Curious how far along the Sprint network integration is and if we'll get any update on billing integration.

I imagine they're going to be importing a whole bunch of former Sprint customer data into this.

More info here as well: https://www.rcrwireless.com/20221006/spectrum/t-mobile-us-wants-to-get-a-jump-on-new-2-5-ghz-use

Interesting request.

1 hour ago, bill875 said:

Does anyone know if Unlimited Freedom v24 will eventually see Unlimited In-Flight WiFi with Streaming? 

I haven't heard anything about it. However, it was worth it to us to make the move from Unlimited Freedom to Sprint Max for that along with the new International Roaming benefit and unlimited 4K streaming. The price difference was almost negligible.

2 minutes ago, mmark27 said:

Just your phone number 

You need to have Wi-Fi Calling enabled and also have made at least one phone call over Wi-Fi Calling prior to using the inflight Wi-Fi.

3 hours ago, schmidtj said:

So how do you authenticate? Captive Portal? T-Mobile/Sprint credentials?

j

See this page: https://www.sprint.com/en/support/in-flight-texting-wi-fi.html

Also see the FAQ’s here: https://www.t-mobile.com/benefits/travel/in-flight-wifi

Good news!

This worked really well when I used it on Delta as part of our Sprint Max Plan. I was plugged into the seat power outlet streaming YouTube, checking email and everything.

This is pretty cool:

Deploy a small cell on your property and earn crypto for it. Any takers here? 😀

The Magic Box rides again!

On 9/15/2022 at 5:22 AM, dkyeager said:

The auction 108 winnings should more than offset this change, except the north east quadrant of Cuming County (population 9,000 roughly).

Looking further at the Nebraska counties: In the 2.5Ghz ED auction, it looks like T-Mobile picked up C2 and C3 in Burt, Cuming, Wayne and all 3 (C1, C2, C3) in Antelope, Madison, Pierce, Staton.  Now of course this is just white space.  Looking further at Cuming County, one license for 22.5MHz clips the extreme NE corner of the county https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/licenseMap.jsp?licKey=2586636 (change the map to show 2010 county boundaries).  About the same for Wayne.  The second of two licenses is more interesting and basically seems to follow the boundaries of the Winnebago and Omaha Reservations. It strongly affects the NE quadrant of the county with over 116Mhz. https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/licenseMap.jsp?licKey=4511340

For those not familiar, C1 = 49.5 MHz, C2 = 50.5 MHz, and C3 = 17.5 MHz which is next to BR thus typically valuable to T-Mobile.  BR did not change in this case thus did not matter.  Also note that T-Mobile has been aggressive about buying up ED licenses typically within the year before they expire.

T-Mobile’s Press Release on Auction 108.

3 hours ago, Trip said:

I don't see how it can wrap up this quarter (which I assume ends in two weeks) when there are still heaps of keep sites floating around right now that have yet to be touched, especially but not entirely in the Shentel region.

- Trip

"Substantially" has taken over for "virtually" in corporate-speak I guess. Sievert wanted to lay down that marker at the Conference so they could say they're a year ahead of schedule on decommissioning the Sprint network.

Update on Sprint network integration and decommissioning: https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/t-mobile-ceo-boasts-progress-sprint-integration

On 8/29/2022 at 8:35 PM, RedSpark said:

Coming to Sprint Max?

Got a Text for it today on my Sprint Max Plan main line.

Update: I think they may have messed this up for the Sprint Max Plan people. When I click the link in the Text, it takes me to a "Change Plan" screen. I don't want to change my Plan. When I go to "Change Services" on my account, I also don't see Apple TV+ Listed as a service that I can add. Anyone else experiencing this?

Now that is pretty cool: 

6 hours ago, Paynefanbro said:

T‑Mobile Customers Get Apple TV+ On Us with Magenta MAX

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/magenta-max-apple-tv

Coming to Sprint Max?

From a few days back: https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/deutsche-telekom-aims-50-t-mobile-ownership-2024

DT Chief Executive Timotheus Hoettgas said buying the majority stake in T-Mobile US was the group's most important strategic project at present, according to Reuters. He said that stake should top 50% much sooner than its previous projection of 2024.

Earlier this year, DT paid $2.4 billion to SoftBank Group to increase its stake in T-Mobile US to 48.4%.

