T-Mobile US 10-K 2021-12-31

Filed 2022-02-11. 23 sections, 798K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON

What changed since the 2020-12-31 10-KNew, removed and reworded risk factor headings, then every item sentence by sentence.

Cover and table of contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

or

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 1-33409

tmus-20211231_g1.jpg

T-MOBILE US, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware20-0836269
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

12920 SE 38th Street

Bellevue, Washington

(Address of principal executive offices)

98006-1350

(Zip Code)

(425)378-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per shareTMUSThe NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer☒Accelerated filer☐
Non-accelerated filer☐Smaller reporting company☐
Emerging growth company☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of June 30, 2021, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was $86.1 billion based on the closing sale price as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. As of February 7, 2022, there were 1,249,289,954 shares of common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K will be incorporated by reference from certain portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A or will be included in an amendment to this Report.

T-Mobile US, Inc.

Form 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2021

Table of Contents

PART I.
Item 1.Business5
Item 1A.Risk Factors11
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments25
Item 2.Properties25
Item 3.Legal Proceedings25
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures26
PART II.
Item 5.Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities26
Item 6.[Reserved]27
Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations28
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk52
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data52
Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure114
Item 9A.Controls and Procedures114
Item 9B.Other Information115
Item 9C.Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections115
PART III.
Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance115
Item 11.Executive Compensation115
Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters115
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence116
Item 14.Principal Accountant Fees and Services116
PART IV.
Item 15.Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules116
Item 16.Form 10-K Summary116
Index to Exhibits117
Signatures131

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including information concerning our future results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The following important factors, along with the Risk Factors included in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K, could affect future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:

  • adverse impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (the “Pandemic”);

  • competition, industry consolidation and changes in the market for wireless services;

  • disruption, data loss or other security breaches, such as the criminal cyberattack we became aware of in August 2021;

  • our inability to take advantage of technological developments on a timely basis;

  • our inability to retain or motivate key personnel, hire qualified personnel or maintain our corporate culture;

  • system failures and business disruptions, allowing for unauthorized use of or interference with our network and other systems;

  • the scarcity and cost of additional wireless spectrum, and regulations relating to spectrum use;

  • the impacts of the actions we have taken and conditions we have agreed to in connection with the regulatory proceedings and approvals of the Transactions (as defined below), including the acquisition by DISH Network Corporation (“DISH”) of the prepaid wireless business operated under the Boost Mobile and Sprint prepaid brands (excluding the Assurance brand Lifeline customers and the prepaid wireless customers of Shenandoah Personal Communications Company LLC (“Shentel”) and Swiftel Communications, Inc.), including customer accounts, inventory, contracts, intellectual property and certain other specified assets (the “Prepaid Business”), and the assumption of certain related liabilities (collectively, the “Prepaid Transaction”), the complaint and proposed final judgment (the “Consent Decree”) agreed to by us, Deutsche Telekom AG (“DT”), Sprint Corporation, now known as Sprint LLC (“Sprint”), SoftBank Group Corp. (“SoftBank”) and DISH with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which was approved by the Court on April 1, 2020, the proposed commitments filed with the Secretary of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), which we announced on May 20, 2019, certain national security commitments and undertakings, and any other commitments or undertakings entered into, including but not limited to, those we have made to certain states and nongovernmental organizations (collectively, the “Government Commitments”), and the challenges in satisfying the Government Commitments in the required time frames and the significant cumulative costs incurred in tracking and monitoring compliance;

  • adverse economic, political or market conditions in the U.S. and international markets, including those caused by the Pandemic;

  • our inability to manage the ongoing commercial and transition services arrangements entered into in connection with the Prepaid Transaction, and known or unknown liabilities arising in connection therewith;

  • the effects of any future acquisition, investment, or merger involving us;

  • any disruption or failure of our third parties (including key suppliers) to provide products or services for the operation of our business;

  • our substantial level of indebtedness and our inability to service our debt obligations in accordance with their terms or to comply with the restrictive covenants contained therein;

  • changes in the credit market conditions, credit rating downgrades or an inability to access debt markets;

  • restrictive covenants including the agreements governing our indebtedness and other financings;

  • the risk of future material weaknesses we may identify while we continue to work to integrate and align policies, principles and practices of the two companies following the Merger (as defined below), or any other failure by us to maintain effective internal controls, and the resulting significant costs and reputational damage;

  • any changes in regulations or in the regulatory framework under which we operate;

  • laws and regulations relating to the handling of privacy and data protection;

  • unfavorable outcomes of existing or future legal proceedings, including these proceedings and inquiries relating to the criminal cyberattack we became aware of in August 2021;

  • the possibility that we may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property rights or be accused of infringing the intellectual property rights of others;

  • our offering of regulated financial services products and exposure to a wide variety of state and federal regulations;

  • new or amended tax laws or regulations or administrative interpretations and judicial decisions affecting the scope or application of tax laws or regulations;

  • our exclusive forum provision as provided in our Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below);

  • interests of our significant stockholders that may differ from the interests of other stockholders;

  • future sales of our common stock by DT and SoftBank and our inability to attract additional equity financing outside the United States due to foreign ownership limitations by the FCC;

  • failure to realize the expected benefits and synergies of the merger (the “Merger”) with Sprint, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement with Sprint and the other parties named therein (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”) and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (collectively, the “Transactions”) in the expected time frames or in the amounts anticipated;

  • any delay and costs of, or difficulties in, integrating our business and Sprint’s business and operations, and unexpected additional operating costs, customer loss and business disruptions, including challenges in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, suppliers or vendors; and

  • unanticipated difficulties, disruption, or significant delays in our long-term strategy to migrate Sprint’s legacy customers onto T-Mobile’s existing billing platforms.

Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. In this Form 10-K, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “T-Mobile,” “our Company,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to T-Mobile US, Inc. as a stand-alone company prior to April 1, 2020, the date we completed the Merger with Sprint, and on and after April 1, 2020, refer to the combined company as a result of the Merger.

Investors and others should note that we announce material information to our investors using our investor relations website (https://investor.t-mobile.com), newsroom website (https://t-mobile.com/news), press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. We intend to also use certain social media accounts as means of disclosing information about us and our services and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD (the @TMobileIR Twitter account (https://twitter.com/TMobileIR) and the @MikeSievert Twitter account (https://twitter.com/MikeSievert), which Mr. Sievert also uses as a means for personal communications and observations). The information we post through these social media channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor these social media channels in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. The social media channels that we intend to use as a means of disclosing the information described above may be updated from time to time as listed on our Investor Relations website.

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PART I.

Item 1. Business

Business Overview and Strategy

Un-carrier Strategy

We are America’s supercharged Un-carrier. Through our Un-carrier strategy, we have disrupted the wireless communications services industry, by actively engaging with and listening to our customers and eliminating their existing pain points, including providing them with added value, an exceptional experience and implementing signature Un-carrier initiatives that have changed wireless for good. We ended annual service contracts, overages, unpredictable international roaming fees, data buckets and so much more. We are inspired by a relentless customer experience focus, consistently leading the wireless industry in customer care by delivering award-winning customer experience with our “Team of Experts,” which drives our record-high customer satisfaction levels while enabling operational efficiencies.

As the Un-carrier, we are on a mission to build America’s best 5G network, offering customers unrivalled coverage and capacity where they live, work and play. Our network is the foundation of our success and powers everything we do. We are leveraging our mid-band spectrum licenses, including 1700 MHz Advanced Wireless Services (“AWS”), 1900 MHz Personal Communications Services (“PCS”) and 2.5 GHz, our millimeter-wave licenses and our foundational layer of low-band spectrum, including 600 MHz, 700 MHz and 800 MHz, to create a “layer cake” of spectrum to provide an unmatched 5G experience to our customers. We believe this layer cake will broaden and deepen our nationwide 5G network enabling accelerated innovation and increased competition in the U.S. wireless, video and broadband industries. As a result of the Merger, we have achieved and expect to continue to achieve significant synergies and cost reductions by eliminating redundancies within our network as well as other business processes and operations.

We continue to expand the footprint and improve the quality of our network, providing outstanding wireless experiences for customers who will not have to compromise on quality and value. Going forward, it is this network that will allow us to deliver new, innovative products and services with the same customer experience focus and industry-disrupting mentality that has redefined the wireless communications services industry in the United States in the customers’ favor.

Our Operations

As of December 31, 2021, we provide wireless services to 108.7 million postpaid and prepaid customers and generate revenue by providing affordable wireless communications services to these customers, as well as a wide selection of wireless devices and accessories. Our most significant expenses relate to operating and expanding our network, providing a full range of devices, acquiring and retaining high-quality customers and compensating employees. We provide services, devices and accessories across our flagship brands, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile, through our owned and operated retail stores, as well as through our websites (www.t-mobile.com and www.metrobyt-mobile.com), T-Mobile app, customer care channels and through national retailers. In addition, we sell devices to dealers and other third-party distributors for resale through independent third-party retail outlets and a variety of third-party websites. The information on our websites is not part of this Form 10-K. See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for additional information.

Services and Products

We provide wireless communications services through a variety of service plan options. We also offer a wide selection of wireless devices, including smartphones, wearables, tablets and other mobile communication devices, which are manufactured by various suppliers.

Our primary service plan offering, which allows customers to subscribe for wireless communications services separately from the purchase of a device, is our signature Magenta plan (“Magenta”), which includes, among other benefits, unlimited talk, text and smartphone data on our network, 5G access at no extra cost, scam protection features and more. Customers also have the ability to choose additional features, such as unlimited premium data with our Ultra Capacity 5G service, for an additional cost on our Magenta Max plan. We also offer an Essentials rate plan for customers who want the basics, as well as specific rate plans to qualifying customers, including Unlimited 55+, Military and Veterans, First Responder, and Business.

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Our device options for qualifying customers include:

  • The option of financing all or a portion of the individual device or accessory purchase price at the time of sale over an installment period, generally of 24 months, using an equipment installment plan (“EIP”); and

  • The option to lease a device over a period of up to 18 months and upgrade it when eligibility requirements are met.

In addition to our wireless communications services, we offer fast and reliable High Speed Internet utilizing our nationwide network. Our fixed wireless High Speed Internet provides a real alternative to traditional landline internet service providers and expands access to many people who have historically had only one choice or no access to traditional home broadband. With our High Speed Internet plan, customers can access the internet without worrying about annual service contracts, data overages, startup costs or hidden fees.

We also provide products and services that are complementary to our wireless communications services, including device protection and wireline communication services to domestic and international customers.

Customers

We provide wireless communications services to two primary categories of customers:

  • Postpaid customers generally include customers who are qualified to pay after receiving wireless communications services utilizing phones, High Speed Internet, wearables, DIGITS (a service that allows our customers to use multiple mobile numbers on any compatible smartphone, wearable or other device with internet connection) or other connected devices, which include tablets and SyncUp products; and

  • Prepaid customers generally include customers who pay for wireless communications services in advance. Our prepaid customers include customers of T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile.

