This evening T-Mobile decided to cap off day zero of CTIA 2012 with some big network news. The carrier has announced that it's inked multi-year deals with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to support its $4 billion network evolution plan, which will include "network modernization" and the rollout of LTE coverage in 2013. T-Mobile says that Ericsson and NSN will install new, Release 10 equipment at 37,000 cell sites across Magenta's current 4G network in 2012 that will increase signal quality and bring better performance.
T-Mobile also reiterated its plans to launch HSPA+ service in the 1900MHz band "in a large number of markets by the end of the year." This will bring T-Mobile HSPA+ compatibility with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone, and T-Mo says that trials of the network modernization have shown a 33 percent increase in data speeds and improved in-building coverage.
Finally, the Magenta carrier announced that it's expanded its 4G HSPA+ network, which is now available to over 220 million people in 229 markets. With today's expansion, customers in Little Rock, Ark.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Springfield, Mo. and Madison, Wis. have access to T-Mo 4G coverage. Additionally, users in Fayetteville and Little Rock, Ark.; Lake Charles, La. and Springfield, Mo. should have access to T-Mobile's faster 42Mbps+ coverage using a compatible device, like the HTC One S and Samsung Galaxy S II.
Sound good, T-Mobile folk? It's exciting to hear that T-Mobile is planning to launch 1900MHz HSPA+ service in several cities by the end of this year, as that'll open up the number of devices that customers will be able to using with T-Mo's HSPA+ service. And yes, that includes the iPhone, so even if 2012 isn't the year that Magenta officially launches Apple's handset, customers in a 1900MHz T-Mobile HSPA+ market should be able to use the iPhone with T-Mo's faster network. Until then, it's good to see that T-Mobile is continuing to expand its 42Mbps HSPA+ coverage to more cities across the U.S. If you call one of T-Mo's newly-minted 42Mbps HSPA+ markets home, be sure to try the network out and let us know how it's working for you!
T-Mobile USA Selects Infrastructure Vendors to Support $4 Billion 4G Network Evolution Plan
Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks on Board for Network Modernization and LTE Deployment; America’s Largest 4G Network Continues to Expand to New Markets
New Orleans — May. 7, 2012
2012-05-07 22:09:38
Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced multi-year agreements with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to support T-Mobile’s $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, including network modernization and deployment of long term evolution (LTE) service in 20131.
As part of the agreements, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks will provide and install state of the art, Release 10 capable equipment at 37,000 cell sites across T-Mobile’s 4G network, increasing signal quality and enhancing performance beginning in 2012. T-Mobile also expects to be the first carrier in North America to broadly deploy antenna integrated radios, enabling accelerated deployment and reduced site loading.
Last week, T-Mobile secured the AWS spectrum licenses from AT&T which were agreed to as part of the breakup of the proposed merger between the two companies. This new spectrum, in addition to the refarming effort, enables the launch of LTE in AWS spectrum and up to 20 MHz of LTE in 75% of the top 25 markets.
“We’re making great progress on our four billion dollar 4G network transformation,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. “With these partners on board and the AT&T AWS spectrum secured, we’re on track to enhance our 4G experience this year and deliver nationwide LTE in 2013.”
The company’s timing for LTE allows T-Mobile to take advantage of the latest and most advanced LTE technology infrastructure, improving the overall capacity and performance of its 4G network, while optimizing the company’s spectrum resources. T-Mobile will also apply deep LTE technology experience gained from its parent, Deutsche Telekom, a recognized global leader in LTE development and standardization.
As part of the company’s network modernization effort, T-Mobile also plans to launch 4G HSPA+ service in the 1900 MHz band in a large number of markets by the end of the year. Network modernization trials have shown up to a 33 percent increase in HSPA+ data speeds as well as improved in-building coverage. Rolling out 4G HSPA+ services in the 1900 MHz band will also provide customers with the ability to use a broader range of devices, including the iPhone, on T-Mobile’s 4G network.
T-Mobile also announced that its nationwide HSPA+ network has expanded to deliver a competitive 4G experience to well over 220 million people in 229 markets. In addition to an expanding 4G footprint, the 4G experience T-Mobile provides is pervasive among its customer base.
“In contrast to our competitors, nearly half of T-Mobile’s postpaid smartphone customers are using a 4G device,” said Ray. “Not only are we delivering a fast 4G experience to a higher percentage of our customers, we’re also making it more affordable to step up to 4G. Whether you’re purchasing one of our latest 4G superphones – or bringing your own device, you can get better value with T-Mobile.”
Beginning today, customers in Little Rock, Ark.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Springfield, Mo. and Madison, Wis. can experience the fast speeds available on America’s Largest 4G Network. Customers in Fayetteville and Little Rock, Ark.; Lake Charles, La. and Springfield, Mo. can experience the faster speeds offered by our HSPA+ 42 network with devices such as the recently launched HTC One™ S. Current customers are experiencing average speeds approaching 8 Mbps with peaks up to 22 Mbps using T-Mobile’s HTC One S.