I guess we'll see how many takers there are for this: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-04/dish-nears-launch-of-mobile-service-taking-on-at-t-and-verizon

One early drawback to the Boost Infinite service is that, for now, subscribers will need to buy a $900 Motorola Edge+ phone to get connected to Dish’s new network. More phones that are compatible with the system are expected in the third quarter, Dish told analysts Wednesday.

Registration Site: https://www.boostinfinite.com

I remember when Virgin Mobile went iPhone-only: https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/21/virgin-mobile-goes-iphone-only-offers-a-year-of-service-for-1/

That didn't go so well.

22 minutes ago, dkyeager said:

It certainly would help T-Mobile with VoNR (VoLTE) , given that 700MHz always appears over capacity.

That makes sense. I guess we'll see how much Charlie wants to open his wallet. Getting Masa vibes here....

3 hours ago, dkyeager said:

https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tmobile-sprint.pdf

 

see pages 12 and 13.  There may be further deals that are technically public, but we can not easily find.

 

Seems to be that it has now become cheaper for Dish to decline.  If it does so, the AGs in the various states may have a say on it.

Very interesting read. Thanks!

Is this enough 800 MHz spectrum to do anything useful with? Dedicated voice channel?

13 hours ago, Trip said:

I hate articles like this.  It appears to be based on the opinion of some nameless analysts who have about the same qualifications as my cat.  Is there one single fact regarding 800 in the story?  If there is, I don't see it.

- Trip

If Dish doesn't buy it, then what happens to it? T-Mobile gets $72 Million and keeps it on-air with supporting equipment? How would that work with its radio sets?

2 hours ago, dkyeager said:

I think having a forth carrier in urban areas with it picking between the other carriers in rural areas is viable.  Not what they agreed to with the DOJ, but doubt they would be killed off if they don't make that commitment level, especially if our usual historical trends continue and we switch to a republican administration.

You could be right. However, given the bleeding out of customers and high churn we've seen so far, I'm not sure how competitive that fourth carrier is really going to be. I find their current deliberations over 800 MHz hilarious and sad at the same time. We've seen this play out before. It doesn't end well.

29 minutes ago, dkyeager said:

https://www.lightreading.com/open-ran/dish-expected-to-walk-away-from-t-mobiles-800mhz-spectrum/d/d-id/779468?

Why wouldn't Dish try to knock down the price or get other sweeteners?  Won't be over until its over.  Still like band 5 plus band 26 being redone to better fit the 5G era.

I feel like I'm watching a disaster in slow motion all over again.

Dish not interested in selling Boost, at least for now

This isn't going well at all.

Another good read on Dish's progress:

Band 70, VoNR play key role in Dish’s 5G rollout

2 hours ago, dkyeager said:

I view Dish as a beta wireless company even if you ignore Genesis.  They just leave so many loose ends.  At first only new customers could get the price reductions, but only online.  When I signed up for a three month deal (did not trust them for a year) it comes back and tells you the $45 rate is monthly.  You have to trust them that it will be only every 90 days (I eliminated autopay until after 60 days).  Now I was just given the option on another plan that was excluded.  There was no publicity of this change, it just happened.  

Look at 5g.  With AT&T the icon appears to be on all the time, 5g or not.  When using T-Mobile you sometimes get it other times not.  This seems to be related to the sim card interaction with the phone model or maybe being in a market with Genesis.

Talk to stores about anything technical? Russian roulette odds of finding someone knowledgeable IMO.  Now it does appear that they are trying to set up intelligent systems to make up for this.  Telephone was quite friendly and tries to be helpful.  Great potential, but I agree that it sounds like Sprint.

It's like déjà vu all over again.

- Yogi Berra

+4% Churn is a company killer.

Familiar territory..... This isn't going well.

1.1 Million wireless customers lost since August 2020.

Although Dish continues to lose customers, the 210,000 wireless retail net subscribers that Dish lost in 2Q is an improvement over the 343,000 that it lost in Q1 2022 and the 245,000 wireless retail subscribers that it lost in 4Q 2021.

In addition, Dish reported a wireless churn rate of 4.39% for 2Q, which is an improvement over the 4.64% churn rate it reported at the end of Q1 and a decline from the 4.95% it reported in 4Q 2021.

We all know how we got here. 👇