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Looks like T-Mobile could be using that $4 billion they acquired from AT&T to do more than just roll out a super high-speed LTE network. As it turns out, ‘ol Magenta will also be freeing up a vital part of their spectrum that could finally allow for AT&T customers — no longer on contract — to make the easy transition over to T-Mobile with their current AT&T device.
T-Mobile’s CTO Neville Ray spoke during a dinner event for CTIA saying the company plans to convert a good enough portion of its 1900MHz (2G) spectrum to 4G (although, technically 3G HSPA+), followed by an aggressive campaign to woo AT&T customers who have fulfilled their contract obligations. Normally, because of the way T-Mobile’s network is built, AT&T devices can only take advantage of their 2G “Edge” network. Once we hit the later part of this year, it looks like all of that could change. When asked if the upgraded 2G network had more to do with the absent iPhone on their network, Ray played coy.
This means, if you’ve been eyeballing that AT&T HTC One X — or just about any overseas device — come later this year, they’re all fair game. That is, if you’re willing to pay full retail for the device.
It was also announced that T-Mobile would be going with Ericsson and Nokia Simens Networks’ “Release 10” hardware to help roll out their LTE network later this year and into 2013. When it comes to this year, T-Mobile will continue pushing out their blazing fast HSPA+ 42 network to new markets, which starting today include Little Rock AR, Lake Charles LA and Springfield, MO.
[AllThingsD | Engadget]
AWESOME.
Glad to see Magenta STEP UP
Now they just need to announce the Galaxy Note do I can buy it.
Hurry up guys. I’m drooling
Too bad their HSPA+ fauxG doesn’t cover whole markets…just parts of the main city.
T-Mo’s faux G is actually pretty nice where I live (30 minutes outside of LA). Faster than Sprint’s 4G and comparable to Verizon’s LTE…
ITU revised its definition of “4G” to include T-Mobiles HSPA+. By the original ITU definition, everyone has “faux G.” So when you say “technically 3G” in the article, you’re being a bit harsh.
If you really want to get technical, HSPA+ (and WiMAX, and the current form of LTE) is “evolved” 3G, but that can count as 4G, according to the ITU’s broadened definition, though the ITU’s hand was kind of forced on the matter.
As you said, T-Mobile’s 4G is pretty fast, and certainly comparable to Verizon’s LTE in many markets. Where it lacks is with latencies, but I think it makes up for that with its reduced power consumption. I have to say, it’s nice to be able to leave 4G turned on and still have 75% battery left at the end of the day.
Yeah every call company ignored the ITU, so to try to stay relevant they “allowed” carriers to call their networks 4G so long as they were pre-4G technology and faster than the standard 3G networks.
I live in San Diego by the beach and T-mobile’s HSPA+ is nearly on par with Verizon LTE and smashes on Sprint and AT&T. Having said that, I’m on AT&T…. :(
this is bad ass !!
Does that mean T-Mobile is planning to put the LTE Network on their AWS bands? Because according to this Roger’s page the HTC One X supports LTE on the 1700/2100 bands! (Unless I’m reading this wrong.):
http://www.rogers.com/web/link/wirelessBuyFlow?forwardTo=PhoneThenPlan&productType=normal&productId_Detailed=ONEXWHTR&N=52+11
Yup, LTE on aws
I feel as if you should have used t-mo’s updated image instead of last years carly. Just saying.
“We are really behind on rolling out LTE and we don’t get good phones anymore, so let’s shift our network to steal customers from the company we tried to get bought out buy that has a handful of really cool phones.”
Brilliant Move!
I wish that T-Mobile would realize how important battery life is and that most of us would take 6-10Mbs speeds and low battery consumption over LTE. After all if I can stream video then why do I need more bandwidth than that? Be the smart solution and not the hyped solution.
With their HSPA+ network you won’t even need to turn on your LTE. LoL!!
See!? This is why I don’t see how ppL aren’t getting Tmo network. They’re continuously pushing out their network and all. They’re actually trying to reach ppL. And they’re the ONLY company who is actually getting rid of 2G and making it 3G. That’s insane!! So for Tmo it’ll be wherever you go you get 2Mb+ speeds.
Once I see this done, I’ll probably be leaving Sprint. Unless Sprint’s LTE coverage is actually good.
That is great news. Now tmobile customers will be able to import devices from overseas and use 3G/HSPA+ speeds.
Now T mobile needs to get some high end devices and it will be very hard to compete against them
I stuck with At&t just to get an iPhone 4s (I like being unbiased, I also have a Galaxy Nexus with T-Mobile) and hang on to the unlimited plan, which I can’t get any cheaper from At&t. When this pans out, I’m gonna cancel my contract with At&t and have both phones on T-mo. I get consistently better speeds on T-Mobile’s Faux-G over At&t’s Faux-G. This is GOOD. Now for T-Mobile to be the only US carrier to carry the TRUE Galaxy SIII, not the stripped down S4 based Galaxy S 2.5 that Sprint and Verizon seem to be getting.
This goes to Chris Chavez:
Hey Chris, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t T-Mobile Hspa able to use the quad core processors that the LTE three cannot? And furthermore isn’t the quad core Rebranded One X coming Magenta’s way soon?
There is not confirmation on any quad-core variation of One X going to T-Mobile USA though, unless you have a link to prove it.. and I would very much like to see it too.
The current quad-core One X will not work on the T-Mobile USA HSPA+ as of now unless they push the campaign specified in the article above by the end of this year (which enables 1900 MHz to run 3G / HSPA+).