T-Mobile is once again raising rates for certain customers on older plans, marking its second price adjustment in less than a year. Following a similar increase last June, the carrier confirmed in a memo obtained by CNET that some subscribers will see a $5 per-line hike starting with their April or May 2025 bills. However, the scope of this change remains murky, leaving many wondering if their accounts will be affected.
The memo, authored by Jon Freier, president of T-Mobile’s consumer group, was distributed to employees early this morning and outlines the latest move. Freier attributes the increase to “rising costs over the past several years,” a challenge he notes is shared across the industry. Competitors like Verizon, which raised rates in December 2024 and January 2025, and AT&T, with hikes in January and June 2024, have cited similar pressures. Yet, T-Mobile’s lack of specificity about which legacy plans are targeted has sparked uncertainty.
According to Freier, only customers notified by the end of today, March 13, will face the increase. Those subscribed to T-Mobile’s current flagship plans—Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next—are exempt, as are “millions of customers” with the Price Lock guarantee or promotional free lines. The memo frames this hike as a continuation of last June’s initiative, which also spared some legacy plans. Freier assured employees that “no line that received a prior increase will receive an additional adjustment,” meaning those hit with a $5 bump last year won’t see another layer added now.
The complexity deepens for accounts with mixed adjustments. The memo hints that customers who faced prior increases on non-smartphone products—like a $2 hike on a cellular watch plan—won’t see that compounded, but a separate $5 increase could still apply to other lines on the same account. T-Mobile emphasizes that despite the price shift, all existing plan benefits and types will remain unchanged.
Last June’s rate hike affected an unspecified number of legacy plan holders, and this round appears equally selective—though exact figures remain undisclosed. Unlike a controversial 2023 attempt to migrate customers to pricier plans (which T-Mobile reversed after backlash and customer pushback), this increase is automatic for those notified, with no opt-out option detailed in the memo.
As telecom giants grapple with inflation and operational expenses, T-Mobile’s latest move underscores a broader trend: even the “Un-carrier,” once known for disrupting pricing norms, isn’t immune to passing costs onto consumers. For now, affected legacy plan holders face a $5 sting, while others breathe easy—until the next memo drops.
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