WebProNews

Tag: LTE

  • Review: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

    Review: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

    T-Mobile has been making headlines for its industry-leading 5G network, but how does its 5G Home Internet offering stack up?

    We take a look at T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet solution to see how it stacks up against traditional broadband, and whether it provides a viable solution for customers.

    Why 5G Home Internet Matters

    Reliable, high-speed internet access is front-and-center on the minds of consumers and regulators alike. The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly turned millions of homes into offices, complete with videoconferencing, file-sharing, meetings and more.

    Unfortunately, the United States has long suffered a “digital divide,” a major disparity between the internet access available in urban areas, versus what is available in sparsely populated rural regions.

    A couple of years ago, just before the pandemic, my wife and I bought a house in the country, away from the conveniences of urban life. While not being able to get a pizza delivered is unfortunate, the complete lack of any high-speed internet or TV service (barring satellite) was a major issue.

    We initially tried several services that buy up unused cellular data and resell them as home internet solutions. We used both Blazing Hog and UnlimitedToGo, but both services were expensive and it was virtually impossible to watch streaming TV, since the data packages both services provided seemed to throttle video.

    When T-Mobile began offering their 5G Home Internet solution, we jumped at the opportunity.

    T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: The Lowdown

    T-Mobile is widely viewed as the 5G market leader in the US. The company has a wealth of spectrum at its disposal, thanks to wise purchases at FCC spectrum auctions and its acquisition of Sprint.

    Thanks to the spectrum at its disposal, the company is offering its Home Internet service as a way of tackling the digital divide that impacts so many. In typical T-Mobile fashion, the company is also offering the service with a degree of panache, offering it at a rock-bottom, no-fees price that is a slap in the face to the rest of the internet service provider industry, an industry that made $9 billion from fees in a single year.

    T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet is available for $50 per month, no equipment fees, all other taxes and fees included. $50 is all the customer pays. Best of all, the company promises there are no data caps.

    It is possible for data to be de-prioritized, if a tower is struggling with heavy demand. After months of use, however, I personally have yet to see this happen.

    Real-World Results

    So exactly how fast is T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet?

    It’s important to have reasonable expectations. While the fastest flavor of 5G is capable of delivering speeds measures in gigabits, there’s almost no chance of getting those speeds with the company’s 5G Home Internet. The spectrum capable of delivering those speeds has extremely limited range — just a couple of hundred meters per base station — meaning it wouldn’t work for the vast majority of T-Mobile’s customers.

    Instead, the company is largely using its low and mid-band 5G spectrum to power 5G Home Internet. That means customers will see speeds ranging from roughly equivalent to 4G LTE on up to 300 Mbps.

    My house is located roughly 1.5 miles from the closest T-Mobile tower, separated by acres and acres of forest. In spite of that, my speeds are consistently over 100 Mbps. Here’s a breakdown of my last five Speedtest.net results:

    • 138 Mbps download, 51.3 Mbps upload, 28 ms ping
    • 124 Mbps download, 55.7 Mbps upload, 25 ms ping
    • 133 Mbps download, 54.9 Mbps upload, 28 ms ping
    • 140 Mbps download, 41.7 Mbps upload, 27 ms ping
    • 126 Mbps download, 52.6 Mbps upload, 28 ms ping

    In contrast, the median speeds for traditional broadband in the US is 115.22 Mbps down, 17.18 Mbps up and 14 ms latency. While T-Mobile 5G Internet may have slightly higher ping, it’s still low enough for everything from streaming TV to videoconferencing to video gaming. In terms of speed, it easily beats traditional broadband, at least in my case.

    The Router

    The T-mobile 4G Home Internet router (which I used before the 5G version was available at my address) was nothing to write home about. Each WiFi band — 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz — only supported 10 clients each. Going past, or even hitting, the limit would cause the service to crash.

    The router’s WiFi range was also very limited, making it hard to reach the entire house, depending on where it was placed. The admin features also left a lot to be desired, and the router didn’t have the processing power or memory to support multiple devices very well, leading to slowdowns. I ultimately ended up turning off WiFi and plugging a wireless access point directly into the 4G router.

