T-Mobile is deploying 1900MHz HSPA/4G

**jet1000** · 03-23-2012, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by ziontnk

hey guys, i need some help. i have a smartphone that supports HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800, I want to know is it better to go with T-mobile or AT&T. The Phone will work on T-mobile's 2G network for the $50 unlimited prepaid plan,

You should consider the StraightTalk $45 plan with the AT&T compatible SIM. You get 3G speeds since you're on the AT&T network, but only pay $45.

**iansltx** · 03-23-2012, 05:06 PM

Bringing things back on topic, has anyone seen PCS 3G in Denver yet? The thought of getting a VZW LTE iPad and having access to three "4G" networks (AT&T HSPA+, VZW LTE, T-Mobile PCS HSPA+) is...pretty sweet actually.

**TechieGeek** · 03-23-2012, 06:11 PM

I only get edge in the Sandy City, Utah area. I'll report back soon on downtown and some other cities.

**GSMinCT** · 03-24-2012, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Julian

It would not do the same thing, you shouldn't make such statements. Just upping the power may solve some problems, but you end up introducing new problems. 3G is active on all sites on most areas nowadays. It wasn't active on all sites when initially deployed, but that has changed from several years ago.

BTW, you lose any and all credibility when you start talking about customers "in the 'hood" or your "real carrier", it would be nice to keep the discussion constructive.

AWS and PCS have almost identical propagation characteristics. That's what I'm saying.

I could use more sophisticated words, but the fact of the matter is, T-Mobile's customers are far less valuable, and less reliable than AT&T's or Verizon's, and are more highly concentrated in urban areas.

It's well known around here that people in the 'burbs have AT&T and Verizon, and people in the 'hood have T-Mobile. We're not sure who has Sprint, if anyone.

**brad15** · 03-24-2012, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by GSMinCT

It's well known around here that people in the 'burbs have AT&T and Verizon, and people in the 'hood have T-Mobile. We're not sure who has Sprint, if anyone.

Maybe by howardforums standards, but i'm from the "nice" part of the Columbus, OH metro area (Dublin, OH to be exact) and a majority of us had T-Mobile because they've always had awesome service there and still do to this day, and the people who needed BFE coverage went to Verizon. AT&T got some customers that i knew because of the iPhone (i was one for a minute) but the network was so horrible we all went running back

i'm sorry but the only people in the "hood" i see with cell phones are either boost or Sprint since sprint seems to take anyone after they've been rejected everywhere else.

even out here in Phoenix, i see a ton of people with T-Mobile and the rest with Verizon, hardly anyone here has Sprint unless they're on Virgin, and AT&T likes to drop so many calls i personally do not know anyone with them here anymore.

**jet1000** · 03-24-2012, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by GSMinCT

T-Mobile's customers are far less valuable, and less reliable than AT&T's or Verizon's, and are more highly concentrated in urban areas.

Granted, T-Mobile customers are on average, less affluent and granted T-Mobile has worse rural coverage than AT&T and Verizon. But I don't think you have shown any evidence to back up your statement that T-Mobile has fewer customers in the "suburbs" of major cities.

I have visited many cities with extensive T-Mobile coverage and coverage just doesn't end when you leave the highly urbanized areas, but it does extend out into the suburbs. In addition, this is not the 1960's anymore, when suburbs contained those with higher incomes. Suburbs in most major cities have sections with a wide variety of income levels, including working class neighborhoods. Those with lesser incomes in the suburbs are attracted to T-Mobile's lower priced plans.

In addition, I see nothing in T-Mobile's marketing that indicates they try to market to an "urban" demographic. Even when they were a major sponsor of the NBA, the D-Wade and Charles Barkley commercials would show them on the golf course or at a country club restaurant---obviously not urban settings.

I see companies like Boost, MetroPCS, and Virgin Mobile which seem to have urban themes in their marketing and also an increased amount of outdoor advertising when driving through urban areas. However, I fail to see any of that with T-Mobile as you claim.

**DRNewcomb** · 03-24-2012, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by jet1000

In addition, I see nothing in T-Mobile's marketing that indicates they try to market to an "urban" demographic. Even when they were a major sponsor of the NBA, the D-Wade and Charles Barkley commercials would show them on the golf course or at a country club restaurant---obviously not urban settings.

When you see their adds, it certainly seems that they are appealing to the middle-class, white demographic.

