When T-Mobile said they were targeting 50% more channel revenue in 2025, every agent in the country perked up. More channel revenue means more commission, right?
Slow down. T-Mobile’s channel push came at the same time the company was evolving from “un-carrier” to what people on Reddit are already calling “re-carrier.” And they just swapped out their CEO, adding another variable to the equation. The company that built its brand on disrupting carrier pricing is now raising rates and tightening terms like every incumbent it used to mock.
I’ve watched this play out before with other carriers. They change the comp plan every February, declare their love for the channel, flood it with SPIFFs and co-marketing dollars, get partners dependent on the volume, then quietly restructure comp plans 18 months later when the numbers need to look better for the board. If you’re riding the T-Mobile wave right now, enjoy it. But diversify while you’re ahead. The un-carrier era is over, and what comes next is going to look a lot more like business as usual. If you want to understand the dynamics, read up on how telecom residual commissions work and the carrier loyalty trap before you commit too deep.