking a significant strategic shift for T-Mobile’s broadband future.
The company has also introduced three new home internet plans, with pricing starting as low as $35 per month. While customer numbers continue to rise, T-Mobile’s growth in the home internet sector has slowed recently.
T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet remains a highly sought-after service, but network capacity constraints mean some customers will have to wait. With the upcoming fiber acquisitions and continued investment in fixed wireless access, T-Mobile is working to ensure its growing customer base has access to reliable, high-speed internet—whether through 5G or fiber.