We provide Machine-to-Machine (“M2M”) and Mobile Virtual Network Operator (“MVNO”) customers access to our network. This access and the customer relationship is managed by wholesale partners.

We generate the majority of our service revenues by providing wireless communications services to postpaid and prepaid customers. Our ability to attract and retain postpaid and prepaid customers is important to our business in the generation of service revenues, equipment revenues and other revenues. In 2021, our service revenues generated by providing wireless communications services by customer category were:

  • 73% Postpaid customers;

  • 17% Prepaid customers; and

  • 10% Wholesale and other services.

Substantially all of our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, were earned in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Network Strategy

Utilizing our multi-layer spectrum portfolio, our mission is to be “Famous for Network.” We have deployed low-band and mid-band spectrum dedicated for 5G across our dense and broad network to create America’s largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network.

Our Merger with Sprint greatly enhanced our spectrum position. Integration of the spectrum and network assets acquired in the Merger is expected to occur through 2023. The integration strategy includes deploying the acquired spectrum on the combined network assets to supplement capacity, migrating Sprint customers to our network and optimizing the combined assets by decommissioning redundant sites to realize synergies.

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Spectrum Position

We provide wireless communications services utilizing mid-band spectrum licenses, such as AWS, PCS and 2.5 GHz, low-band spectrum licenses utilizing our 600 MHz, 700 MHz and 800 MHz spectrum and mmWave spectrum.

  • We controlled an average of 357 MHz of combined low- and mid-band spectrum nationwide as of December 31, 2021. This spectrum is comprised of:

  • An average of 40 MHz in the 600 MHz band;

  • An average of 10 MHz in the 700 MHz band;

  • An average of 14 MHz in the 800 MHz band;

  • An average of 41 MHz in the 1700 MHz AWS band;

  • An average of 66 MHz in the 1900 MHz PCS band;

  • An average of 159 MHz in the 2.5 GHz band; and

  • An average of 27 MHz in the C-band.

  • We controlled an average of 1,157 GHz of combined millimeter spectrum licenses.

  • In March 2021, the FCC announced that we were the winning bidder of 142 licenses in Auction 107 (“C-band spectrum”) for an aggregate purchase price of $9.3 billion. The licenses acquired include an average of 40 MHz across the top markets and an average of 27 MHz nationwide. We expect to incur an additional $1.0 billion in relocation costs associated with the C-band spectrum acquired, which will be paid through 2024.

  • In January 2022, the FCC announced that we were the winning bidder of 199 licenses in Auction 110 (mid-band spectrum) for an aggregate purchase price of $2.9 billion. Subsequent to Auction 110, we will control an average of 12 MHz in the 3.45 GHz band nationwide.

  • We plan to evaluate future spectrum purchases in current and upcoming auctions and in the secondary market to further augment our current spectrum position.

  • As of December 31, 2021, we had equipment deployed on approximately 102,000 macro cell sites and 41,000 small cell/distributed antenna system sites across our network.

5G Leadership

Our 5G network is America’s largest, fastest and most reliable:

  • As of December 31, 2021, our Ultra Capacity 5G covers 210 million people and can deliver speeds of 400 Mbps or more.

  • As of December 31, 2021, our Extended Range 5G covers 310 million people, reaching 94% of Americans.

Competition

The wireless communications services industry is highly competitive. We are the second largest provider of wireless communications services in the U.S. as measured by our total postpaid and prepaid customers. Our competitors include other national carriers, such as AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”) and Verizon Communications, Inc. (“Verizon”). In addition, our competitors include numerous smaller regional carriers, MVNOs, including Comcast Corporation, Charter Communications, Inc., Altice USA, Inc. and DISH, many of which offer no-contract, postpaid and prepaid service plans. Competitors also include providers who offer similar communication services, such as voice, messaging and data services, using alternative technologies or services. Competitive factors within the wireless communications services industry include pricing, market saturation, service and product offerings, customer experience, network investment and quality, development and deployment of technologies and regulatory changes. Some competitors have shown a willingness to use aggressive pricing or offering bundled services as a source of differentiation. Other competitors have sought to add ancillary services, like mobile video or music streaming services, to enhance their offerings. Taken together, the competitive factors we face continue to put pressure on growth and margins as companies compete to retain the current customer base and continue to add new customers.

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Human Capital

Employees

As of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 75,000 full-time and part-time employees, including network, retail, administrative and customer support functions.

Attraction and Retention

We employ a highly skilled workforce within a broad range of functions. Substantially all of our employees are located throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico, to serve our nationwide network and retail operations. Our headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington and Overland Park, Kansas.

We attract and retain our workforce through a dynamic and inclusive culture and by providing exceptional benefits, including:

  • Competitive medical, dental and vision benefits;

  • Annual stock grants to all full-time and part-time employees and a discounted Employee Stock Purchase Program;

  • A 401(k) Savings Plan;

  • Nationwide minimum pay of at least $20 per hour to all full-time and part-time employees;

  • LiveMagenta: a custom-branded program for employee engagement and well-being, including free access to life coaches, financial coaches and tools for healthy living;

  • Access to personal health advocates offering independent guidance;

  • Tuition assistance for all full-time and part-time employees; and

  • A matching program for employee donations and volunteering.

