Sprint, T-Mo combo brings advantageous 5G spectrum position

5G is being developed to support use cases that run the gamut from NB-IoT connected smart utility meters to devices capable of delivering an immersive, mobile virtual reality experience dependent on multi-gigabit-per-second capacity and very low latency. To deliver on this, operators need a mix of 5G spectrum that includes frequencies in low- and mid-band, as well as in the millimeter wave range, according to Karri Kuoppamaki, T-Mobile US vice president of radio network technology development and strategy.

Speaking during the recent 5G New Horizons Wireless Symposium, hosted by 5G Americas in Austin, Texas, Kuoppamaki laid out the need for a multi-band approach to 5G spectrum:

“You need low-band spectrum for nationwide coverage and coverage reliability,” he said. Adding that low band propagation and penetration characteristics make it enabler of large-scale internet of things implementations.

“You also need mid-band spectrum for consistent capacity and speed experience.

“Finally, you need millimeter wave spectrum as well so that you can reach those ultra-high speeds that we often associate 5G with.” Kuoppamaki added the caveat that millimeter wave is best suited for dense urban or user environments like metropolitan centers, stadia and transportation hubs.

“None of these bands in itself is the answer to 5G. You have to have spectrum across all these different bands to be able to address 5G in its full glory.”

A video of Kuoppamaki’s full presentation is available here.

“We’ve talked about this multi-band strategy for 5G from a spectrum standpoint being an important part of that,” he said. “To be to enable, or to meet the vision of 5G and all these different use cases, some requiring high speeds, some requiring low speeds; some requiring low latency, some not caring about latency; some being localized in nature, not really moving around, some moving around having a requirement for coverage nationwide. For that you have to have spectrum across all these different bands.”

Last year T-Mobile US spent around $8 billion in an FCC auction of 600 MHz spectrum that’s being re-farmed from supporting broadcast television services for wireless services. Sprint has massive 2.5 GHz mid-band holdings. The two companies are lobbying federal regulators for a merger approval that would consolidate the U.S. market from four to three Tier 1 operators.