T-Mobile today shared some exciting news for its customers in New York City.
T-Mo says that it's worked with CBS station WLNY-TV in New York City to repack WLNY-TV's 600MHz spectrum, which covers portions of Long Island and the surrounding area that extends into Brooklyn and Queens. The repack has been completed more than a year ahead of the FCC's August 2019 deadline.
What this means is that T-Mobile can now use the broadcaster's 600MHz spectrum for its cellular network. T-Mo expects to begin deploying 600MHz coverage in early 2019, and the carrier says it plans to use 5G-ready gear to help prepare for the future.
T-Mobile has been focusing on deploying 600MHz LTE across the country after spending $8 billion on the spectrum in an FCC auction last year. This 600MHz LTE coverage reaches twice as far and is four times better at penetrating buildings than mid-band LTE. You do need a phone with 600MHz LTE support in order to access this coverage, though. Those devices include the Galaxy S9 and S9+, LG G7 ThinQ, LG V30, LG K30, and Samsung Galaxy J3 Star.