Training and Development

We believe in providing opportunities for our employees to improve their skills and advance their careers. We do this through a variety of programs, including:

*•*Award-winning career and development programs for all employees at all levels;

  • Transparent career paths available to employees and candidates that provide realistic progression timelines, salaries and expectations;

  • A Customer Care organization that uses 102 types of programs to train our front line representatives and leaders;

  • A Leader-to-Executives Program that provides elite career track opportunities for select MBA students and graduates; and

  • Training for employees with disabilities pursuant to U.S. Department of Labor standards.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion (“DE&I”) have always been a part of the Un-carrier culture, and we are committed to having DE&I touch every aspect of our future. Our Equity in Action Plan is a five-year plan that spans the values we live by, how we invest in and provide opportunities for our employees, how we select the suppliers we do business with and how we advocate for our communities.

For our employees, we have established six DE&I Employee Resource Groups and four sub-affinity groups that have helped us establish and maintain a culture of inclusion. Currently, we have over 50 DE&I chapters across the nation that help spearhead volunteer opportunities, events and meaningful conversation with employees at a local level. Our DE&I networks include the following:

  • Accessibility Community at T-Mobile;

  • Multicultural Alliance;

◦Asia Pacific & Allies Network;

◦Black Empowerment Network;

◦Indigenous Peoples Network;

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◦Magenta Latinx Network;

  • Multigenerational Network;

  • Pride;

  • Veterans & Allies Network; and

  • Women & Allies Network.

We have established an External Diversity and Inclusion Council in connection with our civil rights memorandum of understanding. The council includes civil rights leaders representing a wide-range of underrepresented communities. Together with T-Mobile, the council will help identify ways to improve our efforts in focus areas such as corporate governance, workforce recruitment and retention, procurement, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and community investment.

Environmental Sustainability

Reducing Carbon Footprint

We are working to do our part to combat climate change and preserve the environment by setting carbon reduction goals that are aligned with science and investing in renewable energy. We are reducing our carbon footprint through several initiatives, including:

  • Setting science-based targets to reduce our Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions;

  • Investing in renewable energy, as evidenced by our RE100 pledge, a global initiative that unites businesses committed to 100% renewable energy. We met this goal in 2021 through credits and our engagement in Virtual Power Purchasing Agreements (VPPAs) and a Green Direct tariff agreement with nine clean energy providers for expected annual provision of approximately 3.4 million megawatt hours of renewable energy;

  • Continuously testing and evaluating new, efficient equipment for our facilities, including switch stations, cell sites, retail stores and customer experience centers to reduce energy consumption; and

  • Promoting the circular economy through our device reuse and recycle program, which collects millions of devices for reuse, resale, and recycling annually.

Responsible Sourcing

We believe our suppliers are a valuable extension of our business and corporate values. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines expectations around ethical business practices for our suppliers. We require our suppliers to operate in full compliance with laws, rules, regulations and ethical standards of the country in which they operate or provide products or services. We expect our suppliers to share our commitment to ethical conduct and environmentally responsible business practices while they conduct business with or on behalf of us.

We employ a third-party risk management (“TPRM”) process to screen for anti-corruption, global sanctions, human rights and environmental risks before engaging with a supplier. Our TPRM process also continuously monitors current suppliers for policy violations and risks.

As DE&I is instrumental to our culture and values, we are on a mission to create fair and equitable opportunities for all suppliers, including veteran or service-disabled veteran-owned, disability-owned, woman-owned, minority-owned, LGBT-owned and small and disadvantaged businesses.

Regulation

The FCC regulates many key aspects of our business, including licensing, construction, the operation and use of our network, modifications of our network, control and ownership of our licenses and authorizations, the sale, transfer and acquisition of certain licenses, domestic roaming arrangements and interconnection agreements, pursuant to its authority under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (“Communications Act”). The FCC has a number of complex requirements that affect our operations and pending proceedings regarding additional or modified requirements that could increase our costs or diminish our revenues. For example, the FCC has rules regarding provision of 911 and E-911 services, porting telephone numbers, interconnection, roaming, internet openness or net neutrality, disabilities access, privacy and cybersecurity, consumer protection and the universal service and Lifeline programs. Many of these and other issues are being considered in ongoing proceedings, and we cannot predict whether or how such actions will affect our business, financial condition or operating

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results. Our ability to provide services and generate revenues could be harmed by adverse regulatory action or changes to existing laws and regulations. In addition, regulation of companies that offer competing services can impact our business indirectly.

Except for operations in certain unlicensed frequency bands, wireless communications services providers generally must be licensed by the FCC to provide communications services at specified spectrum frequencies within specified geographic areas and must comply with the rules and policies governing the use of the spectrum as adopted by the FCC. The FCC issues each license for a fixed period of time, typically 10-15 years depending on the particular licenses. While the FCC has generally renewed licenses given to operating companies like us, the FCC has authority to both revoke a license for cause and to deny a license renewal if a renewal is not in the public interest. Furthermore, we could be subject to fines, forfeitures and other penalties for failure to comply with FCC regulations, even if any such noncompliance was unintentional. In extreme cases, penalties can include revocation of our licenses. The loss of any licenses, or any related fines or forfeitures, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the FCC retains the right to modify rules related to use of licensed spectrum, which could impact T-Mobile’s ability to provide services.

