Deutsche Telekom AG, the German telecom giant, owns the majority of T-Mobile US — about 52.8% as of early 2026. That stake gives it effective control, and CEO Tim Höttges has said publicly the company is actively exploring ways to increase it further, potentially toward a full buyout.
This is a story I’ve been tracking because it connects to the T-Mobile post I run alongside this one: the same Deutsche Telekom-controlled structure sits behind the Mint Mobile brand T-Mobile acquired in 2023.
Quick Facts
| Company | T-Mobile US, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Majority Owner | Deutsche Telekom AG (~52.8%) |
| CEO (Deutsche Telekom) | Tim Höttges |
| Other Major Shareholder | SoftBank Group (~2.5%, declining) |
| Public Listing | NASDAQ: TMUS |
| Formed From | 2020 merger of T-Mobile US and Sprint |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Deutsche Telekom acquires VoiceStream Wireless, later rebranding it as T-Mobile USA |
| 2013 | T-Mobile USA merges with MetroPCS, becoming publicly traded as T-Mobile US |
| 2020 | T-Mobile US completes its merger with Sprint, with SoftBank (Sprint’s parent) receiving a significant T-Mobile stake as part of the deal |
| 2020-2025 | SoftBank steadily sells down its T-Mobile stake, dropping from a double-digit holding to under 5% by mid-2025 |
| February 2026 | Deutsche Telekom confirms it will not sell T-Mobile shares during 2026 and is exploring paths to increase its stake further |
| April 2026 | Reports emerge that Deutsche Telekom is weighing a full acquisition of the remaining T-Mobile US shares it doesn’t already own |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Deutsche Telekom’s voting power exceeds its direct equity stake thanks to a proxy agreement with SoftBank, historically giving it control over roughly 57% of voting shares.
- SoftBank’s role has shrunk dramatically since the 2020 merger, down to roughly 2.5% of shares by early 2026 as it has steadily exited the position.
- Institutional investors including Vanguard and BlackRock hold most of the remaining publicly traded shares.
- T-Mobile’s 2023 acquisition of Mint Mobile means Deutsche Telekom’s control extends to that budget carrier brand as well.
FAQ
Does Deutsche Telekom fully own T-Mobile US?
Not yet, though it holds a controlling majority stake of about 52.8% and effective voting control near 57%. Reports in 2026 suggest the company is exploring a full buyout of remaining shares.
Is SoftBank still involved with T-Mobile?
Its stake has shrunk to roughly 2.5% as of early 2026, down from a much larger position received in the 2020 Sprint merger.