Frequency Band |
Band number |
Radio Interface |
Generation |
Status |
Notes |
850 MHz |
5 |
GSM/GPRS/EDGE |
2G |
Roaming |
Not operated by T-Mobile, except for CMA629 in SC after the acquisition of SunCom. Competitor 850 MHz networks are accessible via roaming agreements. |
850 MHz CLR |
5 |
UMTS/HSPA+ |
3G |
Roaming |
Not operated by T-Mobile. After the failed acquisition of T-Mobile USA by AT&T, part of the failed acquisition was a 7-year AT&T 3G roaming agreement. |
1900 MHz |
2 |
GSM/GPRS/EDGE |
2G |
In Service |
Most of this spectrum will be upgraded to 4G/LTE networks in the next two years. [60] (More Details See 4G LTE Upgrade) It is unclear if that means this network will be decommissioned anytime soon, but it is possible. |
1700/2100 MHz AWS |
4 |
UMTS/DC-HSPA 42Mbit/s |
4G[68] |
In Service |
Has marketed 3G HSPA+ as "4G" since 2011. Covers 230 million+ POPs as of March, 2014. [60] |
1900 MHz PCS |
2 |
UMTS/HSPA+ 21Mbit/s |
4G |
In Service/Building out |
HSPA+ 21Mbps on the 1900 band — this is due to the T-Mobile’s 1900MHz not being DC-HSDPA capable. Moving 3G HSPA+ traffic to this band.[69] Covers 203 million POPs as of Oct, 2013[70] |
1700/2100 MHz AWS |
4 |
LTE |
4G |
In Service/Building out |
Covers 210 million POPs as of March, 2014[60] |
700 MHz Block A |
12 |
LTE |
4G |
Rollout starts by Q4 2014 [59] |
Spectrum acquired from Verizon Wireless [71] |
1900 MHz PCS |
2 |
LTE |
4G |
Rolling out in 2014 |
[72] |