A look at the T-Mobile/MetroPCS combined spectrum and coverage area
In case you missed it, this morning Deutsche Telekom completed an arrangement that will see the merger of their US branch of T-Mobile with MetroPCS. While the financial and business details have been covered, here’s a look at how the merger will expand coverage area and wireless spectrum holdings for the new venture. As you can see from the above map showing combined coverage area, the two networks overlap in the majority of shared markets.
The real gains come in spectrum, which includes AWS and LTE, as can be seen in the maps detailing each network before (below) and after (above) the merger. The strength of MetroCPS coverage in the Northeast could be used to balance T-Mobile’s weaknesses in the same region. Regardless, the two networks operate on different standards, with the CDMA network of MetroPCS eventually shutting down with spectrum repurposed for T-Mobile’s GSM operations. The two companies expect to complete the deal by mid-2013.
