The competition is complaining about T-Mobile’s constant hunger for more spectrum،
Since T-Mobile scooped up 31 MHz of 600 MHz low-band spectrum in a 2017 FCC auction, the carrier has gobbled up all kinds of airwaves in an effort to improve its 5G service. Of course, the big purchase was the $26 billion
T Mobile spent to buy Sprint. In a brilliant move that caught Verizon and AT&T napping,
T Mobile obtained a trove of 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum through its purchase of Sprint.
While AT&T and Verizon began developing their 5G networks using the fastest mmWave spectrum, they failed to take into account that mmWave signals, while fast, do not travel far and are easily blocked by trees and structures. However, the high-band characteristics mean that finding and connecting to a mmWave 5G signal is extremely rare. In contrast, low band travels great distances and signals can penetrate buildings and trees. However, low-band waves are not the fastest and downlink data speeds are only 20% faster than 4G LTE.
What
T Mobile recognized is that the middle band was the way to go. Although not as fast as mmwave, mid-band travels longer distances than high-band signals, making them easier to find. And mid-band can deliver 5G downlink speeds six to 10 times faster than 4G LTE. Sure, mmWave signals offer 5G downlink speeds as fast as 10 to 20 times 4G LTE speeds, but what good is that speed if you can’t find mmWave signals to connect to. AT&T and Verizon quickly got the message and spent more than $68 billion to purchase C-band spectrum in the 3.7 GHz-3.98 GHz range, giving them mid-range radio waves.
T-Mobile’s 5G Layer Cake Shows the Importance of Mid-Band Spectrum in the Carrier’s 5G Service
Dish complained to the FCC T Mobilepending purchase of 600 MHz spectrum from Comcast and said, “This transaction threatens wireless competition and involves important public policy questions from the FCC. The Commission should suspend the examination of this transaction, or at least condition it, to compensate for the damage caused to competition and consumers. “.
AT&T wasn’t happy when T Mobile scooped up more 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum in a 2022 FCC auction. The operator spent more than $304 million to secure 7,156 2.5 GHz mid-band licenses in 2,724 counties. This led AT&T to state: “T-Mobile controls a vastly oversized portion of the mid-band spectrum needed to power the 5G revolution. »
The FCC is unlikely to punish
T Mobile since the operator was smart enough to be the first to recognize the importance of mid-band spectrum in providing customers with rapid access And 5G coverage available.