    Fortunately, the 5G router fixes all of the shortcomings of its predecessor. By default, each WiFi band supports 128 clients, although it can be set higher. The WiFi range is strong enough to be accessible over 200 feet away from the house, through trees no less. The new router also includes enough processing power to handle two computers, three iPhones, an Apple TV, an Air TV and an iRobot vacuum, all without slowing down. The 5G router is so powerful, I no longer use a dedicated access point with it, relying directly on the router instead.

    Setup was also a cinch. The router has a QR code on the bottom. Simply download the T-Mobile Home Internet app and point your smartphone’s camera at the QR code to start the setup process.

    That being said, the first router I received died unexpectedly. While irritating, T-Mobile quickly sent a replacement free of charge. Unfortunately, a look at T-Mobile’s forums show that the problem is not an isolated one, with numerous customers needing their devices replaced.

    The Fine Print

    There are some issues with the router and service, although they are workable.

    The biggest, and really only, major problem is interference. Because mid-band 5G doesn’t have the same ability to penetrate buildings as well as low-band 5G, or 4G LTE, the 5G router is more sensitive to where it’s placed and the construction of the building it’s placed in.

    For example, placing the router in my garage — metal roof and vinyl siding — yielded similar speeds to those listed above. Unfortunately, my garage is not insulated, which means the router can’t stay there in the summer.

    Moving the router to the kitchen window, nearest the tower, yields the above results, with one big caveat: the kitchen window must remain open. If it’s closed, speeds drop to 20 or 30 Mbps, indicating the router is likely pulling a 4G signal instead of the faster 5G. Because the house is brick, putting it next to a wall doesn’t work any better, unlike being in the vinyl-sided garage.

    Obviously, leaving the window open all the time isn’t an option, anymore than being in an uninsulated garage. As a result, I will need to install an electronics enclosure designed to allow electronics to be mounted on the outside of a building, while still maintaining an acceptable internal temperature.

    In areas where a customer may be closer to a 5G tower, with fewer obstructions and a stronger signal, there may not be the same issues with achieving perfect router placement. On the plus side, at least the router will fall back to 4G internet if 5G is unavailable.

    Alternatives

    The main alternative to T-Mobile’s solution, especially for rural clients, is Starlink satellite internet service. Unfortunately, the service is twice the cost of T-Mobile’s offering, coming in at $99 per month — after paying a $500 deposit.

    In addition, Starlink requires clear line of sight to the satellites. Because the satellites are in low Earth orbit, it doesn’t take much for something to block the signal.

    The company provides an app so you can test how the service will work at your location before paying for the service. In my case, the Starlink app predicts that my service would drop every one minute, due to the trees on my property.

    In comparison, although trees may interfere with the signal to a degree, T-Mobile’s service is a much better option than Starlink for many customers.

    Conclusion

    All-in-all, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a game-changer for customers like me, ones who have limited options for high-speed internet. At only $50 per month, the service is a bargain compared to the third-party solutions I was previously using, and is competitive with traditional broadband — if that was even an option at my location.

    T-Mobile 5G Home Internet easily supports multiple devices being on Zoom simultaneously, streaming Sling TV at the highest quality setting, video gaming and more, all without slowing down.

    Obviously, each customer’s mileage will vary, depending on how close they are to a 5G tower and the construction of their home/building. Nonetheless, T-Mobile is providing a game-changing solution that rivals traditional broadband at a competitive price.

    Pros

    • High-speed comparable with broadband
    • Low price with taxes and fees included
    • Powerful router
    • Excellent WiFi range
    • Router will fall back to 4G LTE if 5G is unavailable

    Cons

    • 5G reception can be weak
    • Questions about the long-term reliability of the router

    Rating

    4.5 out of 5 stars

     

  • T-Mobile Shutting Down Sprint’s LTE Network Mid-2022

    T-Mobile Shutting Down Sprint’s LTE Network Mid-2022

    T-Mobile has confirmed it will shut down Sprint’s LTE network, as the magenta carrier continues to absorb Sprint’s customers.

    T-Mobile bought Sprint in 2020, catapulting the carrier into the number two position in the US market. The biggest benefit of the merger was Sprint’s treasure-trove of spectrum. T-Mobile wasted no time in shutting down Sprint’s legacy 5G network and deploying Sprint’s spectrum to improve its own network.

