Looks like T-Mobile USA is still suffering the effects of being late to the 3G networks game. Because its mobile data growth, unlike its competitors, is attributable mostly to text messaging.
In the fourth quarter, T-Mobile saw a 31-percent increase in data revenue year-over-year thanks to the 57 billion text and picture messages it sent. It’s only been in the 3G game for one quarter, so the carrier is lagging in terms of uptake for mobile broadband data plans.
That has meant that its data ARPU is still under $10, compared to postpaid revenue of $13.86 for Verizon Wireless, $14.50 for Sprint-Nextel Corp. and $16.30 for AT&T Inc..
There’s time to catch up, however. T-Mobile just launched its 3G network last year and has been marketing data plans for only one quarter.
