Source: Andrew Martonik / Android Central
T-Mobile has one of the most ambitious 5G plans of any carrier, and with its purchase of Sprint, T-Mobile has a huge amount of spectrum and a great platform to build a strong 5G network. T-Mobile has already rolled out a nationwide 5G network on its 5G Low Band Extended Band and is adding even more speed and capacity with its Ultra Capacity 5G spectrum. T-Mobile also has mmWave spectrum that has been rolled out in a few cities. This combined network is set to become one of the strongest in the country.
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Do I have 5G coverage on T-Mobile and Sprint?
Most people with T-Mobile 5G coverage today are covered by a low-band network built on its 600MHz n71 spectrum. T-Mobile calling coverage on this extended 5G band. After recovering from broadcast television, Extended Range 5G has enabled T-Mobile to upgrade its existing towers with 5G equipment and provide the same level of coverage people expect from 3G and 4G.
Source: Samuel Contreras / Android Central
T-Mobile says it already covers 308 million people with extended 5G bandwidth, with super capacity available to more than 200 million people. With so many urban and suburban areas now covered by the faster Ultra Capacity network, T-Mobile customers are starting to see dramatically improved speeds. T-Mobile has also upgraded its network to 5G standalone, which means your phone doesn’t need to connect to LTE and then connect to 5G.
The best way to find out if you are covered is to look at T-Mobile’s coverage map. T-Mobile also shows where Ultra Capacity 5G is located on its card so you can get a good idea of what kind of speeds will be available to you.
While our initial testing wasn’t impressive, we’ve since seen improved results in our testing of prepaid T-Mobile options like Ultra Mobile.
T-Mobile is still building a high-speed 5G wave network in a few cities. 5G is being rolled out on the N260 and N261 bands at 39GHz and 28GHz respectively. With some coverage in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland and Atlanta, the number of cities is high compared to other carriers, but actual 5G coverage is still very low. C-band spectrum will also be used over the next couple of years to add some capacity in a few key areas where T-Mobile expects high traffic.
Source: T-Mobile
What phones work with T-Mobile 5G?
T-Mobile phones will be compatible with different networks depending on their software and hardware. For the most part, most of the best Android phones will work with T-Mobile’s 5G. With T-Mobile’s growing 5G coverage and many new phones that support 5G, if you’re buying a new phone, it should have 5G.
To make sure you get the best possible results from the T-Mobile network, make sure that your new phone supports both the n71 band and the n41 band. Most newer 5G phones, including Samsung, Google, and even Apple phones, will support the entire network.
T-Mobile uses the 2.5GHz spectrum it acquired from Sprint to boost its 5G network, and in order to do so, it has phased out Sprint’s 5G network. Sprint customers using the Galaxy S20 got an update that gave them access to the T-Mobile 5G network, but that’s it. Older devices such as the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G or the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G will not receive an update to support T-Mobile’s 5G.
Source: Hayato Huseman / Android Central
All T-Mobile plans come with 5G
All T-Mobile plans have access to the 5G network which is great because some of the best mobile plans you can get with the T-Mobile network. T-Mobile does not distinguish between its networks, so any customer with a compatible phone should be able to access them. It has also spread to T-Mobile Prepaid and MVNOs such as Mint Mobile and Google Fi. T-Mobile has also enabled 5G on all Sprint plans.
Boost Mobile is now owned by Dish and is moving its customers to the new T-Mobile network with the goal of eventually moving all of its customers to its standalone 5G network.
What technology does T-Mobile use for 5G?
Source: Samuel Contreras / Android Central
5G comes in different forms with a variety of outcomes depending on the resources the operator can allocate to it. T-Mobile started with a high-speed 5G network on the 28GHz and 32GHz bands. With this network, T-Mobile is expected to be able to compete with what Verizon and AT&T have done once the network has more time to mature. This high-speed deployment should be capable of very high speeds, but building penetration and coverage are much more limited than we’re used to with 4G.