    According to Light Reading, T-Mobile has now confirmed it will shut down Sprint’s 4G LTE network, effective June 30, 2022.

    The news is not really a dire revelation, however, as T-Mobile revealed in its quarterly results that its network is already carrying 80% of Sprint customer traffic. In addition, over a third of Sprint customers have already transitioned to T-Mobile.

    Freeing up Sprint’s LTE spectrum will be another big step in T-Mobile’s ongoing efforts to take on Verizon.

  • Verizon Doubles LTE Home Internet Coverage

    Verizon Doubles LTE Home Internet Coverage

    Verizon has announced a major expansion of its LTE Home Internet coverage, doubling its footprint, in addition to bringing 5G Home Internet to 7 new cities.

    Like T-Mobile, Verizon is working to bring its network to bear on the home internet market, providing LTE and 5G solutions. The company says it has brought its 5G Home Internet to 7 additional cities, including:

    • Akron, OH
    • Ann Arbor, MI
    • Columbia, SC
    • Durham, NC
    • Fresno, CA
    • Spokane, WA
    • St. Petersburg, FL

    In addition, Verizon’s LTE Home Internet has now doubled its coverage area.

    “With the expansion of LTE Home Internet and 5G Home Internet to more and more customers across the country, the options for fast, reliable internet have never been better. We continue to lead the industry by expanding broadband options for our customers. And with the new Verizon Internet Gateway device, our customers will have a head start to take advantage of a new era of experiences in the comfort of their home,” said Frank Boulben, Chief Revenue Officer, Verizon Consumer Group.

    5G and LTE home internet options are increasingly important resources for families in under-served areas and communities. Especially as remote work and education has become more common during the pandemic, wireless home internet has provided viable options to help people stay connected in areas where traditional broadband is not available.

  • Qualcomm Demonstrates mmWave 5G 16x Faster Than Sub-6 GHz

    Qualcomm Demonstrates mmWave 5G 16x Faster Than Sub-6 GHz

    Qualcomm has announced a major milestone for 5G, demonstrating how fast mmWave 5G is compared with slower varieties.

    There are several flavors of 5G being rolled out. All three major carriers in the US have rolled out nationwide 5G networks, using low-band spectrum. Low-band provides the best range, coverage and building penetration, but is only marginally faster than 4G LTE. Mid-band spectrum provides a good mix of speed, range and coverage, and can deliver speed in excess of 1 Gbps.

    The fastest flavor of 5G is mmWave. Unlike low and mid-band, mmWave uses spectrum in the 6 GHz and above range. It is also the fastest flavor of 5G, clocking in at several gigabits per second. Unfortunately, because mmWave uses high-band spectrum, its range and penetration are extremely limited. Nonetheless, its speed makes it ideal for a wide range of applications, such as secure private networks, and carriers are racing to roll out it.

    Qualcomm has announced real-world tests showing mmWave 5G is up to 16 times faster than 5G in the sub-6 GHz frequencies, such as low and mid-band. The data was based on user-initiated Ookla Speedtests on commercial devices.

    “Our end-to-end modem to antenna solution brings together all the key 5G breakthroughs to optimize 5G connectivity using the massive bandwidth of mmWave,” said Durga Malladi, senior vice president and general manager, 4G/5G, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “With almost every major OEM offering 5G commercial devices globally, we’re playing a critical role in enabling 5G to live up to its promise of speed and power. This not only redefines the smartphone experience, but also paves the road for endless possibilities, including the further expansion of 5G into fixed wireless access, 5G private networks, compute, XR, and Industrial IoT.”

  • Only Verizon’s Premium Customers Will Have High-Speed 5G

    Only Verizon’s Premium Customers Will Have High-Speed 5G

    Verizon has made it clear that only their premium customers will have access to high-speed 5G, with lower tiers stuck on their slow nationwide 5G network.

    Verizon recently bid $45.4 billion on mid-range spectrum at the FCC’s auction. Mid-band spectrum is considered the sweet spot for 5G range and performance. Until Verizon finishes rolling out the spectrum it bid on, the company is stuck offering high-speed mmWave and low-band nationwide 5G. The mmWave 5G is exceptionally fast, but has extremely limited range and availability. Verizon’s nationwide 5G network is so slow that experts recommend turning it off — the company’s 4G is much faster.

