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Exhibit 2.1(a)


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

        This Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Agreement") is entered into on this 6th day of April, 2004, by and among MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), MPCS Holdco Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Merger Sub"), and MetroPCS, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("MetroPCS").

RECITALS:

        A.    The boards of directors of Parent, MetroPCS and Merger Sub have each determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of each corporation and its respective stockholders for MetroPCS and Merger Sub to combine into a single company through the statutory merger of Merger Sub with and into MetroPCS (the "Merger").

        B.    In furtherance thereof, the board of directors of each of Parent, MetroPCS and Merger Sub has approved this Agreement and the Merger in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), including Section 251(g) of the DGCL, and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, pursuant to which the capital stock of MetroPCS outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive shares of capital stock of Parent, as set forth herein.

        C.    As of the date hereof, MetroPCS holds of record all of the outstanding shares of Parent capital stock and no shares of Parent capital stock are issued but not outstanding and Parent holds of record all of the outstanding shares of Merger Sub capital stock and no shares of Merger Sub capital stock are issued but not outstanding.

        D.    It is contemplated that no gain or loss will be recognized for United States federal income tax purposes by the stockholders of MetroPCS as a result of the exchange of shares of capital stock of MetroPCS for shares of capital stock of Parent pursuant to the Merger and that this Agreement constitutes a plan of reorganization for United States federal income tax purposes.


AGREEMENT

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

        1.1    The Merger.    Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into MetroPCS, the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and MetroPCS shall continue as the surviving entity. MetroPCS, as the surviving corporation in the Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Corporation."

        1.2    Effective Time.    Upon authorization and execution of this Agreement by the parties, the parties hereto shall file a Certificate of Merger in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Certificate of Merger") with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State"). The Merger shall become effective at such time (the "Effective Time") as shall be stated in the Certificate of Merger; provided that prior to the Effective Time the board of directors of MetroPCS

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shall not have altered or rescinded its determination that the MetroPCS stockholders shall not recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the Merger.

        1.3    Effect of the Merger.    At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of MetroPCS and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of MetroPCS and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

        1.4    Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.    

        1.5    Directors and Officers.    At the Effective Time, the directors of MetroPCS immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified. The officers of MetroPCS immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.


ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SHARES

        2.1    Effect on Capital Stock.    By virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, MetroPCS, Merger Sub or the holders of any of MetroPCS' securities:

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        2.2    No Further Ownership Rights in MetroPCS Capital Stock.    As a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders thereof, at the Effective Time, all shares of MetroPCS Capital Stock shall cease to be outstanding and shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such shares of MetroPCS Capital Stock shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares of MetroPCS Capital Stock, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such certificate, a certificate or certificates representing Parent Capital Stock in accordance with this Agreement.

        2.3    MetroPCS Stock Options.    

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        2.4    MetroPCS Warrants.    

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        2.5    Assignment and Assumption.    


ARTICLE III
GENERAL PROVISIONS

        3.1    Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action.    If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title, interest and possession to all assets, properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of MetroPCS, then Parent and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of Parent and the Surviving Corporation are fully authorized, in the name and on behalf of MetroPCS and Merger Sub, to take all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.

        3.2    Abandonment.    At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned for any reason whatsoever by the board of directors of either Merger Sub or MetroPCS or both.

        3.3    Amendment.    At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or modified by action taken by or on behalf of the respective boards of directors of the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

        3.4    Governing Law.    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

        3.5    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, and delivered by facsimile, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MetroPCS, Parent and Merger Sub have caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

    METROPCS, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
ROGER D. LINQUIST      
Roger D. Linquist
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
ROGER D. LINQUIST      
Roger D. Linquist
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

MPCS HOLDCO MERGER SUB, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
ROGER D. LINQUIST      
Roger D. Linquist
President and Chief Executive Officer

   

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER]



EXHIBIT A

CERTIFICATE OF MERGER



CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

MERGER OF
MPCS HOLDCO MERGER SUB, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
WITH AND INTO
METROPCS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION

        Pursuant to the provisions of Section 251 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), the undersigned certifies as follows concerning the merger (the "Merger") of MPCS Holdco Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation with and into MetroPCS, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively, the "Constituent Corporations"), with MetroPCS, Inc. as the surviving corporation (in such capacity, the "Surviving Corporation").

        1.     An Agreement of Merger, dated April 6, 2004 (the "Merger Agreement"), has been approved, adopted, certified, executed and acknowledged by the Constituent Corporations in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL.

        2.     The name of the Surviving Corporation shall be MetroPCS, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

        3.     The Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of MetroPCS, Inc., amended as follows, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation. Upon the effective time of the Merger, such Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended to include the following as Article XII:


ARTICLE XII

        Any act or transaction by or involving this corporation, other than the election or removal of directors, that requires for its adoption, either under the DGCL or the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation (as the same may be further amended, supplemented, modified and/or restated), the approval of the stockholders of this corporation shall, as required and pursuant to Section 251(g) of the DGCL, require the approval of the stockholders of MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (or any successor by merger), by the same vote as is required by the DGCL and/or such Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

        4.     The executed Merger Agreement is on file at the principal place of business of the Surviving Corporation, 8144 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas 75231.

        5.     A copy of the Merger Agreement will be furnished by the Surviving Corporation, on request and without cost, to any stockholder of MetroPCS, Inc. or MPCS Holdco Merger Sub, Inc.


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officer of MetroPCS, Inc. has signed this Certificate of Merger, as of the        day of April, 2004.

    METROPCS, INC.

 

 

By:

    

    Name: Roger D. Linquist
    Title: President

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QuickLinks

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I THE MERGER
ARTICLE II CONVERSION OF SHARES
ARTICLE III GENERAL PROVISIONS
EXHIBIT A CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER MERGER OF MPCS HOLDCO MERGER SUB, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION WITH AND INTO METROPCS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
ARTICLE XII