Additionally, Congress’s and the FCC’s allocation of additional spectrum for broadband commercial mobile radio service (“CMRS”), which includes cellular, PCS and other wireless services, could significantly increase and intensify competition. We cannot assess the impact that any developments that may occur in the U.S. economy or any future spectrum allocations by the FCC may have on license values. FCC spectrum auctions and other market developments may adversely affect the market value of our licenses or our competitive position in the future. A significant decline in the value of our licenses could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the FCC periodically reviews its policies on how to evaluate carriers’ spectrum holdings. A change in these policies could affect spectrum resources and competition among us and other carriers.

Congress and the FCC have imposed limitations on foreign ownership of CMRS licensees that exceed 20% direct ownership or 25% indirect ownership through an entity controlling the licensee. The FCC has ruled that higher levels of indirect foreign ownership, even up to 100%, are presumptively consistent with the public interest, but must be reviewed and approved. Consistent with that established policy, the FCC has issued a declaratory ruling authorizing up to 100% ownership of our Company by DT.

For our Educational Broadband Service (“EBS”) licenses in the 2.5 GHz band, FCC rules previously limited eligibility to hold EBS licenses to accredited educational institutions and certain governmental, religious and nonprofit entities, while permitting those license holders to lease up to 95% of their capacity for non-educational purposes. Therefore, we primarily access EBS spectrum through long-term leasing arrangements with EBS license holders. Our EBS spectrum leases typically have an initial term equal to the remaining term of the EBS license, with an option to renew the lease for additional terms, for a total lease term of up to 30 years. On April 27, 2020, the FCC lifted the restriction on who can hold EBS licenses and the 30-year limitation on lease duration, among other changes. T-Mobile has started to acquire some of these EBS licenses but we continue to lease most of our spectrum in this band and expect that to be the case for some time. The elimination of these restrictions will allow and may encourage current license holders to sell their licenses to other parties, including to T-Mobile. While a majority of our leases have contractual provisions enabling us to match offers, we may be forced to compete with others to purchase 2.5 GHz licenses on the secondary market and expend additional capital earlier than we may have anticipated.

While the Communications Act generally preempts state and local governments from regulating the entry of, or the rates charged by, wireless communications services providers, certain state and local governments regulate other terms and conditions of wireless service, including billing, termination of service arrangements and the imposition of early termination fees, advertising, network outages, the use of devices while driving, service mapping, protection of consumer information, zoning and land use. Notwithstanding this federal preemption, in response to the Pandemic, several state legislatures are considering bills or have passed laws that could potentially set prices, minimum performance standards, and/or restrictions on service discontinuation that could impact our business in those states.

In addition, following the FCC’s adoption of the 2017 Restoring Internet Freedom (“RIF”) Order reclassifying broadband internet access services as Title I (non-common carrier services), a number of states have sought to impose state-specific net neutrality and privacy requirements on providers’ broadband services. The FCC’s RIF Order preempted such state efforts, which are inconsistent with the FCC’s federal deregulatory approach. Recently, however, the DC Circuit issued a ruling largely upholding the RIF Order, but also vacating the portion of the ruling broadly preempting state/local net neutrality laws. The court left open the prospect that particular state laws could still unlawfully conflict with the FCC net neutrality rules and be preempted; court challenges to some state enactments are pending.

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While most states are largely seeking to codify the repealed federal rules, there are differences in some states, notably California, which has passed separate privacy and net neutrality legislation, and Colorado and Virginia, which have passed privacy laws. There are also efforts within Congress to pass federal legislation to codify uniform federal privacy and net neutrality requirements, while also ensuring the preemption of separate state requirements, including the California laws. If not preempted or rescinded, separate state requirements will impose significant business costs and could also result in increased litigation costs and enforcement risks. State authority over wireless broadband services will remain unsettled until final action by the courts or Congress.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and other federal agencies have jurisdiction over some consumer protection and elimination and prevention of anticompetitive business practices with respect to the provision of non-common carrier services. Further, the FCC and the Federal Aviation Administration regulate the siting, lighting and construction of transmitter towers and antennae. Tower siting and construction are also subject to state and local zoning, as well as federal statutes regarding environmental and historic preservation. The future costs to comply with all relevant regulations are to some extent unknown, and changes to regulations, or the applicability of regulations, could result in higher operating and capital expenses, or reduced revenues in the future.

Available Information

The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically at www.sec.gov. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are also publicly available free of charge on the investor relations section of our website at investor.t-mobile.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our corporate governance guidelines, director selection guidelines, code of ethics for senior financial officers, code of business conduct, speak up policy, supplier code of conduct, and charters for the audit, compensation, nominating and corporate governance, executive and CEO selection committees of our Board of Directors are also posted on the investor relations section of our website at investor.t-mobile.com. The information on our website is not part of this or any other report we file with, or furnish to, the SEC.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information contained in this Form 10-K, the following risk factors should be considered carefully in

evaluating T-Mobile. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, or operating results, as well as the price of our common stock and other securities, could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks.

Risks related to the Pandemic

The Pandemic may continue to adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and operating results.

The Pandemic has impacted the ways in which our customers use their devices, where and how we work, and our suppliers and vendors’ ability to provide products to us. As a result, our business, liquidity, financial condition, and operating results may continue to be adversely impacted by the Pandemic. Current and future Pandemic-related restrictions on, or disruptions of, transportation networks and supply chain shortages could impact our ability to acquire handsets or other end user devices in amounts sufficient to meet customer demand and to obtain the equipment required to meet our current and future network buildout plans, either of which could materially adversely affect us.

