T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced multi-year agreements with
Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to support
T-Mobile?s $4 billion 4G network evolution plan,
including network modernization and deployment of long
term evolution (LTE) service in 2013.
As part of the agreements, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens
Networks will provide and install Release 10 capable
equipment at 37,000 cell sites across T-Mobile's 4G
network, beginning in 2012. T-Mobile also expects to be
the first carrier in North America to broadly deploy
antenna integrated radios, enabling accelerated
deployment and reduced site loading.
Last week, T-Mobile secured the AWS spectrum licenses
from AT&T which were agreed to as part of the breakup of
the proposed merger between the two companies. This new
spectrum, in addition to the refarming effort, enables
the launch of LTE in AWS spectrum and up to 20 MHz of
LTE in 75% of the top 25 markets.
As part of the company's network modernization effort,
T-Mobile also plans to launch 4G HSPA+ service in the
1900 MHz band in a large number of markets by the end of
the year. The company's network modernization trials
have shown up to a 33 percent increase in HSPA+ data
speeds as well as improved in-building coverage. Rolling
out 4G HSPA+ services in the 1900 MHz band will also
provide T-Mobile's customers with the ability to use a
broader range of devices, including the iPhone, on
T-Mobile's 4G network.
T-Mobile is commissioning a "4G LTE" network, the same
technology used by Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. for
their high-speed networks.