T-Mobile Tuesday announced plans to use part of its winnings from a recent airwaves auction as a base for nationwide 5G coverage.
5G, the fifth generation of wireless service, promises to be much more powerful and quick-moving than current connectivity. But its broad deployment is likely still years away.
Verizon and AT&T have announced trials of the technology in a few cities. T-Mobile claims that its mobile product will be more relevant than its competitors' versions, which are focused on bringing the high-speed connection to fixed areas, meaning it would work somewhat like home Wi-Fi.
T-Mobile instead wants to make use of 5G for mobile customers, accessible regardless of where they are. It is testing the technology in its Bellevue lab, and said Tuesday that it plans a full nationwide launch in 2020.
T-Mobile was the big winner in the FCC's most recent spectrum auction, bidding nearly $8 billion for low-band 600 MHz frequencies. No. 1 carrier Verizon did not bid in the auction; it said it didn't need the extra capacity.
