University of California (UC) Strategic Sourcing is warning the UC community that telecommunication services provider T-Mobile is unable to meet its minimum cybersecurity requirements. These deficiencies became clear when UC issued a systemwide request for pricing (RFP) for telecommunication services, including cellular services.

In the last few years T-Mobile has suffered numerous high-profile breaches that have resulted in the exposure of sensitive data of over 100 million customers, with the most recent breach reported on January 19, 2023.

It also has come to Strategic Sourcing’s attention that T-Mobile representatives have continued to try to sell their services directly to UC locations. Based on the findings of the RFP, and continuing reports of breach activity involving sensitive customer data, please exercise extreme caution if your location has been solicited by T-Mobile or is considering purchasing services from them.

T-Mobile's primary competitors, AT&T and Verizon Wireless did meet UC’s security requirements and have been awarded systemwide agreements as a result of the telecommunications RFP.