T-Mobile USA Announces Major 4G Coverage Expansion in 14 Markets, Solavei MVNO Targets iPhone Users

T-Mobile USA today announced that it has made significant enhancements to its 4G network in 14 areas, signaling continued efforts to support the iPhone on its fastest 4G networks. T-Mobile has announced that it will officially begin offering the iPhone sometime next year.

Today, we’re announcing technology advancements in 14 new metro areas to close out 2012, underscoring our rapid enhancements to the already powerful 4G experience we offer. This has been a busy year for T-Mobile’s network — we announced a $4 billion plan to advance the network, secured vendors and quickly got to work installing new equipment across the country. Only 10 months after announcing our plans, we’ve already enhanced coverage for more than 100 million people!

solavei
Alongside T-Mobile's announcement, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Solavei, which operates using T-Mobile USA's network, has officially launched a major push to attract iPhone customers.

Launched on September 21, 2012, Solavei has already attracted more than 100,000 members nationwide to take advantage of the only mobile phone service offering a $49 per month unlimited voice, text and data plan, along with the unique opportunity to earn recurring monthly income by sharing with friends and family.

“The network enhancements give our current and future members the ability to use their unlocked iPhones and other AT&T/4G smartphones at the highest possible speeds in even more cities,” said Ryan Wuerch, founder and CEO of Solavei. “The time is right for the more than 4 million AT&T iPhone customers who initially signed contracts in 2010 to cut their phone bills in half and gain the opportunity to earn income by sharing Solavei with their friends and family.”

Solavei notes that T-Mobile's network enhancements now allow it to support the iPhone in 37 new markets.

The network enhancements allow Solavei members to use iPhones and other AT&T/4G smartphones to access its $49 per month unlimited voice, text and data in areas including New York City, Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Tampa, Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Atlanta, Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, Central and Southern Arizona, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley California and South Florida.

T-Mobile is the last of the four major U.S. carriers to officially offer the iPhone, and while T-Mobile itself will not begin offering the iPhone until next year, Solavei's announcement suggests that T-Mobile's 1900 MHz 4G buildout is far enough along to support a major rollout of iPhone service.

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Top Rated Comments

Chocolatemilty Avatar
167 months ago
instead of wasting time and resources for HSPA+ redeployment on 1900mhz, they should instead that towards deploying LTE band 4.
I'd hardly call rolling out the 1900 band for HSPA+ as a fallback for the eventual LTE rollout when they received $4 billion "wasting time and resources," not to mention the increased revenues from the MVNOs using their network and the expected increase of unlocked phone subscribers.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AAPL addict Avatar
167 months ago
So I'm in Austin and getting 3G data on my iPhone 4S with T-Mobile. However, my daughter with her iPhone 3GS (3G data turned on) still only shows EDGE. Does anyone know why?

You might want to contact T-Mobile tech support for this question. I find it interesting on all the T-Mobile press releases I've read as it relates to upgrading their data speeds to work with iPhone they consistently state up to 70% faster data speeds than AT&T when tested with the iPhone 4S. I have yet to see them mention any other iPhone models as it relates to this. It makes me want to think that the faster data speeds might not work for an iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS but only guessing by reading their press releases.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AAPL addict Avatar
167 months ago
Go T-Mobile go!

As a proud owner of an iPhone 4S, living in Dallas, stuck in an AT&T contract I cannot wait to finish my term and move to T-Mobile or a T-Mobile MVNO (i.e., reseller). I'll take the now availlable for iPhone T-Mobile 3G / 4G data speeds of 20 MB download which blow away the slow AT&T data speeds I get for my iPhone now (advertised by AT&T as 4G on my phone), get unlimited talk / text / data with T-Mobile and cut my monthly wireless bill in half. I for one would rather have unsubsidized wireless rates and pay full price for the iPhone. I think T-Mobile upgrading their technology to deliver 3G and 4G data speeds for iPhones and offering unsubsidized rates will play out big in 2013 and the years to come. Sorry AT&T but I foresee a lot of cost conscientious consumers completing their AT&T terms, unlocking their GSM iPhones and moving to T-Mobile.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
winston1236 Avatar
167 months ago
Now on to their 200mb of 4g speed...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OriginalMacRat Avatar
167 months ago
The 3GS doesn't support hspa+ which is what they're refarming....... So her 3GS won't do 3G on tmob only 4 and up

Incorrect. The 1900MHz refarm isn't limited to HSPA+.

And before you try to argue that it is, keep in mind that many iPhone 3GS users (myself included) are getting 3G on T-Mobile now.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dukebound85 Avatar
167 months ago
Does Straight Talk have more coverage than TMO?

ST uses either ATT or Verizons network depending on the plan
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)