One of our readers, who has evidently been quite busy, got in touch with a map put together after the AWS-3 spectrum auction results were announced. It’s not the most complicated map, but at each point where T-Mobile bid successfully for the spectrum, there’s a dropped pin. You can see the map above, or get a full look at the interactive Google map at this link.

As a big picture, it looks good. T-Mobile bid almost $1.8 billion on spectrum which will help them expand and grow its 1700/2100 frequency LTE network all across the U.S. The most highly concentrated areas are in the South/South Eastern markets, with a few more in the Mid-West, and barely any at all in the Western markets (Oregon/Washington/California).

Granted, it’s nowhere near the huge $18.2 billion and $10.4 billion spent by AT&T and Verizon, respectively. And while that may seem a little discouraging, it’s worth remembering that T-Mobile has plenty of mid to high range frequency airwaves already. It’s why it’s been able to roll out its wideband LTE network over the past 12 months.

With this spectrum purchased, we should see T-Mobile’s attention turn back to acquiring more 700MHz spectrum so that it can continue its low-band LTE rollout. And therein lies T-Mo’s continuing challenge. Without starting to make more money, investing in more spectrum is always going to be a tough ask for our magenta carrier.

Source: Google Maps

Thanks, Hector!