Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,713
39,655



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.

Nationwide-5G-TMobile.jpg

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."
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.

Article Link: T-Mobile Teases Plans to Launch Nationwide 5G Network in U.S. Within Three Years
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/05/02/tmobile-nationwide-5g-network-by-2020/
Chupa Chupa said:
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.
Click to expand...

This is an immensely ignorant comment considering T-Mobile just paid a fortune for a bunch of low band spectrum.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ballis
Many coverage maps, T-Mo included, say they cover my area with 4G currently. Only a few have any signal, so excuse me if I am a little skeptic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: willmtaylor and Tronic
Chupa Chupa said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Opieap13, The Catalyst and tonyr6
If Apple doesn't support current gigabyte LTE with 256 QAM and 4x4 MIMO in the iPhone 8 with either Intel chips or Qualcomm (doubtful with the lawsuit) don't count on them doing anything with 5G until well after 2020.

Sadly Samsung, LG, and others will have 5G in their phones long before Apple does.

While Apple does have impressive phone tech they are notorious when it comes to adopting cell network advancements.

And don't tell me it's about battery life. That argument is baseless at this point.
 
mnsportsgeek said:
This is an immensely arrogant comment considering T-Mobile just paid a fortune for a bunch of low band spectrum.
Click to expand...

Which may not mean anything to coverage. If you go too low in frequency, the tiny antennas in modern devices become even less efficient then they already are and cancel any propagation benefits. Additionally, the longer the wavelength, the harder it is to penetrate buildings.

800 MHz is a sweet spot dictated by the laws of physics, and that's why they chose it for the first cell phones, and why police and dispatch radios have congregated there.
 
They were the last to the LTE game and still trail other carriers. They're just going for the publicity, as T-Mobile does with everything. The other major carriers are still far ahead of them in their own plans to roll out 5G.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ssl0408
i am sad I can't get TM at my house.v Their coverage is pretty bad in my area. Just expand coverage and I would be dying to join. i haven't moved in yet but it looks like I am stuck with ATT if I want to keep my current phone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tonyr6
5G will be the first wireless standard capable of replacing wired internet for mass market consumers, especially rural. The coverage rates for rural users has been a pain point since the invention of the internet and the availability of frequencies and hardware to support 5G is a game changer as big as the internet itself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: spinnyd
benroberts3 said:
If Apple doesn't support current gigabyte LTE with 256 QAM and 4x4 MIMO in the iPhone 8 with either Intel chips or Qualcomm (doubtful with the lawsuit) don't count on them doing anything with 5G until well after 2020.

Sadly Samsung, LG, and others will have 5G in their phones long before Apple does.

While Apple does have impressive phone tech they are notorious when it comes to adopting cell network advancements.

And don't tell me it's about battery life. That argument is baseless at this point.
Click to expand...

The past 5 iPhones have supported more carriers and tech than any other phone on the market at the time of their release, including the current iPhone 7.

Yes, Apple was slow to roll out 3G but that was 2008, nearly 10 years ago. Since that time, they've lead the way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cigsm and pianophile
willmtaylor said:
When do they plan on having coast to coast 4G LTE coverage? Is that before or after the 5G rollout?
Click to expand...

Exactly. T-Mobile has next to no coverage in my area. Neither does AT&T. Verizon is the only option for us in Northern New Hampshire. I just want reliable 3G or 4G before they start pushing the next big thing. I still had a landline until Verizon WiFi calling was introduced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: willmtaylor
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back