Tag: Sprint

Why is T-Mobile Shutting Down LTE and 3G Networks?

As of a few days ago (June 30th), Sprint’s LTE network was finally retired by its new owner, T-Mobile. Sprint’s 3G CDMA network was shut down earlier this year, so this is just the next part of their Network Evolution process. Along with this retirement comes the shut down of T-Mobile’s own 3G UMTS network (July 1st). 

While it may come as a surprise to some, T-Mobile has actually kept Sprint’s networks in play since they officially took over in April 2020. Now that the 5G rollout is in full force, they need to repurpose these old networks for 5G spectrum.

If you happen to still be using a phone running on Sprint LTE or T-Mobile’s 3G, it’s likely you’ve already encountered problems with your service. No worries, T-Mobile will help you to get a 5G phone. The company says customers were informed with more than enough time to make the switch. Customers were also notified of a free offer on a replacement 5G device. 

On the note of retirement, T-Mobile’s 2G GSM network is still operational. The company plans to retire it, but does not have a set date at this time.

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What is the Latest on the T-Mobile and Sprint Network Shutdowns?

Since the Sprint and T-Mobile merged in April 2020, T-Mobile has been hard at work to combine assets with Sprint to provide nationwide 5G service. As more coverage gets rolled out to major cities as well as small towns, older technology must be phased out. T-Mobile is providing time and assistance to all its customers before they shut down both theirs and Sprint’s 3G services, as well as Sprint’s LTE network later this year. 

Here’s the statement T-Mobile sent out to its customers:

Dear Customer,

This is a reminder that your customers may have one or more lines of service that will be impacted when we retire the Sprint LTE network on June 30, 2022. As part of our ongoing efforts to create a supercharged network, we’re retiring the Sprint LTE network to free up spectrum and resources that will help us strengthen our entire network and move all customers to more advanced technologies like 5G.

Please take action now to avoid any interruption to your customers wireless services on June 30, 2022 and make the move to take advantage of T-Mobile’s bigger, better 4G & 5G networks, including the largest and fastest nationwide 5G network. We have affordable device and equipment options for your customers to consider.

Some devices are not compatible with the T-Mobile network and must be upgraded or replaced before June 30, 2022 to be able to access the T-Mobile network to continue using service, including the ability to make 911 calls depending on your customers location.

If you have questions about what this network announcement means to your business or to review options today to upgrade your customers devices, please reach out to your T-Mobile Dedicated Care Expert if applicable, or T-Mobile for Business Care at 800-375-1126.

For additional information:

https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/t-mobile-network-evolution

We understand the importance of being able to plan for these network changes and we are committed to keeping you informed with up-to-date information.

Thank you for being a T-Mobile for Business Partner.

Sincerely,

Your Partner Program Team

Thank you for being a T-Mobile Partner.

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Did T-Mobile Delay the Sprint 3G Network Shut Down?

Good news for Sprint customers that are still relying on 3G services comes from T-Mobile today. The 3G shutdown was actually scheduled for today, but it has since been pushed back to May 31, 2022. This comes after a delay they set back in January, when they said they would extend it for “partners.”

Only time can tell what the end result will be as according to SoftBank’s website, there’s a strong possibility of a third delay. Per the iPhone global services guide, the site says “there is a possibility that the date of May 31 will be rescheduled in the future”. 

Claims from another source say that even though the shutdown date has been moved to May 31, the shutdown will still begin on March 31. Lines using 3G CDMA service will be disabled and rerouted to customer care. 

T-Mobile is not stopping at CDMA however. The carrier also has plans to end its own 3G UMTS network by July 1st of this year. The original shutdown date was as far back as October 1st, 2021, so we will again wait and see what happens! 

Surprisingly, T-Mobile’s 2G GSM network is still operating, but is also planned to be shut down. No date has been determined at this time.

Other news surrounding Sprint say the LTE network is set to be shut down on June 30th of this year.

And what about Verizon and AT&T? Verizon recently announced it would shut down its 3G network on December 31, 2022. Since this was already delayed back in 2019, the carrier states it will not delay this shutdown again. AT&T’s 3G network was shut down just last month.

In regards to the shutdown, a spokesperson from T-Mobile reached out to 9to5Mac with the following statement:

“We are proceeding as planned with the orderly shutdown of our CDMA network beginning on March 31. As part of our shutdown process, we are migrating customers in some areas over the following 60 days to ensure they are supported and not left without connectivity, and the network will be completely turned off by no later than May 31. This is a normal network transition process. We look forward to sunsetting this outdated technology so every customer will have access to the best connectivity and best experience in wireless.“

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When Will Sprint’s 3G Network Shut Down?

AT&T’s 3G network was the first of the carriers’ to be shut down. Next on the list is Sprint. Since its merger with T-Mobile in April 2020, this network is currently controlled by T-Mobile. The sunset of the Sprint 3G (CDMA) network is part of T-Mobile’s network evolution plan to make LTE and 5G services available to more users nationwide. 

Here’s the alert that was sent to customers just recently:

–

Dear Customer,

On March 31, 2022, Sprint’s older 3G (CDMA) network will be retired. Customers still using a device that is dependent on Sprint’s 3G (CDMA) network or that does not support VoLTE will need to upgrade to a more modern device to continue getting service, including the ability to make 911 calls depending on your location.

