T-Mobile grows P.R. client base by 15% in ’18, continues 600MHz deployment
T-Mobile announced its financial reports for the final quarter and full year 2018, along with its performance on a local operational level for the past year, which resulted in a 15 percent year-over-year growth of its customer base.
Jorge Martel, general manager
for T-Mobile Puerto Rico, said the carrier’s growth sharply contrasts the
performance of the rest of the industry, which showed an overall drop of 2
percent. T-Mobile Puerto Rico also reported its lowest “churn” — or customer
turnover — index for the year.
“We are very grateful for our
clients’ support and our employees’ commitment. Our client base increased
significantly by the end of 2018 and I am sure that we will continue at this
accelerated pace,” said Martel, making the announcements at the T-Mobile
Customer Service Center in Caguas, which employs more than 300 people dedicated
exclusively to its customer care.
“This year, we will keep
investing in our network’s expansion, distribution channels, and keeping our
commitment to turn Puerto Rico into an innovation and technology hub,” he said.
That network expansion calls
for the ongoing deployment of the 600MHz network, which brings a number of
benefits such as expanded reach — two times further and four times better
penetration in-building.
“We already have 600MHz
coverage in 95 percent of Puerto Rican towns, including the island municipality
of Culebra. In 2018, T-Mobile increased its radio bases by 12 percent and by
2019 it expects an additional 17 percent growth,” he said.
Recently, coverage was added in
the following areas: Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in Hato Rey, Centro Europa in
Santurce, San Antón in Ponce, Hato Rey, Los Sotos in Canóvanas, Jacaguas in
Juana Díaz, Escorial in Carolina, Parcelas Márquez in Manatí, Chiveos in
Yabucoa, and Montones in Las Piedras.
Martel also pointed out that
the Customer Service Center in Puerto Rico reached the highest service metrics
out of all T-Mobile U.S.
“We feel extremely proud of
this achievement. We’re client-obsessed and we will continue listening to our
customers in order to provide them with the best quality service,” Martel said.
T-Mobile created 160 jobs in
2018, closing the year with 700 direct employees.
