My team and I are singularly focused on building the best possible network for our customers, and today we took another important step in that journey.
Just last year, we deployed a nationwide 4G LTE network at a pace unprecedented in the U.S. wireless industry – going from zero to nationwide LTE coverage between March and September 2013. And, based on millions of speed tests by real customers using Ookla's Speedtest.net app on their own devices, T-Mobile continues to deliver the fastest nationwide 4G LTE network experience.
Now, we’re going to expand what is already America’s fastest nationwide 4G LTE network.
In the wireless world, spectrum is the essential element. Every call, text and byte of data relies on spectrum. And low-band spectrum – below 1 GHz – is the super-spectrum that delivers the greatest reliability and reach.
As of today, T-Mobile has closed the deal we announced in January to acquire low-band 700 MHz A-Block spectrum. This will allow us to improve coverage and reliability for 158 million Americans in 9 of the top 10 and 21 of the top 30 metro areas across the nation with 4G LTE – in addition to the nationwide LTE footprint we already have. Some of the major metro areas to be covered will include New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Washington D.C., and Detroit.
Deploying 4G LTE in 700 MHz will be fantastic news for T-Mobile customers. And we already have plans in motion to roll out service quickly. We anticipate customers will begin reaping the benefits as early as the end of this year. Which is wicked fast. But that’s the Un-carrier for you.
Customers in these areas will be able to experience for themselves how these airwaves travels further for even better network access in more locations and penetrates more effectively into homes and offices for even faster, more reliable in-building coverage.
We’ve been rocking the wireless industry with the breakneck speed of our network advances the same way we’ve been shaking things up with other Un-carrier moves you may have heard about — like eliminating annual service contracts and overages, abolishing the upgrade wait and un-leashing tablets. And did I mention we made the world your network in more than 100 countries – at no extra cost?
Last month we announced a major new program to upgrade our 2G/EDGE network with 4G LTE. Launching LTE in both our new 700 MHz spectrum as well as 1900 MHz is how we’ll get there. The upgrade will provide customers who currently experience 2G/EDGE coverage, many in rural areas, new access to 4G LTE, and many already covered by 4G LTE will enjoy access to 4G LTE in even more places!
We’ve already enhanced our LTE by deploying 10+10 MHz 4G LTE in 43 of the top 50 metro areas, delivering download speeds up to 72 Mbps. Yesterday, we heard that the Sprint Spark network will eventually deliver 60 Mbps. What’s more, last November, we began deployments of Wideband LTE with 15+15 MHz and 20+20 MHz. What that means is that we’re building 4G LTE super-highways that are incredibly fast and wide open – and where you can experience download speeds up to147 Mbps.
And now, with this A-Block deal complete, our new low-band spectrum will be another powerful addition to our ambitious network plans, substantially improving in-building 4G LTE coverage as well as expanding coverage beyond major population centers.
Of course, we’ll continue innovating and building the best possible network for our customers – and gathering the spectrum resources that’s going to require. And I can’t wait to report back to you on how we’re going to further build out what is already a state-of-the-art, future-proof T-Mobile network. We’re just getting warmed up.
See www.T-Mobile.com for service & coverage details.