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T-Mobile Teases Plans to Launch Nationwide 5G Network in U.S. Within Three Years

Tuesday May 2, 2017 8:57 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
T-Mobile today said it plans to roll out a 5G network in the United States starting in 2019, with a target of 2020 for full nationwide coverage.


The third-largest U.S. carrier said it will use part of its newly acquired 600 MHz low-band spectrum to deliver 5G coverage from coast to coast.
“The 600 MHz spectrum will allow 5G to be deployed nationwide, bringing the ultimate experiences to T-Mobile’s enterprise customers and consumers throughout the United States,” said Borje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson. “We will support T-Mobile US with 5G radio development for this spectrum. Commercial availability of the product will be aligned with 3GPP standardization and ecosystem support.”
5G networks will pave the way for faster data speeds and lower latency on smartphones and other cellular-enabled devices. Last year, AT&T said it reached speeds above 10 gigabits per second in early 5G lab trials, and it has even promised speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G LTE.

5G isn't expected to become a reality until at least next year, as 3GPP is still working to establish the first set of 5G standards by 2018.
T-Mobile will help drive 3GPP certification for 5G in 600 MHz. As 5G standards are defined, chipsets are delivered, and equipment comes to market, T-Mobile will quickly deploy 5G nationwide in a large swath of unused spectrum.
T-Mobile expects the first smartphones compatible with the 600 MHz spectrum to be released later this year.

In February, Verizon said it will begin offering gigabit broadband internet over a wireless 5G connection to pilot customers in 11 select U.S. markets during the first half of 2017. AT&T is also rolling out "5G Evolution" speeds in over 20 major metro areas, but as widely reported, it's not really 5G.

Tags: T-Mobile, 5G
[ 97 comments ]


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Chupa Chupa
25 months ago
Hmm. Thinking maybe they should finish figuring 4G out first. I switched over to TMob from ATT a couple months ago. When their service is good its great, but when it's poor it's non-existant. Hopefuly their version of 5G will be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Good User Name
25 months ago

This is an immensely arrogant comment considering T-Mobile just paid a fortune for a bunch of low band spectrum.

I'm not sure that you know what the word arrogant means.
Rating: 9 Votes
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willmtaylor
25 months ago
When do they plan on having coast to coast 4G LTE coverage? Is that before or after the 5G rollout?
Rating: 6 Votes
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oneMadRssn
25 months ago
Pssshhh, not as good as 6G.
Rating: 4 Votes
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_Refurbished_
25 months ago

Hmm. Thinking maybe they should finish figuring 4G out first. I switched over to TMob from ATT a couple months ago. When their service is good its great, but when it's poor it's non-existant. Hopefuly their version of 5G will be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.


They just spent eight billion dollars to do just this. I have TMobile and my GF has Verizon. I can count the times on my hand where she has had service and I didn't. We've traveled a lot in the past few years on both coasts, north and south. I'd say the only time there was a real difference in service was our drive from Cali > Texas.

I had Verizon previously and it wasn't "perfect" by any means. I'd rather be a T-Mobile customer any day of the week, then fork my money to Verizon or ATT. By 2020, T-Mobile should be on par or better than the competition. They won't stop.
Rating: 3 Votes
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69Mustang
25 months ago
5G within the next 3 years? We have 5G right now!* - AT&T

*Not really 5G. Just marketing BS

It's great 5G. The best. Tremendous. T-Mobile... SAD.
Rating: 3 Votes
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OldSchoolMacGuy
25 months ago

Can't wait to see where T-Mobile stands in 2019-2020 in terms of customers and network :)


You honestly believe that T-Mobile will keep up their current practices at that point? Not a chance.

Right now they're offering these enticing offers to get people to switch. At this point, most in the US have cell phones. That means that growth can only be had by making people switch from one carrier to another (years ago growth could be had by getting someone to sign up for their first cell phone instead).

T-Mobile has the most room to grow right now so they're playing a game of lower profits in turn for offering bigger discounts to their users. But that plan isn't sustainable. Once they amass a good client size, they'll be forced to increase prices in order to bring about the return required to pay back investments they've made in their attempts at fast growth.

This is a pretty classic move and one we see in countless other businesses where a small competitor want to play with the big boys. Customers love them at first but with time they become just like everyone else. Comcast did this exact move years ago for instance.
Rating: 3 Votes
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wigby
25 months ago
Will iPhone even bother supporting 5G before 2020?
Rating: 3 Votes
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star_nerdy
25 months ago

This is an immensely ignorant comment considering T-Mobile just paid a fortune for a bunch of low band spectrum.

They may have paid for spectrum but as I type this, I'm fluctuating between 3 bars of LTE and one bar of 4G, which makes interment unusable at times.

Literally, when I walk 10 feet into a single floor restaurant in a state capitol, reception drops.

T-Mobile is fine, but AT&T and Verizon smoke T-Mobile in coverage. The price difference makes it worth it, but T-Mobile is far from perfect.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Christian 5G
25 months ago
Im just glad my username will still be good for another 3-4 years:)

Great to hear tmobile is on top of this and not slowing down.
Rating: 2 Votes

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