    Unfortunately for Verizon customers, only those on one of its upper-tier premium plans will be able to access its faster 5G networks, both the fastest mmWave and the new mid-band spectrum the company will soon deploy. Customers on metered plans or the company’s Start Unlimited basic plan will be limited to the company’s nationwide 5G network.

    Much of the reason Verizon’s low-band network is so slow is because it uses Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS). Because Verizon’s low-band spectrum is tied up with its 4G network, the company didn’t have enough spectrum to roll out a dedicated low-band network. As a result, Verizon had to resort to DSS to allow towers to switch back and forth between 4G and 5G, depending on what device is connected. Because the company has to share its spectrum between the two protocols, the nationwide 5G is essentially crippled, slower than its 4G.

    For Verizon customers, this means they will have to pay for a premium plan in order to have any meaningful access to 5G. In contrast, T-Mobile has been praised for its 5G plans, providing 5G on all of its Magenta plans and even eliminating any throttling on its Magenta MAX.

  • Verizon Blames Poor Battery Life on 5G

    Verizon Blames Poor Battery Life on 5G

    Verizon has undercut its own 5G push, telling users to turn off 5G to conserve battery life.

    Verizon, like all US carriers, is aggressively pushing its 5G service. Unfortunately for the company, someone in its support department didn’t get the memo. In a since-deleted tweet Sunday morning, the company recommending switching to LTE to eliminate battery drain.

    Are you noticing that your battery life is draining faster than normal? One way to help conserve battery life is to turn on LTE. Just go to Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data and tap LTE.

    Users were quick to point out that enabling LTE means turning off 5G.

    https://twitter.com/VZWSupport/status/1366062968857845761?s=20

    This isn’t the first time 5G has been blamed for poor battery life. Testing has shown the iPhone 12 dies up to two hours faster when using 5G. It’s not uncommon for a new technology to negatively impact battery life, however. As time goes on, this will likely improve as refinements and improvements are made.

  • Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G Subscriptions Top 220 Million

    Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G Subscriptions Top 220 Million

    Ericsson has released its Q4 2020 Ericsson Mobility Report, finding a total of 220 million 5G subscriptions worldwide.

    The Ericsson Mobility Report (PDF) provides valuable insight into the wireless industry, including the adoption of new technologies and trends. The biggest factor currently impacting the industry is the rollout of 5G networks around the globe.

    According to the latest report, Q4 2020 saw 70 million 5G subscription additions, bringing the total to 220 million. Roughly 130 service providers are now offering 5G.

    Interestingly, 4G LTE subscriptions increased by some 90 million, bringing the LTE total to more than 4.5 billion, or 57% of all mobile subscriptions. Ericsson estimates there are 8 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide, representing 6 billion unique subscribers.

    This latest report shows the tremendous growth opportunity for wireless carriers, and the long way 5G has to go before it supplants 4G. Carriers are working overtime to roll out the new technology, although some efforts have been hampered by lack of available spectrum. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile spent big at the recent FCC auction that freed up valuable mid-band spectrum.

    Compelling 5G plans have also been a sticking point for many consumers, with T-Mobile’s recent Magenta Max plan widely viewed as the best 5G plan among the US carriers.

  • Verizon Now Offers Unlimited 5G On Prepaid Plans

    Verizon Now Offers Unlimited 5G On Prepaid Plans

    Verizon has announced that unlimited 5G, both Ultra Wideband and nationwide, is now available for its prepaid customers.

    Prepaid plans make up an important part of each carrier’s subscriber base and Verizon is improving its service for its customers. The company has made unlimited 5G available, in both Ultra Wideband and nationwide flavors.

    Verizon’s Ultra Wideband is its high-band, mmWave 5G. The fastest flavor of 5G, mmWave offers speeds measured in gigabits. In contrast, the company’s nationwide 5G uses the same spectrum as its 4G LTE, but offers far better coverage than its mmWave counterpart.

