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Tag: Magenta MAX

  • T-Mobile’s Magenta MAX 5G Users Are Using Less WiFi

    T-Mobile’s Magenta MAX 5G Users Are Using Less WiFi

    Users of T-Mobile’s high-end Magenta MAX plans are using less WiFi, in favor of 5G.

    5G has long been touted as a revolutionary upgrade to cellular networks, one that would provide the speed and bandwidth to replace traditional internet. T-Mobile’s customers seem to be supporting that theory, so much so that Light Reading’s Mike Dano declared that “5G is winning the war against Wi-Fi.”

    Much of the reason for T-Mobile’s MAX customers choosing 5G over WiFi is because that plan provides truly unlimited data, with no speed throttling after a set amount of data has been used. Combined with T-Mobile’s rollout of its mid-band spectrum, considered the sweet spot for 5G, the company clearly has a winning combination. According to the company, that has led to users not only using WiFi less, but also providing hotspot access to others.

    Today, 13% fewer MAX users are connecting to WiFi, 80% more are hosting a WiFi hotspot and their hotspot usage is up 20% on average during the weekends. These hotspots are cooking, with MAX users consuming 3X more hotspot data per month compared to other T-Mobile customers.

    T-Mobile’s data is an interesting chapter in the 5G rollout, and shows the wireless technology is finally starting to live up to the expectation.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • T-Mobile Rolling Out Magenta MAX Plan, Unlimited 5G

    T-Mobile Rolling Out Magenta MAX Plan, Unlimited 5G

    T-Mobile is upping the ante with its latest Magenta plan, Magenta MAX, featuring unlimited 4G and 5G with no throttling.

    T-Mobile is currently the leader in the US 5G race. The company has a wealth of 5G spectrum, thanks to its merger with Sprint, and it has been using that spectrum to take a commanding lead over its rivals. The company has unveiled a new plan designed to take full advantage of its 5G network: Magenta MAX.

    Magenta MAX takes the place of the existing Magenta Plus plan, bringing many of the same upgrades over the basic Magenta option. The MAX plan, however, also includes a number of major improvements over its predecessor.

    Magenta vs Magenta MAX
    Magenta vs Magenta MAX

    One of the biggest improvements is the removal of any throttling. While all carriers provide unlimited data, they do reserve the right to throttle speeds once a certain threshold is crossed. In T-Mobile’s case, that threshold has been 50 GB. If a line uses more than 50 GB of data in one month, and is currently on a congested tower, T-Mobile reserves the right to throttle that line’s data speeds.

    With the MAX plan, however, that throttling limit is completely removed. In addition, even the base Magenta plan sees its throttling threshold go from 50 GB to 100 GB. The new limits, or lack thereof with the MAX plan, apply to both 4G and 5G data.

    The MAX plan also includes 40 GB of hotspot data, up from the 20 GB the Magenta Plus plan, or the 5 GB of the new base Magenta option. The plan also includes unlimited Gogo in-flight texting and WiFi, 2x international data speeds in 210 countries, Scam Shield Premium, Netflix Basic on a single line and Netflix Standard on a family plan. Max also includes unlimited UHD streaming, with up to 4K UHD resolution.

    The new plan normally comes in at $57/mo for three lines with autopay active but, for a limited time, T-Mobile is offering it for $47/mo. As usual, that includes taxes and fees. The plan will be available starting February 24.

    “We just joined forces with Sprint, and we’re already America’s 5G coverage and speed leader. Magenta MAX is just a first taste of what our network capacity allows us to do!” said T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. “When you’re a heavy data user with a super-fast 5G smartphone, you don’t want to be hit with speed bumps. It’s like having a Ferrari and being forced to drive it in the school zone. Well, now it’s time to open ‘er up on the wide open magenta road! And we are just getting started. Buckle up!”