T-Mobile LTE & Network Discussion V2

[Vince]

Exactly. With the way people's data usage is increasing daily, these upgrades are only a band-aid on a large, open wound.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6

[Ascertion]

I'll go ahead and post this here.

[Arysyn]

I'll go ahead and post this here.

 

That was simply mesmerizing! The only inkling of Sprint in that being the yellow-colored lightning bolts at around 0:21-0:25.

 

Anyways, considering Sprint has the most spectrum, curious that T-Mobile didn't find somewhere to give a more noticeable reference to Sprint, seeing as Sprint has been a supporter of more spectrum set aside for smaller carriers.

 

Of course though, this is representative of how Jon Legere sees himself. Instead of making comic cartoons like this though, he ought to be focusing on preparing for a merger with a company that has spectrum. Sadly, Dish looks like it is that company.

[S4GRU]

Chicagoans will consume the new additional bandwidth quickly. It will be back to the same thing in a few months. The unlimited abusers will make sure of it. http://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/3apjxl/please_just_stop_talking_about_deprioritization/

Using Nexus 6 on Tapatalk

[Arysyn]

Chicagoans will consume the new additional bandwidth quickly. It will be back to the same thing in a few months. The unlimited abusers will make sure of it. http://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/3apjxl/please_just_stop_talking_about_deprioritization/

 

Using Nexus 6 on Tapatalk

It is something I've been concerned about, considering if the 15x15 is going to be enough spectrum to last with workable speeds until next year, which is why T-Mobile needs the spectrum Dish has. With both 15x15 AWS and 15x15 AWS-3, there shouldn't be any concerns of congestion, even with unlimited data. However, that requires a merger between Dish and T-Mobile.

 

The 600mhz option might be enough for T-Mobile without a Dish merger, but T-Mobile would need to acquire at least 15x15 of that, so they'd have 60mhz between that and AWS, again that 60mhz being minimal of what T-Mobile needs for keeping unlimited sustainable here in Chicago. Even better with that extra 30mhz of AWS-3 spectrum Dish has to offer.

 

So, I'm going to have to consider these issues on whether I keep T-Mobile and order the $275 Sony Xperia Z Ultra, which is my device choice for T-Mobile until a possible Dish merger where I'd upgrade to a newer more expensive AWS-3 device, or I get Verizon, where since Verizon didn't get any AWS-3 spectrum, I can go ahead and get the latest Sony Xperia Z4v.

[red_dog007]

Doesn't seem like TMo has a lot of PCS there.  At least for supporting three technologies.  Though maybe TMo is already planning for 5x5 on PCS?

[Arysyn]

Doesn't seem like TMo has a lot of PCS there. At least for supporting three technologies. Though maybe TMo is already planning for 5x5 on PCS?

Interesting you mentioned T-Mobile's PCS. I just finished posting in the Marcelo thread regarding my idea for Sprint to sell its PCS, in order to help pay for a massive densification of its band 41, rather than doing the densifiction to complement the PCS. Realizing how much better band 41 is than PCS, especially as Sprint has much more band 41 than PCS, there really isn't a need to keep PCS, other than for its rural areas where band 41 densification costs are not justified, besides the whole triband concept.

 

Anyways, if Sprint sold its PCS to T-Mobile, for example; in the Chicago Market, if T-Mobile converted PCS to LTE, then T-Mobile would have 15x15 PCS, along with its current 15x15 AWS. This would be enough for T-Mobile's unlimited data to be sustainable for the next few years, granted if they don't double their unlimited data subscribers by then.

 

If T-Mobile were to get that, plus an additional 15x15 either from the 600 mhz auction, or from the AWS-3 spectrum from Dish, they'd be pretty much set. Even better for fun, 30mhz 600, 30mhz AWS, 30mhz PCS, and 30mhz AWS-3. That would make an unlimited data powerhouse!

[Deval]

Anyways, if Sprint sold its PCS to T-Mobile, for example; in the Chicago Market, if T-Mobile converted PCS to LTE, then T-Mobile would have 15x15 PCS, along with its current 15x15 AWS. This would be enough for T-Mobile's unlimited data to be sustainable for the next few years, granted if they don't double their unlimited data subscribers by then.

 

You do realize that Sprint used to be called Sprint PCS and that 1900mhz is their bread and butter. Selling that would be akin to selling the company.

 

I get that you want T-Mobile to succeed, but that just asinine my friend.

[Arysyn]

You do realize that Sprint used to be called Sprint PCS and that 1900mhz is their bread and butter. Selling that would be akin to selling the company.

 

I get that you want T-Mobile to succeed, but that just asinine my friend.

My suggestion for Sprint to sell its PCS spectrum to T-Mobile, while it certainly would help T-Mobile, there are reasons I have in thinking it would help Sprint, which I explain in the Marcelo thread.

 

While I'm well aware of the SprintPCS days, now is a new Sprint where its future isn't its PCS spectrum, it is the band 41 spectrum and the focus of what appears to be a new Sprint. Sure I've been critical of Sprint, but I've also praised them, particularly regarding band 41, which in my experience has been far better than PCS.

