T-Mobile announced that it has achieved the global first live network 5G data transmission using low-band spectrum in partnership with Nokia, saying it will now be able to "blanket the country with broad 5G in 2020". The trials, which took place in Spokane, Washington, showed that a single cell tower will be able to transmit 5G signals across hundreds of square miles. Using 600MHz spectrum will therefore mean regional areas will also have access to its 5G network, T-Mobile said, as signals reach farther than higher-band frequencies. "The Un-carrier is focused on delivering 5G for everyone everywhere, while the other guys focus on 5G for the few -- reaching just a few people in small areas of a handful of cities," T-Mobile CEO John Legere said. "We're building truly mobile 5G so everyone can benefit from the 5G revolution. And with Sprint, we'll be able to supercharge 5G with incredible capacity and speed." Low-band spectrum is also able to penetrate buildings and is unaffected by line-of-sight issues that plague millimetre-wave (mmWave) 5G deployments. "T-Mobile is the only wireless provider building 5G on multiple spectrum bands, including low-band and millimetre-wave, to ensure the benefits of 5G can reach everyone, and together with Sprint, the New T-Mobile will have critical mid-band spectrum to enable broad AND deep nationwide coverage," T-Mobile added. The carrier's 600MHz extended range 4G LTE is already live in over 1,500 areas across the US and in Puerto Rico. Speaking with ZDNet in September, T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray said the merger with Sprint will mean a faster deployment of 5G across the United States. "The combination of T-Mobile and Sprint can put 5G really on the map in the US marketplace way faster that either company could do on their own, or AT&T and Verizon could do on their own quite frankly," Ray told ZDNet. While T-Mobile is focused on the 600MHz spectrum band, and Sprint is rolling out 5G across its 2.5GHz holdings -- and Verizon and AT&T both focus on mmWave spectrum -- Ray said his company also holds spectrum in the 28GHz and 39GHz mmWave bands. "You can't deliver a broad 5G experience with just millimetre wave; we've talked for much of the last 18 months about a multi-band 5G strategy, so millimetre wave for urban pockets, then mid- and low-band spectrum for everything from faster smartphones services and enhanced mobile broadband to broad coverage for IoT services," he said. "A big part again of the Sprint transaction is this combination of multi-band spectrum assets that allows us to go after the full spectrum of 5G opportunities and use cases." On T-Mobile's $3.5 billion 5G deal with Ericsson in September and its $3.5 billion Nokia 5G deal announced in July, Ray said it shows the carrier is putting its money where its mouth is. "That's all about getting 5G down on top of this 600MHz layer, so the gear we're deploying now is 5G capable, and we'll have the software capability on 5G as we look to the latter part of the year in '19, devices coming on in '19, and so 5G is finally starting to become very real. Our goal and objective is to build nationwide coverage by 2020," he said. The Cisco deal for a virtualised packet core, meanwhile, is aimed at "preparing us for the future and agility on our services and capabilities". With Sprint choosing its 5G markets of Los Angeles, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York City, Phoenix, and Kansas City while T-Mobile targets Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and Dallas, Ray said the carrier will soon announce more of its 30 5G deployment cities. T-Mobile last month announced adding 1.6 million net customers during Q3, with earnings of $795 million on revenue of $10.8 billion, up 8 percent from a year ago. As of September 30, T-Mobile had 77.2 million customers, with its 4G LTE providing coverage to 324 million people. It is targeting coverage of 325 million people by the end of 2018. Quick glossary: 5G technology 5G will be the key to unlocking the full potential of IoT and a host of other technologies. Businesses can get a jump on their competition if they apply the power of 5G to their products and services first.... How 5G technology will change data centers (TechRepublic) The content and telco functionality in data centers will slowly change over the next two years with the addition of 5G. 5G mobile networks: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic) As LTE networks become increasingly saturated, mobile network operators are planning for the 5G future. Here is what business professionals and mobile users need to know about 5G networks. T-Mobile launches T-Mobile One Military and other initiatives for those who served US wireless carriers have discounts for military families and today T-Mobile announced more expansive discounts and several initiatives to support active duty members, veterans, and their families. Sprint chairman: US can't win 5G race without Sprint, T-Mobile merger Marcelo Claure, executive chairman of the board of Sprint Corporation, said the combined company has the spectrum assets and financial strength to move the US ahead in 5G. T-Mobile tops Q3 targets with 1.6 million net customer additions T-Mobile's postpaid churn also came in at 1.02 percent, a record third-quarter low for the company. T-Mobile CTO at MWCA: Sprint merger will accelerate 5G 5G access will arrive faster and be broader under a Sprint-T-Mobile merger, according to CTO Neville Ray, who also said talks with the FCC and Department of Justice have been 'very positive' on the transaction. MWCA: Cisco's 5G play and T-Mobile deal Cisco's upgraded ASR 9000 and IOS XR operating system is aimed at helping carriers prepare their mobile networks for a 5G launch.
T-Mobile tested 5G data transmission in association with Nokia using a low-band 600 MHz spectrum which it said could provide 5G coverage for the whole US by 2020. The company also announced that its 4G LTE network will be upgraded to support LTE-Advanced, and is expected to launch later this year. In addition, unlike millimetre-wave 5G it was not affected by line-of sight issues. The carrier said that together with recent acquisition Sprint it would enable complete nationwide 5G coverage. T-Mobile already offers 4G services through the low-band spectrum in the US and Puerto Rico.