The extent to which the Pandemic may impact our future operational and financial performance remains uncertain and is subject to many factors outside of our control, including the timing, extent, trajectory and duration of the Pandemic, the emergence of new variants, the continued development, availability, distribution and effectiveness of vaccines and treatments, the imposition of protective public safety measures and the impact of the Pandemic on the economy and consumer demand. Potential negative impacts of these external factors include, but are not limited to, material adverse effects on demand for our products and services; our supply chain and sales and distribution channels; collectability of customer accounts; our ability to execute strategic plans; and our profitability and cost structure. To the extent the Pandemic adversely affects our business, results of operations and financial condition, it may also have the effect of exacerbating the other risks discussed in this “Risk Factors” section.

Table of Contents

Risks Related to Our Business and the Wireless Industry

Competition, industry consolidation, and changes in the market for wireless services could negatively affect our ability to attract and retain customers and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We have multiple competitors that possess either more or different access to wireless assets, and yet we compete for customers based principally on service/device offerings, price, network coverage, speed and quality, and customer service. We expect the wireless industry’s customer growth rate to moderate in comparison with historical growth rates, leading to ongoing competition for customers. We also expect that our customers’ appetite for data services will place increasing demands on our network capacity. This competition and our capacity will continue to put pressure on pricing and margins as companies compete for a relatively fixed pool of customers with an ever-expanding variety of products and services. Our ability to compete will depend upon, among other things, continued absolute and relative improvement in network quality and customer service, effective marketing and selling of products and services, innovation, and attractive pricing, all of which will involve significant expenses.

We face increased competition from other service providers, including from cable, wireline and satellite providers, as industry sectors converge. Cable companies such as Comcast, Charter, and Altice are diversifying outside cable, voice and broadband services to also offer wireless services. Wireline companies, such as Frontier and Windstream have announced plans for fiber buildouts, often supported by government funding, which may impact our fixed wireless High Speed Internet growth plans. We expect DISH, which has already acquired several MVNOs, to meet their government commitments and build a wireless network and offer competitive postpaid and prepaid wireless service plans. Verizon and AT&T have refocused on connectivity services, including fiber builds and deployment of next generation wireless technology, and we expect both companies to increase competitive pressure, including expanding partnerships and offerings. These factors could make it more difficult for us to continue to attract and retain customers, adversely affecting our competitive position and ability to grow, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We have seen, and continue to expect, additional joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances in the converged connectivity sector, which could result in larger competitors competing for a limited number of customers. Further consolidation could negatively impact our businesses, including wholesale. For example, we will experience declining revenues from our wholesale business as Verizon migrates legacy TracFone customers off the T-Mobile network and DISH migrates Boost customers to either their standalone network or AT&T. Our competitors may also enter into exclusive handset, device, or content arrangements, execute pervasive advertising and marketing campaigns, or otherwise improve their cost position relative to ours. In addition, refusal of our competitors and partners to provide critical access to resources and inputs, such as roaming and/or backhaul services, on reasonable terms could negatively impact our business.

We have recently experienced a criminal cyberattack and could in the future be further harmed by disruption, data loss or other security breaches, whether directly or indirectly through third parties.

Our business involves the receipt, storage and transmission of our customers’ confidential information, including sensitive personal information and payment card information, confidential information about our employees and suppliers, and other sensitive information about our Company, such as our business plans, transactions and intellectual property (collectively, “Confidential Information”). Unauthorized access to Confidential Information is difficult to anticipate, detect or prevent, particularly given that the methods used by third parties to gain unauthorized access constantly change and evolve. We and our third-party service and equipment providers are subject to attacks and threats to our and their IT networks, systems and supply chain, including attacks and threats by state-sponsored parties, malicious actors, employees or third parties, who may exploit bugs, errors, misconfigurations or other vulnerabilities or engage in social engineering to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of Confidential Information or cause serious operational disruptions (e.g., ransomware).

As a telecommunications carrier, we are considered a critical infrastructure provider and therefore are a persistent target of cyberattacks. In addition, the Pandemic has presented additional operational and cybersecurity risks to our IT systems due to work-from-home arrangements at the Company and our third-party service and equipment providers. Attacks against companies like ours are perpetrated by a variety of groups and persons, including those in jurisdictions where law enforcement measures to address such attacks are ineffective or unavailable, and such attacks may even be perpetrated by or at the behest of foreign governments.

In addition, we provide confidential, proprietary and personal information to third-party service and equipment providers as part of our business operations. These third-party service and equipment providers have experienced in the past and will likely continue to experience data brea

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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

Our properties are best described on a collective basis, as no individual property is material. Our property and equipment consists of the following:

December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Wireless communication systems66%64%
Land, buildings and building equipment5%5%
Data processing equipment and other29%31%
Total100%100%

Wireless communication systems primarily consist of assets used to operate our wireless network and information technology data centers, including switching equipment, radio frequency equipment, tower assets, construction in progress and leasehold improvements related to the wireless network and assets related to the liability for the retirement of long-lived assets.

Land, buildings and building equipment primarily consist of land and land improvements, central office buildings or any other buildings that house network equipment, buildings used for administrative and other purposes, related construction in progress and certain network service equipment.

Data processing equipment and other primarily consists of data processing equipment, office equipment, capitalized software, leased wireless devices, construction in progress and leasehold improvements.

We also lease distributed antenna system and small cell sites, as well as properties throughout the United States that contain data and switching centers, customer call centers, retail locations, warehouses and administrative spaces.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

For more information regarding the legal proceedings in which we are involved, see Note 2 – Business Combinations and Note 17 – Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II.

