Sprint
Sprint was a major U.S. wireless telecommunications carrier providing mobile voice, text, and data services to consumer and business customers nationwide, operating 4G LTE network infrastructure until its 2020 merger with T-Mobile US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1899
- HeadquartersHillsboro, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Sprint does
Sprint was a major U.S. wireless telecommunications carrier that provided mobile voice, text, and data services to consumer and business customers across the United States. The company operated 4G LTE network infrastructure and held significant spectrum assets, operating as the third or fourth largest U.S. wireless carrier prior to its combination with T-Mobile. Its business model was subscription-based recurring wireless service revenue, distributed through retail stores, dealer networks, and direct sales channels. Sprint also historically operated wireline long-distance voice and data center services prior to the T-Mobile merger.
Sprint's corporate history was defined by a series of large M&A transactions. The 2005 acquisition of Nextel Communications for $37.8 billion produced a $30 billion goodwill write-off and is widely regarded as one of the largest M&A disasters in telecom. SoftBank acquired Sprint in 2013 for $21.5 billion, the largest overseas acquisition by a Japanese company at the time. Sprint then acquired Clearwire (2012, $2.2 billion), Virgin Mobile USA (2009), and iPCS (2009, $831 million) to augment spectrum and customer base. In April 2020, T-Mobile US completed its acquisition of Sprint in a deal valued at approximately $26 billion; Sprint's wireless operations were merged into T-Mobile, while its wireline assets were divested to Cogent Communications Holdings.
Following the 2020 combination, Sprint ceased to operate as an independent entity. The Sprint brand was retired, customers were migrated to T-Mobile plans, and the company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of T-Mobile US (which is in turn majority-controlled by Deutsche Telekom AG with a 52.8% stake). The company was also subject to FCC enforcement action, including a $12-12.5 million fine for selling customer location data to third parties without adequate consent — a penalty upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in an 8-1 ruling confirming FCC's constitutional authority to impose such penalties on carriers.
Sprint firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sprint
- Legal name
- Sprint Corporation
- Website
- https://sprint.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1899
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Sprint was a major U.S. wireless telecommunications carrier providing mobile voice, text, and data services to consumer and business customers nationwide, operating 4G LTE network infrastructure until its 2020 merger with T-Mobile US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sprint industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wireless Telecommunications Services
- NAICS
- Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)
- SIC
- Radiotelephone Communications (4812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Voice Wholesale (carrier voice, termination, A2P routing) (HDAIAEAD)
Keywords
Where Sprint is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hillsboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sprint business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Wireline Services: Sprint's wireline network services including long-distance voice and data transmission, which continued to generate revenue attrition post-merger as assets were transitioned to Cogent Communications following the T-Mobile acquisition.
Sprint product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sprint provided mobile wireless voice and data services across the United States, including mobile phone plans, smartphone device offerings, and wireless connectivity delivered over its 4G LTE network. The company also operated a wireline network offering long-distance voice and data transmission services to enterprises. Following the 2020 merger with T-Mobile, Sprint ceased operations as an independent carrier and the brand was retired.
Product overview
Sprint was a telecommunications carrier company that operated as a single unified product offering (wireless mobile services) before being acquired by T-Mobile in 2020. Following the merger, Sprint as an independent brand no longer exists. The Sprint wireless network was integrated into T-Mobile's infrastructure, with customers migrated to T-Mobile plans and services. Legacy Sprint wireline assets were subsequently sold to Cogent Communications Holdings. The product portfolio consisted primarily of mobile phone plans, device offerings, and wireless connectivity services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sprint Wireless Services (Historical)
- Sprint Wireline Network Services (Historical)
Quantifiable outcome
- Sprint's 4G LTE network and spectrum assets were key drivers for the $26 billion T-Mobile merger
Companies that use Sprint
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Sprint technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sprint partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- T-MobilecoreThe Sprint-T-Mobile merger, valued at $26 billion, was completed in 2020. Sprint was merged into T-Mobile, with the combined entity operating under the T-Mobile brand. The merger fulfilled Sprint-era 5G promises, with T-Mobile delivering 98% 5G coverage nationally by 2026.