    With 4G LTE and 5G Nationwide included in all Verizon Prepaid plans, the new Verizon Prepaid Unlimited option with 5G Ultra Wideband delivers more value for customers. The plan offers 5G Ultra Wideband connectivity starting at $75 per month with the potential to lower those costs to $60 per month. Customers who stay with Verizon can enjoy savings of $5 per month with Auto Pay, $5/mo after three months of service and an additional $5/mo after nine months of service3. Existing Verizon Prepaid customers who switch to the new Unlimited plan (or other prepaid plan with loyalty discounts) are also eligible for monthly savings on Verizon Prepaid lines that have already been in service 3 to 9 months.

    The announcement is good news for Verizon’s prepaid subscribers.

  • Verizon Changes Direction on 3G Shutdown

    Verizon Changes Direction on 3G Shutdown

    Verizon has announced it is delaying the shutdown of its 3G network indefinitely.

    Verizon had previously committed to shutting down its network at the end of 2020, after postponing it from the original date at the end of 2019. According to Light Reading, the company has now delayed its plans indefinitely.

    While the company did not give a reason for the decision, the most likely reason is because of the number of subscribers it still has on the aging technology.

    Verizon’s competitors are also planning on shutting down their 3G networks, with AT&T slated to do so in early 2022. T-Mobile, meanwhile, has only said its shutdown would occur over the next several years, but has not divulged a timeline.

    Wireless carriers have quite a bit of incentive to repurpose the spectrum being used for their 3G networks. Verizon, in particular, uses 850 and 1900 MHz spectrum for its 3G network. The company has struggled with its nationwide 5G network, which uses low-band spectrum to provide widespread coverage. Because Verizon’s 700 MHz spectrum is tied up with its 4G LTE network, it has had to rely on Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to use that spectrum for both 4G and 5G traffic. Freeing up spectrum would give Verizon more options, especially with its low-band 850 MHz.

    Nonetheless, it looks like Verizon’s 3G customers have earned a reprieve for the time being.

  • Verizon LTE Home Internet Now Available In 48 States

    Verizon LTE Home Internet Now Available In 48 States

    Verizon’s LTE Home Internet service has been expanded to 189 markets across 48 states, according to the company.

    As more and more workers have been forced to work from home during the pandemic, home internet access has become more important than ever. The same is true of remote learning. More children than ever are enrolled in remote learning programs that require good internet access.

    Unfortunately, the US still has a major disparity between the internet options individuals in cities have, versus those in rural areas. Increasingly, wireless companies are looking to bridge this gap, with both Verizon and T-Mobile offering LTE home service.

    Verizon has now expanded their offerings to include 189 markets in 48 states, giving customers more choices than ever before.

    “This summer, we introduced LTE Home Internet in select pilot markets, and the response from customers was incredible,” said Frank Boulben, Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing and Products at Verizon. “It’s clear the need for connectivity has never been greater during these challenging times, that’s why today, we’re expanding LTE Home Internet to even more customers in rural areas of America who may not have access to broadband Internet.”

    For those customers that fall in Verizon’s market, this will be a welcome option.

  • NAD Supports Some T-Mobile 5G Claims, Disputes Others

    NAD Supports Some T-Mobile 5G Claims, Disputes Others

    The National Advertising Division (NAD), a division of BBB National Programs, has sided with T-Mobile on some of its advertising claims, while disputing others.

    The NAD is a branch of the BBB that helps ensure accuracy in advertising by providing dispute resolution and self-regulation. The challenge to T-Mobile’s advertising claims about its 5G service was lodged by Verizon.

    The NAD found that T-Mobile’s claims that its 5G is faster than its 4G, or competitors’ 4G was accurate. Similarly, the NAD found that T-Mobile’s claims that its 5G service offered better coverage than other providers’ 5G was also accurate.

    In spite of those wins, the NAD did recommend that T-Mobile alter or discontinue other claims. For example, it recommended T-Mobile stop implying its 5G was superior to 4G in other ways, such as reliability. Similarly, the NAD “recommended that T-Mobile discontinue the challenged claim that its 5G service is generally available in locations that have traditionally been challenging for cellular service (or disclose, clearly and conspicuously, the typical performance of T-Mobile’s 5G).”

