(Telecompaper) T-Mobile USA added 579,000 net customers in the first quarter, taking the total to 34 million. Branded customers grew by 352,000 sequentially. The company lost 199,000 postpaid subscribers in the first quarter, slowing the decline after a loss of 515,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012. Branded postpaid churn decreased to a four-year record low of 1.9 percent and improved by 60 basis points compared to the previous quarter. Branded prepaid additions reached 202,000 in Q1, up from 166,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012. This makes it the seventh straight quarter of prepaid customer growth, with 1.7 million new prepaid customers over the period. The figures were announced early as the operator is in the process of merging with MetroPCS. The proposed merger has faced opposition from some MetroPCS shareholders, who will vote on the deal on 12 April. Wholesale net customer additions increased to 576,000 in the first quarter of 2013 compared to 410,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012. This improvement was primarily attributable to the continued focus on growing the MVNO customer base.