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “TMUS.” We are included within the S&P 500 in the Wireless Telecommunication Services GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Sub-Industry index. As of January 31, 2022, there were 15,953 registered stockholders of record of our common stock, but we estimate the total number of stockholders to be much higher as a number of our shares are held by brokers or dealers for their customers in street name.

We have never paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock, and we do not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Our credit facilities and indentures governing our long-term debt to affiliates and third parties contain covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to declare or pay dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to use future earnings, if any, to invest in our business and for general corporate purposes, including the integration of T-Mobile’s and Sprint’s businesses, the continued build-out of our 5G network and potential share repurchases as appropriate. Therefore, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be the sole source of potential gain.

Performance Graph

The graph below compares the five-year cumulative total returns of T-Mobile, the S&P 500 index, the NASDAQ Composite index and the Dow Jones US Mobile Telecommunications TSM index. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment, with the reinvestment of all dividends, from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2021.

tmus-20211231_g2.jpg

The five-year cumulative total returns of T-Mobile, the S&P 500 index, the NASDAQ Composite index and the Dow Jones US Mobile Telecommunications TSM index, as illustrated in the graph above, are as follows:

At December 31,
201620172018201920202021
T-Mobile US, Inc.$100.00$110.43$110.61$136.36$234.48$201.67
S&P 500100.00121.83116.49153.17181.35233.41
NASDAQ Composite100.00129.64125.96172.17249.51304.85
Dow Jones US Mobile Telecommunications TSM100.00102.26121.69138.00150.47137.48

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Item 6. [Reserved]

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

The objectives of our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) are to provide users of our consolidated financial statements with the following:

  • A narrative explanation from the perspective of management of our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect future results;

  • Context to the consolidated financial statements; and

  • Information that allows assessment of the likelihood that past performance is indicative of future performance.

Our MD&A is performed on a consolidated basis and is inclusive of the results and operations of Sprint prospectively from the close of the Merger on April 1, 2020. The Merger enhanced our spectrum portfolio, increased our customer base, altered our product mix and created opportunities for synergies in our operations. We anticipate an initial increase in our combined operating costs, which we expect to decrease as we realize synergies. We expect the trends and results of operations of the combined company to be materially different than those of the standalone entities.

Our MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read together with, our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Except as expressly stated, the financial condition and results of operations discussed throughout our MD&A are those of T-Mobile US, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Sprint Merger

Transaction Overview

On April 1, 2020, we completed the Merger with Sprint, a communications company offering a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications products and services. As a result, Sprint and its subsidiaries became wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries of T-Mobile.

The Merger has altered the size and scope of our operations, impacting our assets, liabilities, obligations, capital requirements and performance measures. We expect the trends and results of operations of the combined company to be materially different than those of the standalone entities. As a combined company, we have been able to enhance the breadth and depth of our nationwide 5G network, accelerate innovation, increase competition in the U.S. wireless and broadband industries and achieve significant synergies and cost reductions by eliminating redundancies within the combined network as well as other business processes and operations.

For more information regarding the Merger, see Note 2 – Business Combinations of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Shentel Wireless Assets Acquisition

On July 1, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Shentel’s wireless telecommunications assets (the “Wireless Assets”) used to provide Sprint PCS’s wireless mobility communications network products in certain parts of Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. As a result, T-Mobile become the legal owner of the Wireless Assets.

This transaction represented an opportunity to reacquire the exclusive rights to deliver Sprint’s wireless network services in Shentel’s former affiliate territory and simplify our operations. The acquisition of the Wireless Assets has altered the composition of certain assets and liabilities on our balance sheet, including Goodwill and Other intangible assets.

For more information regarding our acquisition of the Wireless Assets, see Note 2 – Business Combinations of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Merger-Related Costs

Merger-related costs associated with the Merger and acquisitions of affiliates generally include:

  • Integration costs to achieve efficiencies in network, retail, information technology and back office operations, migrate customers to the T-Mobile network and the impact of legal matters assumed as part of the Merger;

  • Restructuring costs, including severance, store rationalization and network decommissioning; and

  • Transaction costs, including legal and professional services related to the completion of the transactions.

Transaction and restructuring costs are disclosed in Note 2 – Business Combinations and Note 18 – Restructuring Costs, respectively, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Merger-related costs have been excluded from our calculations of Adjusted EBITDA and Core Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures, as we do not consider these costs to be reflective of our ongoing operating performance. See “Adjusted EBITDA and Core Adjusted EBITDA” in the “Performance Measures” section of this MD&A. Cash payments for Merger-related costs, including payments related to our restructuring plan, are included in Net cash provided by operating activities on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Merger-related costs are presented below:

(in millions)Year Ended December 31,2021 Versus 20202020 Versus 2019
202120202019$ Change% Change$ Change% Change
Merger-related costs
Cost of services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization$1,015$646$—$36957%$646NM
Cost of equipment sales1,0186—1,012NM6NM
Selling, general and administrative1,0741,263620(189)(15)%643104%
Total Merger-related costs$3,107$1,915$620$1,19262%$1,295209%

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to economic risks in the normal course of business, primarily from changes in interest rates, including changes in investment yields and changes in spreads due to credit risk and other factors. These risks, along with other business risks, impact our cost of capital. Our policy is to manage exposure related to fluctuations in interest rates in order to manage capital costs, control financial risks and maintain financial flexibility over the long term. We have established interest rate risk limits that are closely monitored by measuring interest rate sensitivities of our debt portfolio. We do not foresee significant changes in the strategies used to manage market risk in the near future.

