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Mobile Technology

T-Mobile plans a US nationwide 5G network by 2020

By Emily Ferron
May 02, 2017
T-Mobile plans a US nationwide 5G network by 2020
T-Mobile eyes 2020 for a full nationwide 5G network
T-Mobile eyes 2020 for a full nationwide 5G network
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T-Mobile eyes 2020 for a full nationwide 5G network
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T-Mobile eyes 2020 for a full nationwide 5G network

Today, T-Mobile outlined its plans to strengthen its LTE coverage and build a nationwide 5G network in the US by 2020.

Unlike the larger carriers Verizon and AT&T, which have outlined plans for a piecemeal rollout of mobile and fixed (wired) 5G networks in regional test areas using high-frequency bands, T-Mobile plans to make its 5G network nationwide from the start by leveraging multiple spectrum bands on its recently-acquired 600 MHz spectrum.

T-Mobile's 5G rollout is expected to start in 2019 with full nationwide coverage planned for 2020. By then, 5G-supporting chipsets and devices should be widespread and readily available, which is necessary for taking advantage of the new network technology.

Not only will 5G significantly boost smartphone connectivity speeds over the current 4G/LTE network technology, it is also expected to tout a higher capacity and lower latency. In turn, this makes 5G likely to connect many more devices beyond smartphones – with enough capacity and power for everything from low-power IoT devices to data-demanding AR/VR headsets.

Find out more about T-Mobile's strategy in the video below, featuring CEO John Legere.

Source: T-Mobile [1][2]

T-Mobile 5G: CEO John Legere Announces Nationwide Strategy | T-Mobile

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Mobile TechnologyT-mobileMobileLTE5G
4 comments
Emily Ferron
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Emily is a lifelong writer with a deep appreciation for human endeavor. She explores mobile technology for New Atlas through this lens. When she's not evaluating gadgets, she's exploring the outdoors.

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4 comments
exodous
Ah man, I need to get a new phone now. I just upgraded from the Galaxy S4 to the S5.
As far as T-mobile I think they are the only ones that haven't had weird things appear on my bill that I had to go argue at a carrier store to have taken off. Seriously, I had to do this constantly with AT&T and almost as much with Verizon if not more. Since I have had T-mobile, about 3 years, I haven't had to go dispute a bill once. I hear Sprint is alright also but never tried them.
Jacksdad
Instead of pushing higher speeds (is there really a very noticeable difference between 4G and 5G?), how about providing access to the millions of Americans who are struggling with barely accessible 3G or none at all?
Daishi
@exodous It seems like every time a company makes a "mistake" on my bill it's to their advantage rather than mine. If it were really a "mistake" it would be in my favor at least some of the time but it seems far to consistent in their favor for that to be the case.
Daishi
I read somewhere else that they spent $8 billion on low-band 600Mhz spectrum to enable this. This is lower than the frequencies most companies are using for 4G now. Part of the point of 5G is to move to (much) smaller cells (using > 30Ghz), not larger ones. Rolling out 5G with 600Mhz doesn't add up unless they are just going to expand their network and call the result 5G.