“We’ll go toe-to-toe with Verizon’s network almost everywhere … and win.” That’s T-Mobile CEO John Legere’s opening salvo for 2015, as the outspoken executive posted a blog Tuesday of his predictions for the coming year.
According to Legere, T-Mobile currently reaches 264 million Americans with its LTE network, while Verizon reaches 303 million.
“So, yeah, there are places we don’t reach yet,” Legere wrote. “But, here’s the interesting part, where we do reach the same people our LTE network is the fastest nationwide. “
Legere goes on to note that in the coming year, T-Mobile will cover 300 million people with LTE, blanket 150 metro areas with Wideband LTE, and deploy 700 Mhz spectrum in approximately 350 metro areas.
Among other predictions, including that the “competition will continue to bumble along,” Legere also foresees a big year for wearables and phablets.
Pointing to companies like Fitbit, Samsung, LG and Microsoft as leading the way, Legere specifically noted Apple’s coming Apple Watch as the biggest driver for the wearables market in 2015.
“And though we won’t see its full impact in 2015, I believe that the Apple Watch will mark the tipping point when wearables go from niche to mainstream,” Legere wrote. On the other hand, Legere expects phablet sales to jump 50 percent in the new year, while continuing to cannibalize the tablet market.
Probably no surprise to anyone, Legere says he is “recommitting myself to making life hell for the old carriers who make life hell for their customers. Because it gives me joy.” That said, he also predicts that “T-Mobile will – officially – become the No. 3 wireless company in America in 2015.”
All of Legere’s hyperbole and colorful language regarding 2015 can be found here.
