X

T-Mobile delays full 600MHz 5G launch until second half of 2019

The carrier wants to wait until it gets a phone that takes full advantage of its broader coverage spectrum.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
Expertise Mobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social Media Credentials
  • SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.
Roger Cheng
3 min read
t-mobilefastestnetwork.jpg

T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray says 5G will be a second-half story for the company.

Roger Cheng/CNET

Eager to jump on T-Mobile's 5G network? You're going to have wait a little longer.

T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said in an interview at MWC on Monday that the company won't be formally launching its 5G service in its first 30 cities until the second half of 2019. The reason: the lack of phones that can tap into the critical low-band 600MHz spectrum that will power much of its early 5G coverage.

"We were hopeful, a year ago, that by this time, we would have a device," he said here in Barcelona. "It's not there yet."

Ray had pushed the industry to move faster with compatible devices, but noted much of the industry was working on devices that supported bands with higher frequencies, which offer better speeds, but less range. The first 5G smartphone, Samsung's Galaxy S10 5G, will tap into higher-frequency bands and come out with Verizon Wireless first.

AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile all have networks that are compatible with the Galaxy S10 5G, and T-Mobile said it will carry the phone in the first half. But the coverage using super-high frequency millimeter-wave spectrum is so minimal that Ray said the company isn't sure how -- or if -- it will promote it.

Ray's concession throws a wrinkle into the 5G race, as carriers push to the be first to the next-generation wireless technology, which promises a much faster and more responsive network. AT&T has already launched 5G in a dozen markets, but in limited areas, while Verizon has a home 5G network. Sprint, meanwhile, said it plans to launch 5G in four markets in May.

The delay also underscores the complexity of building a 5G network and the bets companies must make on what kind of spectrum they can use. Verizon and AT&T initially championed millimeter wave spectrum because it can deliver super-high speeds, but with limited range. T-Mobile opted for lower-band spectrum that has slower peak speaks, but better coverage.

Much of the early investment went into devices that use millimeter wave spectrum, which doesn't play to T-Mobile's strengths. As such, you expect a loud launch later in the year, even if the Galaxy S10 5G can pick up small bits of 5G here and there.

He said he didn't worry about AT&T and Verizon pulling ahead in the 5G race because of the limited range of millimeter wave.

MWC 2019: All the phones and gadgets we cared about

See all photos

"You can't go to a US consumer and charge them a big premium and it works on three street corners," Ray said.

Ray applauded Sprint for at least staking a claim and saying it would cover more than 1,000 square miles by the first half. He's waiting to hear about AT&T and Verizon's coverage plans.

AT&T touted its existing service and what's still upcoming.

"We offer the only live mobile 5G network and device today, and are continuing to expand coverage and device options," said an AT&T spokesman. "I'm surprised they continue to ignore our announced plans to offer a mobile 5G network on low-band spectrum this year with nationwide coverage in early 2020."

Verizon wasn't available for comment.

Ray said the company would go big with 5G in the second half once it gets a device that can tap into its 600MHz spectrum. He declined to comment on which company would supply the phone.

Originally published at 6:12 a.m. PT.
Update, 8:05 a.m. PT: Adds background and comment from AT&T.
Update, 9:05 a.m. PT: Adds more background.
Update, 10:15 a.m. PT:
Adds additional quote from Neville Ray.

Watch this: Galaxy S10 5G: Samsung debuts its first 5G phone