T-Mobile Says It Will Launch Nationwide 5G Network In Three Years (cnet.com)

T-Mobile announced today its plans for launching a "true" nationwide LTE beginning in 2019, with a complete rollout by 2020. From a report: The nation's third-largest carrier on Tuesday unveiled plans to build out its next-generation wireless network using the radio airwaves it just purchased in a government auction. The focus for its 5G network isn't necessarily speed, but instead broader coverage across the country. It's a surprising move given those airwaves operate on a lower band, which is great for covering long distances but won't give you tremendous speeds. The move goes against the conventional thinking about 5G, which has spurred excitement because of its ability to give you a seemingly supersonic connection to the network. Instead, T-Mobile is stressing a better signal everywhere and the ability to manage multiple devices beyond the phone.

Comments

If the 5G standard is ratified by then

[ArhcAngel]

AFAIK 5G still isn't official so building a "true" 5G network would need to wait until we know what one is. It aint even scheduled to be ratified until 2020!

Correction

[Anonymous Coward]

I write about these things for a living. Almost everything in this article is incorrect or misleading.

T-Mobile already has a national 4G LTE network, and will use new 600 MHz spectrum to improve the coverage of that network.

Separately, T-Mobile will build a true 5G network over the next three years. That network will use multiple bands, including some of the new 600 MHz band (it will be shared between 4G and 5G.) By using multiple bands, they can offer coverage and speed with both 4G and 5G networks. They very much intend to offer very high speeds with their 5G network.

T-Mobile Customer 12 Years

[IonOtter]

I've been a customer for 12 years, and I work for their primary competitor. Even with my employee discount, my employer can't coax me over.

But lemme tell you...

Getting 5 miles out of any major metropolitan area, and seeing that little 4G icon vanish? It's annoying. Getting 10 miles outside of an MMA, and seeing no bars at all? It's frustrating.

Being 100 miles into the sticks on a camping trip, and everyone using the competitor network has 5 bars, 4G and is streaming music to the bluetooth speaker?

Yeah. Those are the times I'm tempted to turn to the Dark Side.