T-Mobile Boosts 5G Service with Spectrum Swap

T-Mobile has been making strategic moves to enhance its 5G service after acquiring Sprint and dominating the FCC’s Auction 108 for mid-band spectrum in 2022. The company is now looking to further strengthen its spectrum portfolio through a proposed swap with SoniqWave Network, a startup specializing in private wireless and wholesale broadband services.

Key Points:

– T-Mobile aims to exchange 3.45 GHz licenses acquired in 2021 for SoniqWave’s prime 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum, spanning over 30 markets across the United States.
– The spectrum swap, pending FCC approval, will enable T-Mobile to deliver improved broadband coverage and increased data capacity using contiguous 2.5 GHz spectrum in various markets such as Arizona, Florida, and Iowa.
– Enhanced spectrum holdings allow carriers like T-Mobile to offer faster speeds and cater to more customers, aligning with the company’s commitment to expanding coverage in rural areas post-Sprint merger.
– T-Mobile has already begun deploying the 5G spectrum won in Auction 108, resulting in performance enhancements for customers in rural regions.
– The company aims to extend 5G connectivity to 85% of the rural population within three years and up to 90% within six years.

In return for the 2.5 GHz spectrum, SoniqWave will receive 28 licenses across 14 Partial Economic Areas (PEAs) in the 3.45 GHz band. This strategic move is expected to benefit SoniqWave’s business, potentially leading to a profitable resale of the spectrum to AT&T.

While the outcome of FCC approval for the spectrum swap remains uncertain, especially given past requests for divestment of mid-band spectrum from T-Mobile, both companies are optimistic about the potential benefits this collaboration could bring.

Stay tuned for more updates on how this spectrum swap could further enhance T-Mobile’s network capabilities and bolster its position in the telecommunications industry.