 

Besides, its a new focus for Sprint which is seeing many of its old executives of the old Sprint leaving, the latest being CTO Stephen Bye.

[Deval]

My suggestion for Sprint to sell its PCS spectrum to T-Mobile, while it certainly would help T-Mobile, there are reasons I have in thinking it would help Sprint, which I explain in the Marcelo thread.

 

While I'm well aware of the SprintPCS days, now is a new Sprint where its future isn't its PCS spectrum, it is the band 41 spectrum and the focus of what appears to be a new Sprint. Sure I've been critical of Sprint, but I've also praised them, particularly regarding band 41, which in my experience has been far better than PCS.

 

Besides, its a new focus for Sprint which is seeing many of its old executives of the old Sprint leaving, the latest being CTO Stephen Bye.

 

As you may or may not be aware, Sprint's entire network, since 1995, has been designed and spaced for PCS, and all the spectrum has been deployed and optimized for that. Simple things like voice carriers and evdo carriers handing off between sites, channel assignments, etc. The network is a lot more complex and rendering millions of customer devices by selling off the spectrum they ride on.

 

B41 will enable the fastest speeds, but nothing will replace native 1900 PCS coverage and availability. 

 

Also, I will share that I work for Sprint, and know all too well what our focus is.

[Dkoellerwx]

 

While I'm well aware of the SprintPCS days, now is a new Sprint where its future isn't its PCS spectrum, it is the band 41 spectrum and the focus of what appears to be a new Sprint. Sure I've been critical of Sprint, but I've also praised them, particularly regarding band 41, which in my experience has been far better than PCS.

 

 

 

That is pure fantasy, and you know it.

 

Band 41 does not provide voice services. PCS is the basis of Sprint's CDMA network. If we get to a point when most of PCS is re-farmed to LTE, there will still need to be several CDMA carriers to provide voice services..

 

Even when VoLTE is rolled out, it does not provide reliable enough coverage for a solid VoLTE network. You will need PCS AND SMR for a good VoLTE experience. 

[bigsnake49]

Some of us wanted Sprint to boost their mid band spectrum by acquiring Metro and Leap/Cricket and deploy LTE on the AWS spectrum they partnered with the cablecos. I still think they made a big mistake.

Edited June 23, 2015 by bigsnake49

[S4GRU]

Some of us wanted Sprint to boost their mid band spectrum by acquiring Metro and Leap/Cricket and deploy LTE on the AWS spectrum they partnered with the cablecos. I still think they made a big mistake.

 

Yeah, the Sprint Board failing to allow Hesse to buy Metro was one of the biggest wireless blunders of all time.  Sprint having that spectrum now would be golden, and Sprint would greatly benefit for Tmo not to have that spectrum.  And missing out on Leap was just icing on the cake.

 

If Sprint could have wound up with Leap and Metro, they would already be Number 2 in many markets as AT&T and Tmo would not have had nearly as much spectrum to compete in many key markets and keep their performance numbers up.  And if Sprint capitalized on those assets appropriately.  Which really, therein lies the rub.

[Deval]

Back on track/topic though, with T-Mobile now actively repurposing Metro spectrum for LTE, where do they stand on coverage expansion? I know our friends over on Fierce love to discuss how they are going to grow organically, but I'm curious if there have been any confirmations of the fact.

[S4GRU]

Back on track/topic though, with T-Mobile now actively repurposing Metro spectrum for LTE, where do they stand on coverage expansion? I know our friends over on Fierce love to discuss how they are going to grow organically, but I'm curious if there have been any confirmations of the fact.

 

Other than LTE GMO of EDGE sites and B12 extending coverage, I don't know of any, yet.  Although I hear rumors of the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan having work started on expansion.  They are supposed to have LTE expanded to my region before the end of the year.

[Deval]

Other than LTE GMO of EDGE sites and B12 extending coverage, I don't know of any, yet.  Although I hear rumors of the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan having work started on expansion.  They are supposed to have LTE expanded to my region before the end of the year.

 

When you say they are expanding LTE in your region, does that mean T-Mobile does offer native EDGE coverage in some areas, for license protection?

[joshnys8913]

Yeah, the Sprint Board failing to allow Hesse to buy Metro was one of the biggest wireless blunders of all time.  Sprint having that spectrum now would be golden, and Sprint would greatly benefit for Tmo not to have that spectrum.  And missing out on Leap was just icing on the cake.

 

If Sprint could have wound up with Leap and Metro, they would already be Number 2 in many markets as AT&T and Tmo would not have had nearly as much spectrum to compete in many key markets and keep their performance numbers up.  And if Sprint capitalized on those assets appropriately.  Which really, therein lies the rub.

I live in a area where Leap (Cricket CDMA) was but not Metro PCS CDMA, but still the extra spectrum would of been nice. 

[bigsnake49]

They overlapped in a very few areas. Their spectrum and networks were complementary.

[travismheim]

That was simply mesmerizing! The only inkling of Sprint in that being the yellow-colored lightning bolts at around 0:21-0:25.

