Sprint has had a tough time of it recently. First, T-Mobile usurped its position in the prepaid space, and then it “won” the award for lowest-rated carrier — That’s when you know you’re in need of a pick-me-up. Thankfully for Sprint, that’s exactly what the carrier got today in the form of its preliminary customer report.
According to the report, Sprint gained around 967,000 new subscribers during its third fiscal quarter of 2014. That number included 30,000 postpaid additions, 410,000 prepaid additions, and 527,000 net wholesale additions. While 30,000 sounds like a small number, it represents a huge leap for Sprint, given the fact that the carrier lost many postpaid customers in the past several quarters. In fact, compared with the same quarter a year ago, those 30,000 postpaid customers represent a 20 percent increase.
For Sprint, its prepaid numbers take its subsidiaries into account, which include Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile. Meanwhile, its wholesale numbers represent mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which use Sprint’s network to offer services and rate plans to customers. These include FreedomPop, Ting, and Republic Wireless.
It looks like Sprint’s work on its lease plans and a revamped family plan is finally paying dividends. Only time will tell if the carrier can sustain its newly-acquired momentum. Sprint will release its third quarter results in full in February.