T-Mobile (U S A) Re-Farming 1900 Mhz 3G

[lomatopo]

Of interest to those who travel to the U.S., T-Mobile is re-farming 1900 Mhz 3G, gained from AT&T as part of the fall-out, so this will allow another PAYG 3G option, in addition to AT&T. There are confirmed reports that some places have already been lit up: Pittsburgh, New Orleans.

http://9to5mac.com/2012/01/11/t-mobile-will-use-resources-and-spectrum-gained-from-failed-att-merger-to-become-iphone-compatible/

On Dec. 19, T-Mobile’s official AT&T breakup release stated what —besides the $3 billion— T-Mobile would get:

As part of the break-up fee, T-Mobile USA will receive a large package of AWS mobile spectrum in 128 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs), including 12 of the top 20 markets (Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Denver, Baltimore and Seattle). The UMTS roaming agreement for the U.S. in T-Mobile USA’s favor has a term of over seven years and will allow the company to improve its footprint significantly among the U.S. population and offer its customers better broadband coverage for mobile communications services in the future. Population coverage will increase from 230 million potential customers at present to 280 million. As a result of the agreement with AT&T, coverage will be extended to many regions of the U.S. in which T-Mobile USA previously had neither its own high-speed mobile communications network nor the associated roaming agreements.

http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/articles/ReinvigoratedChallengerStrategy

T-Mobile USA Announces Reinvigorated Challenger Strategy

Begins Major Network Transformation in 2012 with LTE Launch Planned for 2013

Bellevue, Wash. — Feb. 23, 2012

2012-05-24 05:46:29

Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. CEO and President Philipp Humm outlined the company’s reinvigorated challenger strategy focused on making amazing 4G services affordable. T-Mobile will invest in strategic initiatives to get the business back to growth. The most significant investment is a $4 billion network modernization and 4G evolution effort, which will improve existing voice and data coverage and pave the way for long term evolution (LTE) service in 2013.1

"We want to be known for delivering the best value in wireless because of the advanced technology we deliver at an affordable price,” said Philipp Humm CEO and President of

T-Mobile USA. “Over the next two years, we’re prioritizing and investing in initiatives designed to get T-Mobile back to growth in the years ahead — beginning with the transformation of our network.”

http://www.tmonews.com/2012/04/t-mobile-statement-highlights-network-refarming-for-iphone-customers/

T-Mobile Statement Highlights Network Refarming For iPhone Customers

April 9, 2012 David Beren 196 Comments

AT&T’s recently announced policy for unlocking iPhones is good news, but there is no company more capable of reaping the rewards of AT&T’s new policy other than T-Mobile. With T-Mobile’s network refarming, existing inventory of Micro-SIMs and value priced offerings, T-Mobile is perfectly positioned to attract angry AT&T customers. In fact, T-Mobile released a statement to 9to5Mac earlier today on this very subject:

Today we have more than one million unlocked iPhones running on our network. T-Mobile currently offers microSIMs for customers who already have a GSM phone they want to use on the T-Mobile network, including an iPhone. In order to set up an unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile’s network, customers simply need to purchase a microSIM card and select a T-Mobile Value plan that suits their needs.

T-Mobile’s Value plans enable customers who bring their own smartphone, such as the iPhone, to save money. For example, T-Mobile’s Value family plan with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited data with 2 GB of high-speed data is just $49.99 per line for two lines.

In addition, we will continue to deliver more value to customers as we expand and modernize our 4G network. Beginning this year, we will introduce HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz PCS spectrum. When we do, our 4G network will be compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone.

Considering a comparable AT&T plan will run about $150 before taxes, I’d say T-Mobile well positioned to attract upset AT&T customers.