    The NAD also recommended T-Mobile stop using demonstrations that implied other carriers’ 5G coverage footprint was as small as a city bench. The NAD also recommended T-Mobile stop comparing coverage to Verizon’s in the “Rock Stadium in Miami shortly before the Super Bowl and the related implied claim that T-Mobile’s current 5G network consistently provides no signal loss, decrease in signal strength, or reversion to 4G LTE service”

    This is just the latest spat between the carriers, as each tries to check the others’ advertising. The NAD recently ruled against Verizon, and the BBB’s National Advertising Review Board (NARB) upheld an unfavorable NAD ruling against AT&T. T-Mobile has said it will appeal the recommendation. We will provide an update once the NARB rules.

  • T-Mobile Hits Major Milestone: First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network

    T-Mobile Hits Major Milestone: First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network

    After teasing a major network announcement Monday, T-Mobile has announced a world first: a standalone nationwide 5G network.

    The first 5G implementations have been built on non-standalone technology. That means the backbone of the network is based on 4G LTE tech. The benefit is that compatible devices can connect to LTE or 5G simultaneously. This provides faster performance than traditional 4G networks, especially when it comes to data speeds. A true standalone 5G network, where all components are based on 5G tech, offers opportunities that can’t be achieved with a non-standalone network.

    The potential of standalone 5G makes T-Mobile’s milestone all that much more significant.

    “In the near-term, SA allows T-Mobile to unleash its entire 600 MHz footprint for 5G. With non-standalone network architecture (NSA), 600 MHz 5G is combined with mid-band LTE to access the core network, but without SA the 5G signal only goes as far as mid-band LTE,” says the company blog. “With today’s launch, 600 MHz 5G can go beyond the mid-band signal, covering hundreds of square miles from a single tower and going deeper into buildings than before. Thanks to T-Mobile’s ongoing 5G build, and by flipping the switch on SA, the Un-carrier has immediately increased its 5G footprint by 30 percent — now covering 1.3 million square miles in more than 7,500 cities and towns across the country.”

    According to T-Mobile, it’s 5G network is now two times larger than AT&T’s and 10,000 times bigger than Verizon’s.

  • T-Mobile Soon Will Require VoLTE Phones

    T-Mobile Soon Will Require VoLTE Phones

    T-Mobile will soon require all phones on its network to support 4G Voice over LTE (VoLTE) in an effort to free up spectrum.

    Some US carriers still support older protocols, such as 3G, despite how ubiquitous 4G has become. Supporting those older protocols, however, ties up valuable spectrum that can be used to enhance 4G coverage, as well as help with 5G rollouts.

    In an effort to free up some of that spectrum, T-Mobile plans on requiring all new phones activated on its network to support VoLTE by August 4. A document Android Police obtained also indicates that older devices will no longer work on the magenta carrier by January 2021.

    While T-Mobile did not confirm the dates listed in the document, they did give the following statement to Android Police:

    ”We’re making great progress building a truly transformative nationwide 5G network. As part of that, we will be phasing out some older technologies over time to free up even more capacity for LTE and 5G. In preparation for that and to give customers the best experience, those activating new lines at T-Mobile will need a VoLTE capable device, which is all we’ve offered for years now and represents the overwhelming majority of devices on the network.”

    Verizon and AT&T are both taking similar measures to retire their older networks. In the race to 5G, spectrum is the most valuable commodity, and retiring older technologies will help the carriers and their customers move forward.

  • Ericsson Predicts 190 Million 5G Users By End of 2020

    Ericsson Predicts 190 Million 5G Users By End of 2020

    Ericsson has released the June 2020 installment of its Ericsson Mobility Report, and it contains good news for the 5G industry.

    According to the report, Ericsson has increased its estimates for 5G adoption, thanks in large part to China, expecting some 190 million 5G subscriptions by the end of 2020. This is despite slower adoption in both North America and Europe. In fact, Ericsson is projecting that North American and European 5G subscriber growth for 2020 and 2021 will be less than originally anticipated, although the long-term 2025 target is still on track.

    This would indicate that once 5G adoption begins in earnest, it will rapidly pick up speed. Similarly, Ericsson believes that nearly half, or 45%, of mobile data will be handled by 5G networks by 2025.

    Overall, the speed of 5G adoption is far outpacing LTE, thanks to China’s fast adoption and multiple vendors releasing 5G-compatible devices.

    Interestingly, as ubiquitous as LTE has become, its days are clearly numbered. Ericsson believes the number of LTE subscribers will peak in 2022, then begin to decline as 5G becomes dominant.

