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T-Mobile launches invite-only home internet pilot in rural areas

It aims to connect 50,000 homes this year.

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Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
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T-Mobile wants to help provide internet to rural and underserved communities. 

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Aiming to disrupt what it calls "one of the most uncompetitive industries in existence," T-Mobile began an invitation-only home internet pilot on Thursday. A limited group of customers in rural and underserved communities will get high-speed fixed wireless service.

According to a release, 50,000 homes will be connected this year. T-Mobile plans to cover more than half of the US by 2024 with the capacity for 9.5 million households to cut the cord, according to the release.

The company said it will offer speeds of around 50 Mbps by fixed unlimited wireless service over LTE with no data caps for $50 per month.

The move comes ahead of the company's planned merger with Sprint. T-Mobile wasn't immediately available for additional comment.

Watch this: How to solve the rural broadband problem? Fix the maps