T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) was the runaway winner in the FCC’s recent 2.5 GHz spectrum auction, as Inside Towers reported. The company bid $304 million for more than 7,000 county-based licenses covering 81 million people primarily in rural areas. This new 2.5 GHz spectrum will enable T-Mobile to expand 5G Ultra Capacity coverage to new communities and significantly increase bandwidth in many places 5G Ultra Capacity already covers. Following issuance of those licenses, T-Mobile says it will immediately begin deploying the new spectrum, boosting 5G Ultra Capacity performance for customers across the country, especially in underserved markets.
With the 2.5 GHz spectrum investment, T-Mobile continues to execute on its long-term strategy to build the highest-capacity, broadest network in the U.S. Execution on that strategy commenced in 2017, when the company unveiled plans for nationwide 5G using 600 MHz, referred to as 5G Extended Range.
That strategy was accelerated in 2018, when T-Mobile announced its planned merger with Sprint which finalized on April 1, 2020. Once that merger was completed, the company gained access to Sprint’s 156 MHz of 2.5 GHz spectrum. Under the 5G Ultra Capacity moniker, this big swath of 2.5 GHz spectrum helped T-Mobile gain a lead in wide area 5G deployments and enhanced its ability to compete with Verizon and AT&T for consumers and businesses across the country.
“We’ve been clear in our mission for years. We’ve supercharged the Un-carrier by building the leading wireless network in America – with leading breadth and depth – and paired it with the best value, backed by the best customer experience from the best team. This additional spectrum only accelerates that mission,” says Mike Sievert, T-Mobile CEO. “We have been laser focused on being the best in wireless, and we’re seeing the results of that focus play out now.”
As an outcome of Auction 108, T-Mobile believes it can now expand 5G Ultra Capacity to deliver even greater performance and connectivity to those in underserved areas, for customers of both its mobile services and broadband connectivity its 5G Home Internet fixed wireless access is offering.
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