T-Mobile won big at the FCC Incentive Auction!
T-Mobile now has the largest swath of unused low-band spectrum in the country,” said T-Mobile CEO John Legere about the company’s 600 MHz auction winnings.
The company successfully won an average of 31 MHz (ranging between 20 MHz and 50 MHz) of the 70 MHz low-band spectrum auctioned off by TV stations and the FCC. The winnings give T-Mobile 100% coverage of the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
“That is a [big freaking deal] for our customers. This spectrum sets us up to bring the Un-carrier — and real competition — to wireless customers everywhere,” noted Legere.
Further, T-Mobile claims it will put some of the new spectrum (at least 10 MHz) to use later this year. T-Mobile began preparing for the 600 MHz spectrum in 2016, and it already has compatible equipment from Ericsson and Nokia on deck. T-Mobile expects devices with select chipsets from Qualcomm will support the 600 MHz spectrum before the end of 2017.
“Our team has a history of deploying network technologies at record-breaking pace — including the fastest recorded LTE deployment in US history,” remarked T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray. “We’re ready to break records again on 600 MHz.”
T-Mobile didn’t specify which markets might first see access to 600 MHz services, nor did it say what handsets might support the new wireless broadband spectrum.
