T-Mobile has significantly expanded the availability of LTE service on its 600 MHz (Band 71) spectrum around the country.
The Un-carrier debuted its 600 MHz service in Cheyenne, Wyo., last August. Since then, T-Mobile has lit up LTE on 600 MHz in 586 cities and towns around the country, including 156 new markets over the last few days. T-Mobile did not share the names of these new markets, though it had previously said it would first target rural markets with its 600 MHz spectrum.
Few devices are able to use Band 71 just yet. One example is the LG V30 smartphone. T-Mobile plans to launch more than a dozen new 600 MHz capable smartphones this year, ranging from entry-level to flagship devices. In terms of T-Mobile’s total coverage, the company now claims to provide access to 322 million people, up from 315 million last year.
T-Mobile now covers 99% as many Americans as Verizon Wireless. T-Mobile plans to deploy some 5G service on its 600 MHz spectrum, where is has 31 MHz across much of the country, as soon as 2020.
Plus, T-Mobile said it closed its agreement to purchase the remaining interest of Iowa Wireless from Aureon on January 2. This will give T-Mobile more coverage in Iowa and western Illinois.