T-Mobile launched its 600MHz low-bandwidth 5G network in December 2019. Thanks to the new equipment, T-Mobile was also able to upgrade its 4G LTE service on the same tower. AT&T and Verizon have also deployed low-band 5G networks with similar coverage capabilities.
Of course, there’s 2.5GHz from Sprint. We got our first look at Sprint’s 5G, which was a good indication of things to come. T-Mobile has more than 160MHz of 2.5GHz spectrum in the 100 largest markets in the US and has already shut down Sprint’s 5G network and its 5G supercapacity built on the same spectrum covers more than 200 million people.
Source: T-Mobile
On August 4, 2020, T-Mobile launched its standalone 5G network (5G SA). 5G SA can work on its own without having to connect to an older, less efficient LTE network first. Previously, 5G phones required this existing infrastructure to function properly.
Functionally, this is the same network as before with some interesting improvements. According to a T-Mobile announcement, 5G SA improves coverage by 30% because phones no longer need to connect to a mid-range LTE signal that doesn’t reach 5G at 600MHz. While there are still many improvements with 5G that are not independent over LTE speed, the 5G network has been hampered. T-Mobile estimates a 40% improvement in latency thanks to the switch, which should allow instant access to data.
What happens to Sprint 5G customers?
T-Mobile’s purchase of Sprint is complete, and with it great potential. Many people will have flashbacks of past failed mergers, but T-Mobile cites the well-managed Metro PCS integration as a model for this membership. T-Mobile estimates that it will take up to three years to fully integrate the networks. However, Sprint and T-Mobile customers are starting to see new benefits.
Sprint customers can access LTE roaming over the T-Mobile network when the Sprint signal is weak. In addition, Sprint customers with the Galaxy S20 can now connect to T-Mobile’s 5G network, including the 600 MHz 5G low-band network as well as the 2.5 GHz 5G network. Sprint customers looking for 5G can upgrade to a T-Mobile SIM card if they have a compatible phone or are willing to upgrade.
Is T-Mobile 5G worth it?
At T-Mobile, it comes down to whether you want the phone because there is no current separation of plans. Most of the new phones you can buy from T-Mobile support 5G, so most new T-Mobile customers and existing upgraded customers will be using the network. If you’re looking for a good reason to upgrade your phone, 5G isn’t, but it’s a nice bonus when you’re upgrading.
While 4G LTE will continue to be too fast for most people for a few years, everyone will eventually switch to 5G. However, speed improvements have remained steady, and T-Mobile has met its coverage goals throughout 2021, so if you’ve been waiting for the 5G network to mature before getting online, now is the time.
What is 5G for good?
5G for Good is an initiative to use the power of 5G to help society. While some people have accused T-Mobile of making a show of government power by agreeing to its merger with Sprint, it’s good to see the technology’s positive impact on the world.
It’s worth noting that all expectations here are based on ongoing consolidation, and T-Mobile likely wouldn’t be able to do that without the extra spectrum from Sprint.
Connected Heroes Initiative
The Connecting Heroes Initiative is a program that aims to provide free access to 5G networks to first responders in America. This includes public and nonprofit law enforcement agencies, firefighting agencies and emergency medical services. First come, first served to those who sign up, so if you want your agency to connect to 5G, sign up ASAP.
10 million . project
It has been proven that children who do not have access to the Internet are less likely to receive an education as good as those who do. Of course, this is also related to income inequality.
The 10 Million Project aims to eliminate the homework gap caused by millions of children who do not have access to the Internet to do their homework. The project aims to bring free service, wireless hotspots, and low-cost devices to 10 million homes over the next five years.
T-Mobile connection
T-Mobile connect is simply a low cost phone plan with 5G access. Plans are $15 per month for unlimited calls and texts with 2.5GB of high-speed data. There’s also a $25 per month plan with 5.5GB of data. Interestingly, the plan is expected to grow with its use by increasing the data allowed by 500MB per year for five years. It’s by no means a huge amount, but it can be a lifeline for a low-income family.
These plans are already available on T-Mobile prepaid.
The next big thing in communication
5G: Everything you need to know
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