T-Mobile and Leap announce spectrum swap

[Kies]

I knew this was going to happen, it just had to happen.

T-Mobile and Leap Wireless have announced a plan to exchange spectrum in several markets around the US to improve coverage for both carriers. The spectrum swap also includes Leap receiving spectrum in Phoenix, Houston, Galveston, and Bryan College Station. T-Mobile will receive spectrum in various markets throughout Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. T-Mobile and Leap will also exchange spectrum with Cook Inlet, a joint venture T-Mobile has a non-controlling majority stake within the markets of Philadelphia, Wilmington, Atlantic City and other markets in Texas and New Mexico.

“These transactions will enhance our spectrum depth in these markets and provide us longer term flexibility to offer a larger LTE channel,” said Leap CEO Doug Hutcheson. “In addition the transactions will allow us to re-align spectrum in key markets into contiguous channels thereby optimizing our delivery of wireless services.”

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-574...swap-spectrum/
http://www.tmonews.com/2012/04/t-mob...#disqus_thread

[DRNewcomb]

Hmmm. Interesting but not very informative. Anyone know the details?

[terryjohnson16]

Is this for AWS and/or PCS? You rarely see T-Mobile asking for spectrum swapping. This is AT&T/Verizon's alley of moves. Nice job by T-Mobile.

[Julian]

Leap picks up an extra 10 MHz of AWS in some markets (Phoenix, and Houston, Galveston and Bryan-College Station, Texas), T-mobile picks up additional spectrum (unknown quantity or band) in Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin and the rest of the swaps are to create contiguous holdings in various markets (Philadelphia, Wilmington, Atlantic City, Texas and New Mexico).

We'll probably have to wait for the filings to understand the extent of the swap (quantity, bands, geographic area).

[gregsmith59]

I knew this was going to happen, it just had to happen.

Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing. The PCS/AWS carriers can do a lot to level out their spectrum holdings around the country, in markets which are not too tight.

I still wouldn't be surprised one day to find the 3 of them (including MetroPCS too) rolled up into one carrier, but that is probably not happening for a few years yet.

[elimcgrubber]

What spectrum (area) does Cricket hold in Missouri and Illinois?

[newyork4me]

What spectrum (area) does Cricket hold in Missouri and Illinois?

AWS in STL metro I think.

[tmotk]

Maybe this will fix the AWS HSPA speeds in St Louis. They have lost ground over the past year with all the android phones jumping on.

[danska]

What spectrum (area) does Cricket hold in Missouri and Illinois?

I'm fairly certain cricket uses AWS in the chicagoland area too. They launched service around the same time as t-mobile 3g.

[Antenna]

Good for T-mobile, hope they roll out HSPA+ and LTE on it soon

[Kies]

Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing. The PCS/AWS carriers can do a lot to level out their spectrum holdings around the country, in markets which are not too tight.

I still wouldn't be surprised one day to find the 3 of them (including MetroPCS too) rolled up into one carrier, but that is probably not happening for a few years yet.

I mentioned this serveral times on here, t-mo will or should so a spectrum swap because they have markets where they can easily make the sacrifice such as phx and tucson, where they have at least 30-40MHz of AWS before any swaps or acquisitions.

At the very least MPCS and Leap should band together.

The only thing t-mobile needs to do is take note fro Sprint VZ and at&t, and make network enhancements or planned enhancements available to the public. All of this is great but they don't even announce totally new HSPA coverage anymore. We have no idea of whats going on meanwhile other carriers are more forthcoming with this stuff

Sent from my T-Mobile Galaxy S II 4G

[river.guy]

The only thing t-mobile needs to do is take note fro Sprint VZ and at&t, and make network enhancements or planned enhancements available to the public. All of this is great but they don't even announce totally new HSPA coverage anymore. We have no idea of whats going on meanwhile other carriers are more forthcoming with this stuff

My sentiments exactly. Unless I just happen to run into a network engineer, I have no idea when it would be good to rejoin the T-Mobile Fold. Online chat reps have no idea if my area carries the 1900 3G.

[brad15]

I mentioned this serveral times on here, t-mo will or should so a spectrum swap because they have markets where they can easily make the sacrifice such as phx and tucson, where they have at least 30-40MHz of AWS before any swaps or acquisitions.

At the very least MPCS and Leap should band together.

The only thing t-mobile needs to do is take note fro Sprint VZ and at&t, and make network enhancements or planned enhancements available to the public. All of this is great but they don't even announce totally new HSPA coverage anymore. We have no idea of whats going on meanwhile other carriers are more forthcoming with this stuff

Sent from my T-Mobile Galaxy S II 4G

yeah i know around Phoenix here i regularly pull ~20-30Mbps no issue and as far as i know they're only actually using 20Mhz of AWS here, so they def have some to spare, but hopefully they do not trade off too much, i like the speeds i'm getting now.