 

Anyways, considering Sprint has the most spectrum, curious that T-Mobile didn't find somewhere to give a more noticeable reference to Sprint, seeing as Sprint has been a supporter of more spectrum set aside for smaller carriers.

 

Of course though, this is representative of how Jon Legere sees himself. Instead of making comic cartoons like this though, he ought to be focusing on preparing for a merger with a company that has spectrum. Sadly, Dish looks like it is that company.

Sprint only has 14mhz of low band spectrum, which is what the video is about.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Rawvega]

They overlapped in a very few areas. Their spectrum and networks were complementary.

 

Very complementary. Both existed here in Las Vegas, but that was definitely the exception, not the rule. Ideally they would've merged back somewhere between 2008-2010. Then Sprint could've moved to acquire the combined company a bit later. Alas, tis water under the bridge at this point.

[dnicekid]

Interesting you mentioned T-Mobile's PCS. I just finished posting in the Marcelo thread regarding my idea for Sprint to sell its PCS, in order to help pay for a massive densification of its band 41, rather than doing the densifiction to complement the PCS. Realizing how much better band 41 is than PCS, especially as Sprint has much more band 41 than PCS, there really isn't a need to keep PCS, other than for its rural areas where band 41 densification costs are not justified, besides the whole triband concept.

 

Anyways, if Sprint sold its PCS to T-Mobile, for example; in the Chicago Market, if T-Mobile converted PCS to LTE, then T-Mobile would have 15x15 PCS, along with its current 15x15 AWS. This would be enough for T-Mobile's unlimited data to be sustainable for the next few years, granted if they don't double their unlimited data subscribers by then.

 

If T-Mobile were to get that, plus an additional 15x15 either from the 600 mhz auction, or from the AWS-3 spectrum from Dish, they'd be pretty much set. Even better for fun, 30mhz 600, 30mhz AWS, 30mhz PCS, and 30mhz AWS-3. That would make an unlimited data powerhouse!

Why would sprint want to help Tmo? What benefits would sprint get?? Some $$$ a 5x5 isn't gonna generate that much money. If sprint finds itself in need of cash it can just ask masa...

Yes it would be great for Tmo but stupid for sprint

[S4GRU]

When you say they are expanding LTE in your region, does that mean T-Mobile does offer native EDGE coverage in some areas, for license protection?

 

No.  Tmo does not offer service in my area.  They roam.  All new organic network expansion planned.  They just recently purchased 700-A Block here.

[Arysyn]

Why would sprint want to help Tmo? What benefits would sprint get?? Some $$$ a 5x5 isn't gonna generate that much money. If sprint finds itself in need of cash it can just ask masa...

Yes it would be great for Tmo but stupid for sprint

T-Mobile might be willing to purchase it for a good price, if they don't end up being able to purchase the amount of 600mhz spectrum they need.

 

Before people get at me for the differences between 600mhz and 1900mhz spectrum, I know there is quite a difference there and while T-Mobile does need more low band spectrum, they also need more spectrum all around.

 

Also, I've added a note to the Sprint PCS issue in the Marcelo thread, which I'll add here then I'll drop it. I didn't mean for Sprint to sell it until they have their NGN project finished, if they chose to have it running as much on their band 41 as possible. Surely they wouldn't sell all of their PCS spectrum, as that is better used in rural areas where establishing a strong band 41 network is very non cost effective. However, in areas where band 41 covers most everything along with the 800mhz, they wouldn't really need a spectrum band which is more limiting to them, and at that point they could sell it, rather than selling band 41 spectrum the analysts have been saying Sprint needs to do for money.

[Deval]

No.  Tmo does not offer service in my area.  They roam.  All new organic network expansion planned.  They just recently purchased 700-A Block here.

 

Ah interesting, so what happened to their licensed PCS/AWS holdings?

[Deval]

T-Mobile might be willing to purchase it for a good price, if they don't end up being able to purchase the amount of 600mhz spectrum they need.

 

Before people get at me for the differences between 600mhz and 1900mhz spectrum, I know there is quite a difference there and while T-Mobile does need more low band spectrum, they also need more spectrum all around.

 

Also, I've added a note to the Sprint PCS issue in the Marcelo thread, which I'll add here then I'll drop it. I didn't mean for Sprint to sell it until they have their NGN project finished, if they chose to have it running as much on their band 41 as possible. Surely they wouldn't sell all of their PCS spectrum, as that is better used in rural areas where establishing a strong band 41 network is very non cost effective. However, in areas where band 41 covers most everything along with the 800mhz, they wouldn't really need a spectrum band which is more limiting to them, and at that point they could sell it, rather than selling band 41 spectrum the analysts have been saying Sprint needs to do for money.

 

Honestly, the assumption you have that PCS is limited for Sprint is really causing me to scratch my head.

 

For example, Sprint has 15mhz of PCS B block here in NYC, along with 5mhz of G Block. The 15mhz is contiguous, so in theory, combined with the 3 20mhz LTE carriers that Sprint can deploy in the B41 2.5ghz range, they can deploy a 15x15 B25 FDD LTE network combined with the TDD 2.5ghz network and the 5x5 FDD LTE network using B26.