Cricket's first market was Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1999 and through much of its early growth became known as a network focused on small, rural markets.

In September 2007, MetroPCS, Cricket Wireless's competing carrier at the time, announced a $5.3 billion bid to merge with Leap Wireless.
Leap informally rejected the bid less than two weeks later.
MetroPCS officially withdrew the bid less than two months later.
In December 2007, Cricket acquired Hargray Communications Group's wireless telecommunications business.

In September 2008, Cricket and MetroPCS entered into a 10-year roaming agreement covering both companies' existing and future markets.
The companies also entered into a spectrum exchange agreement covering licenses in certain markets.
In November 2008, they launched "Premium Extended Coverage", a roaming partnership with 14 wireless companies.
In August 2010, Cricket and Sprint signed a five-year wholesale agreement (MVNO) which allowed Cricket to utilize Sprint's nationwide 3G EVDO network in the United States.

In July 2013, AT&T agreed to buy Cricket Wireless' parent for $1.2 billion.
The FCC approved the acquisition between AT&T and Leap Wireless in March 2014.

Cricket Wireless, alongside AT&T shutdown their 2G networks on December 31, 2016.
Customers were required to upgrade their devices to use on newer networks.

With the advent of 5G cellular networks in late-2018, Cricket Wireless will deploy 5G networks sometime later in 2020 or 2021.
Cricket's first market was Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1999 and through much of its early growth became known as a network focused on small, rural markets.
In September 2007, MetroPCS, Cricket Wireless's competing carrier at the time, announced a $5.3 billion bid to merge with Leap Wireless. Leap informally rejected the bid less than two weeks later. MetroPCS officially withdrew the bid less than two months later. In December 2007, Cricket acquired Hargray Communications Group's wireless telecommunications business.
In September 2008, Cricket and MetroPCS entered into a 10-year roaming agreement covering both companies' existing and future markets. The companies also entered into a spectrum exchange agreement covering licenses in certain markets. In November 2008, they launched "Premium Extended Coverage", a roaming partnership with 14 wireless companies. In August 2010, Cricket and Sprint signed a five-year wholesale agreement (MVNO) which allowed Cricket to utilize Sprint's nationwide 3G EVDO network in the United States.
In July 2013, AT&T agreed to buy Cricket Wireless' parent for $1.2 billion. The FCC approved the acquisition between AT&T and Leap Wireless in March 2014.
Cricket Wireless, alongside AT&T shutdown their 2G networks on December 31, 2016. Customers were required to upgrade their devices to use on newer networks. 
With the advent of 5G cellular networks in late-2018, Cricket Wireless will deploy 5G networks sometime later in 2020 or 2021.
Cricket Wireless