T-Mobile to refarm frequency spectrum, deploys HSPA to 1900MHz = iPhone compatibility

[inquisitor]

Hey folks,

I just read on engadget that T-Mobile is about to refarm its whole frequency spectrum:



The current GSM spectrum in the 1900MHz will be largely rededicated to UMTS/HSPA, which will eliminate handset incompatibility for 3G for many devices including the iPhone, so you don't need an AWS-compatible handset for 3G access anymore. Instead any device supporting AT&T's 3G network will also work on T-Mobile's network.

Given this increase of capacity (or better: spectral efficiency) in the 1900MHz band T-Mobile will further rededicate some of the AWS spectrum to LTE.

T-Mobile will still have a very hard time to compete with the other US carriers who own a lot of spectrum on lower frequency bands, anyway this will be a significant improvement in my eyes.

more sources:
http://www.tmonews.com/2012/06/t-mob...san-francisco/
http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/11/t...-2g-discounts/

Cheers