T-Mobile announces plans for 5G network using radio waves purchased in government auction

T-Mobile, the third-largest telecom carrier in the US yesterday unveiled plans to build its next-generation wireless network using radio airwaves it had just acquired in a government auction.

The focus for its 5G network would not necessarily be speed, but broader coverage across the country.

According to commentators, the move was surprising as the airwaves operated on a lower band, which was great for covering long distances but did not offer tremendous speeds.

The move went against the conventional thinking about 5G, which had created excitement due to its ability to give users a supersonic connection to the network. Rather T-Mobile was stressing a better signal everywhere and the ability to manage multiple devices beyond the phone.

"There's a certain irony in T-Mobile taking an approach which could see it lead in coverage but lag in speed over time, given that it has until now been known for the opposite - a fast but far from ubiquitous network," said Jan Dawson, an analyst at Jackdaw Research, CNET reported.

Under the plan, T-Mobile would secure the pole position in 5G deployment, with the company able to claim the first nationwide 5G network. According to commentators, with most people having signed up for a wireless plan, the carriers were racing to offer 5G in a bid to get users excited about their services again.

Meanwhile T-Mobile CEO, John Legere yesterday put up a video about his company's plans for 5G.

Android Police had reported T-Mobile's recent purchase of whole swaths of the 600MHz spectrum, and in the video Legere announced exactly how T-Mobile planned on using it.

It would partly be used to expand current 4G LTE capacity and penetration, but a portion will be set aside for the company's future 5G implementation.

T-Mobile's 5G will not be re-badged LTE, nor will it be a short-range 5G implementation like AT&T had discussed, it will be the real thing.