**iansltx** · 03-24-2012, 05:05 PM

Quick update (posted via wired tethering to my brand-spanking-new VZ-LTE iPad):

I just tried to get PCS 3G/4G on the aforementioned iPad while sitting in/near Colorado Mills (Denver West). No dice. EDGE was relatively speedy, at above 150 kbps, but the device couldn't find an HSPA network in a non-AWS band. So I ended up swapping SIMs twice (SIM -> microSIM -> SIM) so I could continue using T-Mobile with my Rocket 3.0.

This is after I was told by a CSR supervisor that T-Mo had PCS HSPA in the Denver area. Apparently the rollout isn't complete yet :/

Aside: does anyone know how to force 1900MHz-only on the Rocket 3.0? I want to keep on testing to see whether 1900MHz 3G is turned on yet here, but I don't own an unlocked device that doesn't also support AWS.

**GSMinCT** · 03-25-2012, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by jet1000

However, I fail to see any of that with T-Mobile as you claim.

I never said they actively advertised to the 'hood. That's just who has them, at least in the Northeast. Metro definitely does advertise to the 'hood.

Originally Posted by iansltx

Aside: does anyone know how to force 1900MHz-only on the Rocket 3.0? I want to keep on testing to see whether 1900MHz 3G is turned on yet here, but I don't own an unlocked device that doesn't also support AWS.

Just try it on the iPad. That doesn't do AWS.

**TechieGeek** · 03-25-2012, 01:03 PM

Who said there was HSPA on 1900MHz in Utah? As of yesterday it's no in the Sandy/Draper/Midvale/West Jordan areas, not in downtown SLC, and not down toward Provo either. I've been where the greatest concentration of people is and there's no 3G, just edge. :/

**newyork4me** · 03-25-2012, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

What they need is that SpectrumCo AWS nationwide spectrum, that Verizon is trying to acquire. I bet if T-Mobile was allowed to buy it, they would have almost nearly 20 to 50MHz of spectrum in many markets. That would be enough to handle HSPA+ 84, and LTE-Advanced.

T-Mobile isn't even at half the spectral efficiency as Verizon now. It would be foolish to give them any more spectrum when they have more than they need now. Heck, I suspect VZW will have more customers on LTE one year from now (after 2.5 quarters of the new iPhone) than T-Mobile has total retail customers.

Let the spectrum go to someone who can make the best use of it.

Originally Posted by GSMinCT

T-Mobile getting more spectrum to barely use. Great. Verizon can deploy it on their massive network, whereas T-Mo doesn't deploy most of their spectrum since they don't have much of a network to deploy it on.

Exactly.

**Antenna** · 03-25-2012, 11:24 PM

Better t-mobile than AT&T, who wouldn't even deploy AWS because they don't want their competitors to unlock the phones.

Maybe t-mobile should get AT&T AWS, since they don't use it at all, talk about inefficient

Sent from my Incredible S

**terryjohnson16** · 03-25-2012, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Antenna

Better t-mobile than AT&T, who wouldn't even deploy AWS because they don't want their competitors to unlock the phones.

Maybe t-mobile should get AT&T AWS, since they don't use it at all, talk about inefficient

Sent from my Incredible S

exactly. by att asking apple to block aws hspa, it blocks tmobile. but what remains to be revealed is if the ipad 3 and soon to be released iphone 5, has hspa aws. it will have aws lte but no word how to unlock aws hspa.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using HowardForums

**newyork4me** · 03-25-2012, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

What they need is that SpectrumCo AWS nationwide spectrum, that Verizon is trying to acquire. I bet if T-Mobile was allowed to buy it, they would have almost nearly 20 to 50MHz of spectrum in many markets. That would be enough to handle HSPA+ 84, and LTE-Advanced.

Originally Posted by Antenna

Better t-mobile than AT&T, who wouldn't even deploy AWS because they don't want their competitors to unlock the phones.

Maybe t-mobile should get AT&T AWS, since they don't use it at all, talk about inefficient

Sent from my Incredible S

AT&T currently is rolling out LTE over AWS in Chicago. My friend noticed his GSII Skyrocket on the AWS band on LTE the other day.

And, AT&T isn't the one buying the spectrum--it is VZW and they can and will use it.

**newyork4me** · 03-25-2012, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

exactly. by att asking apple to block aws hspa, it blocks tmobile. but what remains to be revealed is if the ipad 3 and soon to be released iphone 5, has hspa aws. it will have aws lte but no word how to unlock aws hspa.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using HowardForums

The new iPad does not support HSPA over AWS. And, why should it? Even T-Mobile is refarming PCS for HSPA.