T-Mobile filed a lawsuit in August 2025 against Broadcom in a New York court, seeking a ruling that Broadcom is contractually obligated to support its VMware perpetual licenses. The mobile giant claims it operates tens of thousands of virtual machines using VMware software across approximately 303,140 CPU cores.
T-Mobile's Migration Challenges from VMware
The lawsuit highlights T-Mobile's ongoing migration away from VMware, which involves technical complexities and time-consuming processes for over 1,000 applications. The company expressed concerns regarding the impact of this migration on its network and business operations.
In its complaint, T-Mobile stated that it purchased VMware perpetual licenses in 2023, along with two years of support. However, after Broadcom acquired VMware, the company ceased sales of perpetual licenses, opting for subscription-based models instead.
Broadcom's Response to T-Mobile's Claims
According to T-Mobile, when it attempted to extend support for a third year at a cost of $5,288,398.45, Broadcom denied the request, stating, “Broadcom announced end of available of all perpetual products.” This decision led to T-Mobile seeking legal recourse to secure necessary support services.
A judge has temporarily granted T-Mobile an injunction for support services from October 2025 through August 3, 2026, for $5.28 million, along with a $500,000 undertaking. T-Mobile's willingness to pay up to $20 million for two years of software updates demonstrates the urgency of the situation.
Financial Implications and Broader Context
Broadcom has reportedly incurred $24 million in costs to provide T-Mobile with support for six VMware products, which included assigning three dedicated support account managers. However, T-Mobile contested that it only utilizes two of the mentioned products and has opened only two service cases this year.
The ongoing case reflects a broader trend, as many companies have successfully transitioned to subscription-based models. A Broadcom lawyer noted during an October 2025 hearing that “thousands upon thousands have successfully migrated to subscription,” emphasizing T-Mobile's unique position in this legal battle.
- T-Mobile's VMware licenses purchased in 2023
- 303,140 CPU cores in use
- $5,288,398.45 for third-year support
- $5.28 million granted for temporary support
- $20 million offered for two years of updates
- $24 million in costs incurred by Broadcom
Both T-Mobile and Broadcom have refrained from commenting publicly on the case, leaving many aspects of the situation open to speculation. The outcome may have significant implications for other organizations navigating similar licensing issues.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Ars Technica. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
