T-Mobile USA parent says lack of 3G services lost them customers

T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) USA isn’t exactly known for their pervasive 3G wireless network in The States, and the wireless carrier’s parent company is owning up to that fact. Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) AG Chief Financial Officer Timotheus Hoettges told reporters today that T-Mobile USA has been hurt by its lack of 3G services. Instead, the No. 4 US wireless carrier is looking to focus on its existing 3G network and plan for 4G technology in the near future.

“There is no question that we lost customers because many of our customers couldn’t get 3G,” Hoettges said. “We now have to make sure that we can capitalize on the network in the top-10 cities where we have invested.” With the relatively uncrowded US wireless market boasting “300 million households,” compared to Europe “where we have 350 million households [and] 50-70 operators,” Deutsche Telekom sees potential for T-Mobile USA to challenge bigger players like Sprint (NYSE: S) and AT&T (NYSE: T).

As for 4G, T-Mobile USA is exploring the possibility of partnering with Clearwire to use their 4G WiMAX service. Clearwire still needs $2 billion to complete their WiMAX rollout, and T-Mobile USA could help make that happen in return for use of the WiMAX network. Other options include a partnership with MetroPCS (NYSE: PCS) for their upcoming 4G LTE network, or waiting for President Obama to auction off new spectrum licenses.

We’re looking forward to seeing T-Mobile lighting up more HSPA+ markets in the US as we wait for 4G networks to get real.

[Via: Bloomberg]