- Cogent CommunicationsminorCogent Communications acquired Sprint's wireline assets following the T-Mobile merger, including 10 former Sprint data centers being sold in early summer 2026. Cogent is repurposing Sprint's dormant long-distance voice network for wavelength services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Sprint competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Verizon: Verizon is the largest U.S. wireless carrier and the dominant premium-network competitor to Sprint across consumer and enterprise segments. As a broad incumbent, Verizon competes across postpaid, prepaid, FWA home internet, and business wireless, with substantially greater scale and spectrum depth.
- AT&T: AT&T is the second-largest U.S. wireless carrier and a direct Sprint competitor across consumer, business, and government segments. AT&T also bundles wireless with wireline and fiber broadband, giving it broader product scope than Sprint's mobile-first portfolio.
Direct peers
- T-Mobile US: T-Mobile is the acquirer of Sprint and now operates as the second-largest U.S. wireless carrier. Pre-merger, T-Mobile was Sprint's most direct head-to-head competitor in the no-contract / value-tier segment, and the two competed across consumer postpaid, prepaid, and business wireless markets.
- Mint Mobile: Mint Mobile is a low-cost MVNO that disrupted the prepaid segment in which Sprint historically competed (Boost, Virgin Mobile). Mint was acquired by T-Mobile in 2024, illustrating consolidation pressure across the prepaid / value tier where Sprint competed.
- Consumer Cellular: Consumer Cellular is an MVNO focused on the 50+ demographic, overlapping with Sprint's senior and value-tier customer base. It competes in the same simplified-plan, no-contract segment that Sprint targeted with its core offerings.
- Dish Network (Boost Mobile / EchoStar): EchoStar acquired Boost Mobile as part of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger divestiture and is now building a greenfield 5G network. It competes as the fourth nationwide wireless carrier, occupying the slot Sprint held prior to the T-Mobile merger.
- Cricket Wireless: Cricket Wireless is AT&T's prepaid brand, competing directly with Sprint's prepaid offerings (including Sprint's legacy Virgin Mobile USA) in the value segment. Both brands target price-sensitive consumer and family-plan customers.
- Google Fi: Google Fi is an MVNO operating on T-Mobile's network, competing in the simplified, no-contract consumer segment where Sprint historically competed. It represents the newer wave of digital-first, app-centric carriers that pressured traditional carriers like Sprint.
- TracFone: TracFone was the largest U.S. prepaid MVNO and was acquired by Verizon in 2021. It competed directly with Sprint's Boost and Virgin Mobile brands in the prepaid wireless segment.
- US Cellular: US Cellular is a regional U.S. wireless carrier competing in similar mid-tier markets where Sprint operated. As a smaller carrier, US Cellular has faced comparable spectrum and scale challenges and announced a T-Mobile spectrum/ customer sale in 2024.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Sprint social profiles
Digital presenceSprint financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sprint leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sprint subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Sprint funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sprint M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments10 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sprint
What does Sprint do?
Sprint provided mobile wireless voice and data services across the United States, including mobile phone plans, smartphone device offerings, and wireless connectivity delivered over its 4G LTE network. The company also operated a wireline network offering long-distance voice and data transmission services to enterprises. Following the 2020 merger with T-Mobile, Sprint ceased operations as an independent carrier and the brand was retired.
Is Sprint a public or private company?
Sprint is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Sprint founded?
Sprint was founded in 1899. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Sprint based?
Sprint is headquartered in Hillsboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sprint make money?
One revenue line is on record: wireline Services.
Who are Sprint's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Verizon and AT&T. Direct peers are T-Mobile US, Mint Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Dish Network (Boost Mobile / EchoStar), Cricket Wireless, Google Fi, TracFone and US Cellular.
Does Sprint have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sprint.
What industry is Sprint in?
Sprint's product category is Wireless Telecommunications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAEAD, International Voice Wholesale (carrier voice, termination, A2P routing). Its NAICS code is 517112 and its SIC code is 4812.