On the other hand, I read somewhere that the 5G smartphones that T-Mobile offers (or the two 5G smartphones that T-Mobile offered when it turned on its 5G network back in December, in case it's now offering additional 5G smartphones) work on Sprint's 5G network.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
T-Mobile 5G Gets Boost as Sprint Network Merging Kicks Off
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What?
Sign up for Connect by T-Mobile Prepaid service
Learn about and how to sign up for Connect by T-Mobile Prepaid service.www.t-mobile.com
They launched a week early due to COVID.
T‑Mobile Connect Launches Early to Help the Most Vulnerable in America Get and Stay Connected - T‑Mobile Newsroom
In response to COVID-19, the Un-carrier is introducing lower-priced options, available starting Wednesday.www.t-mobile.com
Thanks! I just saw that while Googling about it, as you were replying!
I just paid my bill for this month too. Darn... But I'll have to visit my local T-Mobile store and talk to them about what's involved to switch over. (Want to make sure I can go from my existing "legacy" plan to one of these pre-paid plans without service interruption, for one thing. Also may pay to just bring my daughter's pay as you go iPhone 6S over to this too.)
Not really a good joke at this point - such talk already has the easily confused out there burning down cell towers.
Nice going. Some mouth-breather somewhere just burned down a 5G tower. I hope you're really pleased with your little joke.
They're using this virus lockdown to speed the installation of 5G networks so no one can protest.
This not what NY needed, another attack on the immune system.
Cue the tinfoil hat comments.
This not what NY needed, another attack on the immune system.
Cue the tinfoil hat comments.
It's because you stayed at home and used Wi-Fi for data. T-Mobile gives you $10 off each line if the line uses less than 2GB of data per month.
In the long-term definitely. Sprint has a ton of spectrum, but hasn't taken advantage of it by building out their network as much as the other three carriers. Once that's built out, current T Mobile customers will get much better coverage in general. Also, Sprint has towers in places that T Mobile doesn't, and vice versa. I forget the exact numbers, but the end result is going to be something like 75% current T Mobile towers and 25% current Sprint Towers (or Maybe 80/20), they're keeping about 10,000 Sprint Towers.
As they said, they're already merging the networks in some places, and giving T Mobile customers access to Sprint's network, will undoubtedly help in areas where the T Mobile network is constrained by the amount of spectrum they previsouly owned.
I know on the Sprint side of things, I've seen a decent increase in my Apple Watch LTE coverage. I run in an edge area for Sprint & so I only get coverage about 75% of the time, but that's up to around 95% or so since they allowed us to use the T mobile network.
In Arizona I did a test on April 21 while on just Sprint LTE.
Not sure If they turned on the T-Mobile LTE in my area today it didn’t improve my speed much.
I’m hoping to see the benefits when I go up north in higher ground (7,000 feet) to really see if my previous poor service to no service out there improves with this merger. If the signal makes it out there, I’ll be thrilled.
Not sure If they turned on the T-Mobile LTE in my area today it didn’t improve my speed much.
I’m hoping to see the benefits when I go up north in higher ground (7,000 feet) to really see if my previous poor service to no service out there improves with this merger. If the signal makes it out there, I’ll be thrilled.
You (nor anybody else) are not going to use T-Mobile’s network unless you’re in an area with poor/no Sprint coverage. That’s how roaming is designed to work.
Have been a Sprint user for many, many years. While I have had my gripes with them from time to time, at least where I live (ie my house and work), I always get a solid 4G LTE signal.
I just signed up for a data plan for my iPad with T-Mobile. The signal strength isn't nearly as good or consistent. At least where I am at home.
Will be interesting to see what happens once this merger fully integrates each other's networks/towers/equipment, etc.
I just signed up for a data plan for my iPad with T-Mobile. The signal strength isn't nearly as good or consistent. At least where I am at home.
Will be interesting to see what happens once this merger fully integrates each other's networks/towers/equipment, etc.
Distance or reach. The higher speed signals don’t travel as far.
Also, for the time being, some of the bands aren’t in as many phones, so those are less crowded.
Does anyone know which new LTE bands are being added? I'm guessing it's Band 41 but if anyone knows for sure, let me know.
Personally I'm never in favor of less competition but we will see how this pans out. T-Mobile seem to have their heads screwed on unlike AT&T, plus we all knew Sprint was dying.
Personally I'm never in favor of less competition but we will see how this pans out. T-Mobile seem to have their heads screwed on unlike AT&T, plus we all knew Sprint was dying.
Two crappy companies that are merging into a bad ugly marriage. In 2008 I told t mobile if they gave me free service for life I wouldn't use their stinking company the customer service was so bad and fake charges. I was with sprint form then until last year when their customer service responded to problems with a 'why are you calling us, screw you!' attitude. They F8ked me with their BS iPhone forever plan and lied about my completion of it. When i quit they trie dthe used car salesman tactices and stupid offers about 'reward points' -nothing about saving money or paying off the phone I had more than paid for- until I hung up on them as they simply refused to process my call to quit. I found out that by porting the number it automatically quit the service and SEE YA! Cox xable has become as bad as them and the other cable companies if not worse. 'oh you're not happy with your prices? we could give you another bundle but we won't just accept full price and pay pay pay!' Oh you're leaving? Don't care!'
when the article says 2.5 spectrum, which band number is this referring to ?
In the UK we have a 2.6MHz Paired /FDD Band for LTE which is 2510MHz->2560MHz for phone->basestation and 2630->2680MHz for basestation->phone. I suspect we are talking about the same thing or the same frequencies but arranged slightly differently in the US so you call it 2.5 intead of 2.6.
There is an unpaired band 38 in the middle of band 7 UL and DL, still called 2.6 band though just TDD not FDD
Directly below the 2600 LTE band (band 7) is 2.4GHz WiFi which ends at 2483!! so really not sure what this 2.5 band refers to !
EDIT: just looked it up - you have "band 41" which is the same specturm as band 7 in europe but the whole thing in TDD mode and not FDD, and you call it 2.5 band. Weird, seems to be a US special setup.
In any case, this is great news for busy areas in the US!
In the UK we have a 2.6MHz Paired /FDD Band for LTE which is 2510MHz->2560MHz for phone->basestation and 2630->2680MHz for basestation->phone. I suspect we are talking about the same thing or the same frequencies but arranged slightly differently in the US so you call it 2.5 intead of 2.6.
There is an unpaired band 38 in the middle of band 7 UL and DL, still called 2.6 band though just TDD not FDD
Directly below the 2600 LTE band (band 7) is 2.4GHz WiFi which ends at 2483!! so really not sure what this 2.5 band refers to !
EDIT: just looked it up - you have "band 41" which is the same specturm as band 7 in europe but the whole thing in TDD mode and not FDD, and you call it 2.5 band. Weird, seems to be a US special setup.
In any case, this is great news for busy areas in the US!
Last edited: