T-Mobile Boasts 5G Coverage in All 50 States

[ghost]

T-Mobile Boasts 5G Coverage in All 50 States

A partnership with Alaska-based carrier GCI pushed T-Mobile across the finish line.

 

(Photo by Artur Debat/Moment/Getty Images)

 

 

T-Mobile this week became the first wireless provider to offer 5G coverage in all 50 U.S. states, thanks to a partnership with regional network GCI. Uncarrier customers with compatible smartphones can now tap into 5G while roaming in Anchorage, Ala.

 

"The massive nationwide 5G network we're building and expanding by the day—paired with important partnerships like this—extend our 5G leadership over the competition and deliver meaningful 5G experiences to our customers," Neville Ray, president of technology at T-Mobile, said in a statement. "Now, our customers with 5G devices can keep 5G service when in Alaska."

 

Local internet, TV, and wireless provider GCI launched the state's first 5G service on April 17 in Anchorage, which will serve as a model for continued development. Future GCI 5G opportunities include capital Juneau, Fairbanks, and "other fiber-served communities." The firm, according to CNET, uses a combination of low- and mid-band spectrum to offer 5G download speeds—which the company claims are "five times faster" than 4G LTE.

 

"GCI and T-Mobile have a long history of 'firsts' together," according to GCI President and COO Greg Chapados, who cited their work to launch the country's first LTE roaming partnership in 2014 and deliver voice-over-LTE service. "Today's partnership marks another first and a tremendous milestone," Chapados continued. "The partnership is a win for both companies and for GCI customers who will be able to access 5G service on the nation's largest 5G network."

 

Since merging with Sprint late last month, T-Mobile has begun repurposing the telecom's 5G airwaves, reportedly making better use of the spectrum than Sprint did, Ookla Speedtest said: While Sprint showed 367Mbps downloads using 40MHz of spectrum, T-Mobile transmits 514Mbps on the same airwaves.

 

RELATED

• T-Mobile Enhances 5G Band Support for OnePlus 8
• T-Mobile Busts Gigabit Barrier With Mid-Band New York City 5G
• T-Mobile Donates 500K Face Masks to Frontline Workers For #GivingTuesdayNow

 

Competitor US Cellular—now the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the United States—launched 5G in March, primarily in parts of Iowa and Wisconsin, only for Samsung Galaxy S20-series phones, and with speeds similar to 4G. But that could soon change with a push from incoming CEO Laurent Therivel, who is set on finally releasing the 5G home access product US Cellular promised last year.

 

PCMag