Certain potential sources of financing available to us, including our Revolving Credit Facility, bear interest that is indexed to LIBOR plus a fixed margin. As of December 31, 2021, we did not have outstanding balances under these facilities. See Note 8 – Debt of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Index for Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of T-Mobile US, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of T-Mobile US, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for leases in 2019.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit

Index for Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Revenue Recognition - Equipment revenues

As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s revenue includes equipment revenues of $20,727 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, which are generated from the sale or lease of mobile communication devices and accessories. For performance obligations related to equipment contracts, the Company typically transfers control at a point in time when the device or accessory is delivered to, and accepted by, the customer or dealer. Management estimates variable consideration (e.g., device returns or certain payments to indirect dealers) primarily based on historical experience. Promotional equipment installment plan bill credits offered to a customer on an equipment sale that are paid over time and are contingent on the customer maintaining a service contract may result in an extended service contract based on whether a substantive penalty is deemed to exist. Lease revenues are recorded as equipment revenues and recognized as earned on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to revenue recognition of equipment revenues is a critical audit matter are the significant auditor effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to the accuracy and existence of equipment revenues recognized.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in conne

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Our disclosure controls are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K.

The certifications required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as exhibits 31.1 and 31.2, respectively, to this Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act, during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

Index for Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes maintaining records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions, providing reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary for preparation of our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, providing reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures are made in accordance with management authorization, and providing reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate.

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report herein.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

Not applicable.

PART III. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

We maintain a code of ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer, and Controller, which is a “Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers” as defined by applicable rules of the SEC. This code is publicly available on our website at investor.t-mobile.com. If we make any amendments to this code other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments, or grant any waivers, including implicit waivers, from a provision of this code we will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies on our website at investor.t-mobile.com or in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

The remaining information required by this item, including information about our Directors, Executive Officers and Audit Committee, will be incorporated by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A or be included in an amendment to this Report.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this item will be incorporated by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A or to be included in an amendment to this Report.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by this item will be incorporated by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A or to be included in an amendment to this Report.

Index for Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this item will be incorporated by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A or to be included in an amendment to this Report.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this item will be incorporated by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A or to be included in an amendment to this Report.

PART IV.

Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) Documents filed as a part of this Form 10-K

1. Financial Statements

The following financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 238)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Financial Statement Schedules

All other schedules have been omitted because they are not required, not applicable or the required information is otherwise included.

3. Exhibits

See the Index to Exhibits immediately following “Item 16. Form 10-K Summary” of this Form 10-K.

Item 16. Form 10–K Summary

None**.**

Index for Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit No.Exhibit DescriptionFormDate of FilingExhibit NumberFiled Herewith
2.1Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2018, by and among T-Mobile US, Inc., Huron Merger Sub LLC, Superior Merger Sub Corporation, Sprint Corporation, Starburst I, Inc., Galaxy Investment Holdings, Inc., and for the limited purposes set forth therein, Deutsche Telekom AG, Deutsche Telekom Holding B.V. and SoftBank Group Corp.8-K04/30/20182.1
2.2Amendment No. 1, dated as of July 26, 2019, to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2018, by and among T-Mobile US, Inc., Huron Merger Sub LLC, Superior Merger Sub Corporation, Sprint Corporation, Starburst I, Inc., Galaxy Investment Holdings, Inc., and for the limited purposes set forth therein, Deutsche Telekom AG, Deutsche Telekom Holding B.V., and SoftBank Group Corp.8-K7/26/20192.2
2.3Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 20, 2020, to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2018, by and among T-Mobile US, Inc., Huron Merger Sub LLC, Superior Merger Sub Corporation, Sprint Corporation, Starburst I, Inc., Galaxy Investment Holdings, Inc., and for the limited purposes set forth therein, Deutsche Telekom AG, Deutsche Telekom Holding B.V., and SoftBank Group Corp.8-K2/20/20202.1
2.4Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2019, by and among T-Mobile US, Inc., Sprint Corporation and DISH Network Corporation.8-K7/26/20192.1
2.5First Amendment, dated as of June 17, 2020, to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2019, by and among T-Mobile US, Inc., Sprint Corporation and DISH Network Corporation.8-K6/17/20202.1
2.6Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2021, by and between T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Shenandoah Telecommunications Company.8-K6/1/20212.1
2.7Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2021, by and between T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Shenandoah Telecommunications Company.10-Q8/3/20212.2
3.1Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of T-Mobile US, Inc.8-K4/1/20203.1
3.2Seventh Amended and Restated Bylaws of T-Mobile US, Inc.8-K4/1/20203.2
4.1Indenture, dated as of April 28, 2013 among T-Mobile USA, Inc., the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee.8-K5/2/20134.1
4.2Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2013 among T-Mobile USA, Inc., the guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee.8-K5/2/20134.12
4.3Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 11, 2014, by and among T-Mobile USA, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee.10-Q10/28/20144.3
4.4Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 28, 2015, by and among T-Mobile USA, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee.10-Q10/27/20154.3
4.5Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among T-Mobile USA, Inc., T-Mobile US, Inc., the other guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, including the Form of 4.000% Senior Note due 2022.8-K3/16/20174.1

Index for Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit No.Exhibit DescriptionFormDate of FilingExhibit NumberFiled Herewith
4.6Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among T-Mobile USA, Inc., the other guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, including the Form of 5.375% Senior Note due 2027.8-K3/16/20174.3
4.7[Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 27, 2017, by and among T-Mobile USA, Inc., T-Mobile US, Inc., the other guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, including the Form of 4.000% Senior Note due 2022-1.](http://

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