Some device models that will need to be upgraded include:

  • Devices (handsets, IoT/M2M, tablets and air cards) that operate solely on the Sprint CDMA Network
  • Devices that operate using dual mode CDMA/LTE or LTE technologies that do not support Voice over LTE (“VoLTE”)

For additional information, see here.

We understand the importance of being able to plan for these network changes and we are committed to keeping you informed with up-to-date information.

Thank you for being a T-Mobile for Business Partner.

Sincerely,

Your Partner Program Team

–

It’s also important to note that as of June 30, 2022 Sprint’s LTE network will be retired. Starting the next day on July 1, 2022, T-Mobile’s older 3G UMTS network will be retired.

T-Mobile also shared that they plan on retiring their older GSM 2G network, however no date has been set. 

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T-Mobile Wins Big in New Ookla Performance Study

T-Mobile is boasting about its 5G service again, with an announcement that it came out on top in a new Ookla study. This measured things like 5G speed, performance and availability. In the announcement, they added that it would be moving forward with turning on its 5G carrier aggregation (CA), both with 2.5 GHz and 2.5 Ghz combined with 600 MHz. 

Ookla’s nationwide network performance analysis had T-Mobile at the top of all 6 categories. These include: fastest provider, latency, consistency, 5G performance, 5G availability and 5G consistency. Considering the 5G coverage T-Mobile has had in place compared to its competitors, it’s not much surprise they ruled here. This is in part thanks to their ability to rollout coverage on mid-band spectrum that isn’t causing interference risks like the C-Band is for AT&T and Verizon. 

According to an article from FierceWireless, the mid-band spectrum they are using (2.5 GHz), which was acquired from Sprint, provides about 40% faster speeds. Currently, download speeds are running at a top average speed of 187 Mbps nationwide. According to T-Mobile, this is faster than most home WiFi connections, two times faster than Verizon 5G and over 2.5 times faster than AT&T 5G. More importantly, customers were more likely to connect to 5G than Verizon or AT&T customers. Again, this could simply be due to the delays both carriers have experienced with their 5G rollouts. 

With regards to the 5G carrier aggregation, this combines two channels of 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum for greater speed and capacity. It’s much like bonding in this case, but happens within the one carrier’s network. This should allow for less congestion as there will be more service to go around. 

5G standards set the maximum bandwidth for a sub-6 GHz 5G channel at 100 MHz of spectrum. That is a lot of capacity, but with 5G CA, the operator is able to provide customers with more than 100 MHz of 2.5 GHz Ultra Capacity 5G spectrum, starting with 120 MHz in many places. So, customers in those areas will see a significant boost in speed and performance.

According to T-Mobile, tests have been completed that show 2.5 GHz 5G CA can improve speeds by about 20%. Also, devices reach speeds greater than 100 Mbps twice as often as those without 5G carrier aggregation. In addition, T-Mobile noted that it’s expanded NR CA with 2.5 GHz and 600 MHz to cities across the country.

“These capabilities are live across much of T-Mobile’s network today for customers with the Samsung Galaxy S21 and another popular flagship device, becoming more broadly available – with additional devices – in the coming months,” said a T-Mobile representative.

T-Mobile also highlighted results of record-breaking 5G upload speeds with 5G Dual Connectivity. The test was done by Ericsson and Qualcomm. They found T-Mobile exceeded 1 Gbps on upload – 1005 Mbps, to be precise – by combining 2.5 GHz spectrum with millimeter wave.

“Today’s wins confirm what over a dozen other studies have found in the last year: T-Mobile 5G is #1 in performance and/or coverage,” said T-Mobile President of Technology Neville Ray in a statement. “Our competitors bet on the wrong spectrum for 5G. Now, they’re years behind and scrambling to catch up. We’ll keep blazing ahead, reaching more and more people with Ultra Capacity 5G and spearheading new technologies. This is what you get when you combine the best damn 5G network with the hardest working team in the industry.”

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T-Mobile To Notify Sprint Customers of 3G Sunset

Customers with Sprint 3G dependent devices will be receiving a letter from T-Mobile stating on January 1, 2022, Sprint’s older 3G (CDMA) network will be retired. If they are still using a device that is dependent on Sprint’s 3G network or that does not support VoLTE, they will need to upgrade to a more modern device no later than the end of 2021 to continue getting service, including the ability to make 911 calls depending on their location.

For additional information on this topic, check out: https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/t-mobile-network-evolution

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5G is on its way to Chicago

A large thick cable that is coiled up laying on the roof of a parking garage in snow will be helping bring the 5G service to Chicago. Telecommunications Contractors will be installing this equipment for Sprints 5G Network. The installation of the 5G equipment will take place throughout Chicago. Equipment will be installed on top of many buildings and structures as Sprint works at bringing 5G. The new generation of 5G will bring lightning fast download speeds and change the way society operates.

The new 5G service will be up to 20 times faster than 4g LTE services, said Jonathan Hart the director of the government affairs from Houston based telecommunications infrastructure company. As other telecommunications experts argue that these speeds are an understatement.

Read more 

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