\tThe first 5G sites T-Mobile US lights up could run on mmWave spectrum, despite the operator\u2019s vocal emphasis on a 600MHz rollout, CTO Neville Ray told Mobile World Daily.<\/p>\n
Neville said the operator\u2019s 600MHz launch will happen in the second half of the year once compatible devices become available, but noted it could deploy mmWave 5G in urban centres as soon as Q2.<\/p>\n
Ray said T-Mobile is already hanging mmWave radios in some of the same cities where it plans to launch 600MHz. However, he added it is \u201cstill working through millimetre wave maturity\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the biggest concern. The software that\u2019s out there today is still not mature and we\u2019re still testing and optimising.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cWe\u2019re focusing on some specific urban environments to see how the mmWave performs\u2026you\u2019ve got to be very clear on how well the mobility works, the areas it works and where it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ray said a mmWave rollout would be compatible with two recently released handsets: the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and LG V50 ThinQ, both of which are designed to work on the spectrum. He didn\u2019t disclose which vendor would supply the 600MHz device, but rival AT&T announced in December 2018 it is working with Samsung to develop a sub-6GHz 5G smartphone due out in the second half of the year.<\/p>\n
Also in the cards for 2019 is massive MIMO. Ray said the operator has been testing the technology \u2013 which is favoured by potential merger partner Sprint\u00a0\u2013 and plans to roll it out on its 1900MHz spectrum in markets where there is a high capacity demand later this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The first 5G sites T-Mobile US lights up could run on mmWave spectrum, despite the …<\/p>\n
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