Move Aside mmWave 5G, Welcome T-Mobile’s 5G SA Speeds
T-Mobile has officially launched 3.3Gbps 5G Standalone (SA) speeds in the United States, setting a new standard in the world of standalone 5G networks, surpassing mmWave 5G’s capabilities.
- Carrier aggregation, combining four different 5G channels into one, propels T-Mobile’s network to unprecedented speeds.
- T-Mobile stands out as the first US carrier to implement real-world four-carrier aggregation, leading the 5G revolution.
On July 25th, T-Mobile announced that, following successful production tests, it has officially launched 3.3Gbps 5G SA speeds in the United States. This is the first time that a carrier has offered such high speeds on a standalone 5G network.
The cutting-edge 5G network utilizes a technique known as carrier aggregation, which combines four different 5G channels into one for devices that can support it. This innovation allows T-Mobile to achieve unprecedented speeds, surpassing even mmWave 5G, which is widely recognized for its high-speed capabilities but often faces challenges with limited range and device compatibility due to obstacles like buildings and trees.
The carrier aggregation technology deployed by T-Mobile includes repurposed 1,900MHz spectrum from the previously mothballed 3G networks of T-Mobile and Sprint, along with two 2.5GHz channels and 600MHz. These combined channels form a superhighway of data, enabling seamless and blazing-fast connections for compatible devices, leaving mmWave 5G’s limitations behind.
The rollout of this new 5G network is initially available for Samsung’s latest Galaxy S23 phones, equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem, which offers support for the carrier aggregation technology. Users of these devices can take full advantage of the ultrafast 3.3Gbps speeds without any specific plan requirements or speed limitations.
The operator’s President of Technology, Ulf Ewaldsson, who has been a vocal supporter of T-Mobile’s 5G network, emphasized the company’s pioneering role in bringing game-changing technologies like four-carrier aggregation to customers across the nation. He proudly stated, “T-Mobile is blazing the trail for wireless customers around the globe, delivering new capabilities that unleash the true potential of 5G. With the only nationwide 5G standalone network in the country, T-Mobile is the ONLY provider bringing game-changing technologies like four-carrier aggregation to customers across the country.”
While other major US carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon, are working on similar upgrades, T-Mobile has succeeded in being the first to bring the real-world application of this groundbreaking technology to its customers, leaving mmWave 5G in its wake. Last year, the telco announced its achievement of hitting the 3Gbps throughput milestone on a live, standalone 5G network, solidifying its position as a leader in the 5G revolution.
For iPhone users on T-Mobile, the company has also ensured support for 5G Standalone (SA) speeds through iOS 16.4 or higher, offering speeds of up to 3Gbps even without the four-carrier aggregation technology currently exclusive to Samsung Galaxy S23 users.
T-Mobile’s commitment to providing unmatched speed and performance has earned it accolades in the telecommunications industry. In an independent study, T-Mobile’s US median download speed was reported to be an impressive 164 Mbps, more than twice as fast as Verizon and AT&T , further outpacing mmWave 5G’s capabilities.
As T-Mobile continues to deploy its four-carrier aggregation technology across the country in the following weeks, users can expect faster and more reliable 5G connections. This will further propel the evolution of mobile communications into an era of unprecedented speed and accessibility, redefining the benchmarks set by mmWave 5G.
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