    The entire report is over 30 pages and well worth a read, shining light on a number of trends within the wireless industry.

  • T-Mobile Hits 5G Milestone With 50-State Coverage

    T-Mobile Hits 5G Milestone With 50-State Coverage

    T-Mobile has added another feather to its 5G cap with coverage in all 50 states, thanks to a roaming deal in Alaska.

    T-Mobile has struck a deal with GCI to allow T-Mobile customers to roam on the company’s 5G network while in the Anchorage, Alaska area. In turn, GCI customers are able to roam on T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network.

    “The massive nationwide 5G network we’re building and expanding by the day – paired with important partnerships like this – extend our 5G leadership over the competition and deliver meaningful 5G experiences to our customers,” said Neville Ray, president of technology at T-Mobile. “Now, our customers with 5G devices can keep 5G service when in Alaska. And to GCI customers, welcome to nationwide 5G!”

    “GCI and T-Mobile have a long history of ‘firsts’ together,” said GCI President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Chapados. “GCI and T-Mobile launched the nation’s first LTE roaming partnership in 2014 and were the first providers to partner together to deliver voice over LTE service. Today’s partnership marks another first and a tremendous milestone! GCI congratulates the T-Mobile team on being the first wireless provider to offer 5G service in all 50 states. The partnership is a win for both companies and for GCI customers who will be able to access 5G service on the nation’s largest 5G network.”

    The move is a nice bragging point for the magenta carrier, making it the only one to offer 5G service in all 50 states. The deal is an even better one for GCI, as its customers gain access to T-Mobile’s 5G network throughout the country.

  • T-Mobile Achieves Several Standalone 5G Milestones

    T-Mobile Achieves Several Standalone 5G Milestones

    T-Mobile has announced several important milestones in its standalone (SA) 5G rollout.

    5G networks are currently built on non-standalone (NSA) technology, meaning that the backbone is based on the 4G LTE core, giving compatible devices the ability to connect to with 5G and LTE simultaneously. While still faster than straight LTE, NSA 5G can’t match the potential of an SA 5G network, where all the components are based on the newer tech.

    According to T-Mobile, the company has successfully completed a number of significant steps involving SA 5G testing, including the first data session using multi-vendor modems, the first “voice call using Evolved Packet System (EPS) fallback to VoLTE,” and the first low-band voice calls (VoNR) and video calls (ViNR) over production networks. ViNR is particularly significant, as it allows native, high-quality video calls without an app.

    “Powerful and reliable wireless networks are more important than ever, and these milestones mark a huge step forward for the entire wireless ecosystem,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “Standalone 5G, paired with the broad and deep network we’re building by combining the assets of T-Mobile and Sprint, will accelerate 5G adoption and services and transform wireless!”

    T-Mobile is wasting no time moving forward in their 5G rollout following their merger with Sprint. These latest announcements will pave the way for significant improvements for customers of the magenta network.

  • T-Mobile Rolling Out Sprint’s Spectrum to Improve Network

    T-Mobile Rolling Out Sprint’s Spectrum to Improve Network

    On the heels of its merger with Sprint, T-Mobile is wasting no time putting the former company’s spectrum to use improving its own network.

    With carriers around the world pushing to deploy 5G networks, T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint puts it in an enviable spot moving forward. 5G comes in three flavors: low-band, mid-band and high-band, or mmWave. mmWave offers gigabit speeds, but has extremely limited range and penetration, while low-band offers excellent range and penetration, but only marginally better speeds than 4G LTE.

    Mid-range spectrum is considered the sweet spot, offering a compromise between fast speeds and good coverage. Sprint had a wealth of mid-range spectrum, and T-Mobile is already putting it to good use. The company had previously announced the rollout of 2.5Ghz 5G in Philadelphia, using Sprint’s spectrum, and now it is going even further.

    According to the company’s website, T-Mobile is bringing low, mid and high-band 5G to New York City. It is also bringing its low-band 5G to Detroit, St. Louis and Columbus. At the same time, Sprint customers are now able to roam on T-Mobile’s network, doubling the amount of LTE sites Sprint customers can access.

    The announcements are welcome news to T-Mobile and Sprint subscribers and reaffirm that the New T-Mobile is the carrier to beat.