T-Mobile announced yesterday that it has launched 600 MHz Extended Range LTE in more than 900 communities across 32 states, including 120 that are getting T-Mobile LTE coverage for the first time. T-Mobile Extended Range LTE provides signals that work better in-building and work over an extend range compared to mid-band LTE, according to the company.
T-Mobile Extended Range LTE
T-Mobile said that it has deployed Extended Range LTE to more than 80% of Americans using spectrum in the 700 MHz band (Band 12). The company also noted that it began deploying the service in the 600 MHz band (Band 71) last year to further expand coverage and capacity. The carrier currently offers six smartphone devices capable of using 600 MHz spectrum, with a dozen more expected this year.
The company also announced that it will bring 600 MHz Extended Range LTE to Puerto Rico this fall as well as 5G-ready equipment to prepare businesses and consumers there for 5G communications.
“After the devastating hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico last year, we saw an opportunity to rebuild the network better than new — to rebuild with 5G-ready gear. We’re laying the foundation for the island to become a technology and innovation hub in the future while adding coverage and capacity with 600 MHz LTE this year,” said Neville Ray, T-Mobile chief technology officer, in a prepared statement. “The team is working at record pace to deploy 600 MHz LTE throughout the country, and we’re already expanding the network and challenging the duopoly in places they’ve never had to compete before.”
T-Mobile has said it can quickly provide 5G capability on a nationwide basis if the proposed merger with Sprint is allowed to go through, as we reported recently. T-Mobile Sprint 5G plans call for using Sprint’s mid-band (2.5 GHz) spectrum, along with T-Mobile’s nationwide low-band (600 MHz) spectrum and “other combined assets.”
