Disrupting Rural Wireless

In January 2018, T-Mobile acquired Iowa Wireless Services (iWireless), a regional carrier that provided postpaid and prepaid wireless service to approximately 75,000 customers in Iowa, western Illinois, and eastern Nebraska. Prior to the acquisition, iWireless had one of the largest retail footprints of any wireless carrier in Iowa, with 129 corporate and authorized dealer locations. iWireless was notable for its rural presence and for its affordable and flexible prepaid plans. Following the acquisition, T-Mobile retired the iWireless brand and discontinued the iWireless network in October 2018. T-Mobile also closed iWireless’ two customer service call centers and 86 percent of iWireless’ retail locations.