T-Mobile details 3G plans
by Chris Ziegler 
posted Oct 6th 2006 at 11:05AM
As expected, T-Mobile has provided full disclosure today on exactly what it plans to do with all that juicy spectrum picked up in this summer's FCC auctions. Having been left out of the 3G race put on by its fellow national carriers, it comes as no surprise that T-Mobile has officially committed to rolling out UMTS / HSDPA on the 1700 and 2100MHz bands at a cost of some $2.1 billion. Unfortunately, the specrum is a few megahertz off from the UMTS 2100 used elsewhere, meaning existing 3G handsets designed to operate in Europe will be relegated to doing their 2.5G thing when roaming stateside; that being said, beggars can't be choosers, and we're sure T-Mobile is ecstatic to simply have somewhere to drop some next-gen data. Perhaps understanding that the wireless customer base at large can be both fickle and impatient, the nation's fourth-largest carrier is wasting no time getting its 3G equipment set up -- the rollout begins, like, now (they claim half of NYC's hardware is already in place) and will continue through the next several years, with compatible handsets and peripherals hitting retail sometime in mid 2007. Seeing how we're writing this very article from a 3G connection ourselves, all we can say is that it can't come a moment too soon.[Thanks, Hrag S.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
omynerds,com @ Apr 1st 2008 3:20AM
Well looks like were getting 3G , I got more details on this if your interested omynerds.com----- dekon
Briggs @ Mar 24th 2009 2:52PM
I am getting the Nokia N97, it is Euro 3G and will use it with T-Mobile, to tell you the truth I am getting tired of this bull, The Europeans have great phones, fast speeds and lots of unlocked phones.
Here is the U.S we have this money thing, this horrible way of messing with the customers and not be able to get any provider you want with the same phone.
This just plain and simple, Bites.
OneAboveAll @ Oct 6th 2006 11:18AM
About damn time...
darren @ Oct 6th 2006 11:41AM
Why can't tmobile for ONCE, JUST ONCE, play nicely and compatibly with the rest of the kids on the playground. We cant use existing 3g 2100mhz handsets because the spectrum is "slighty off"...What the hell is that. so I am stuck again only using the phones tmobile decides to release instead of having free reign on any unlocked sim-enabled GSM. BLASPHEMY! A Pox on Tmobile! A Pox I say!!
Keith @ Oct 6th 2006 11:51AM
Not T-Mobile's fault that the spectrum isn't compatible - the spectrum being auctioned by the FCC simply isn't the same as what is being used in the rest of the world. Given a choice, I am sure they would love to be able to be on the same frequency in all of their markets.
some dude @ Oct 6th 2006 12:12PM
This is LAME. Yeah, it's not T-Mobile's fault. It's the FCC...whose spectrum auctions are the frickin' teat from which that useless organization suckles. The fact that only huge megacorporations can play ball with our PUBLIC airwaves is a travesty, and only serves to promote this type of situation. The market should work the interoperability stuff out, not a bloated government agency whose biggest contribution is doling out fines when uptight theocrats have their feathers ruffled and complaint-bomb them. It's no wonder we're so far behind the rest of the world in mobile tech.
michael @ Oct 6th 2006 12:36PM
whereas yes, it's all fun and games to bash the FCC, they *can't* license the proper 2100 band because the US Military, not "megacorporations" has been using this band for years (specifically, for satellite communication, iirc). this is neither the FCC nor T-Mobile's fault, but it *is* unfortunate.
Tom Ulrich @ Oct 6th 2006 12:40PM
Cingular's 3G is on 1900 MHz, right? So now manufacturers have to build quad-band GSM, tri-band UMTS handsets for them to work everywhere?
mroach @ Oct 6th 2006 1:16PM
#6: Actually, they'd have to be quadband. 850/1700/1900/2100. Completely absurd.
Enzo @ Oct 7th 2006 12:40AM
Why aren't the comments merged between engadget.com and engadgetmobile.com?
Phone Nerd @ Oct 6th 2006 9:55PM
actaully they would need to build 5 band handsets to be a true roaming international phone. 1900/850 for cingular 3G, 1700/2100 for T-mobile USA and an additional 2100 band for Europe, ASIA and everywhere else. This will probably never happen. 2 handsets here I come.
Fuck You @ Dec 14th 2007 10:29AM
No, you're fucking retarded.
You don't need two 2100mhz bands you ass, one is enough.
Phone Nerd my big black ass!
Bryan @ Oct 6th 2006 11:33PM
#8...
Hey it COULD happen. I mean who would have thought 10 years ago there would be a quad band GSM handset?
Phones get smaller and smaller, at a quicker pace.......
Vince @ Oct 6th 2006 11:47PM
It doesn't seem to me that there is a real reason to build a phone with both the UMTS-1900/850 of Cingular and UMTS-2100/1700 of Tmobile USA, assuming their initial roll-out markets aren't significantly different. I can't see T-mo and Cingular having UMTS roaming agreements. At least there is no compelling reason for European and Asian users to be able to roam on both North American UMTS networks. Well, hopefully Tmobile will start getting some nice handsets for their US operation.
marco @ Oct 7th 2006 1:02AM
i was so excited to use my 3g phone with t-mobile in few monthns, but i know now it wont never happend.. this sounds ridiculos a phone with 9 bands ( 4 bands for GSM and 5 bands for UMTS) gosh!! what will increase the prices..
Murk @ Oct 7th 2006 1:15PM
The billion dollar, 5-band unit decision comes down to 3 manufacturers: Nokia, MOTO, & RIM. How much would one gain by going with a 5-Band unit w/ T-Mo? Is T-Mobile enough of a growth company that one of these manufactures feels it is warranted to develop a unit with this technology? If they determine that it is & we're being sensible, MOTO has the most incentive. If they want to catch Nokia & RIM in their holds of the respective handset market segments, it would stand to argue that they may be agressive in offering the next generation Q for T-Mo; consequently, offering it in a 5-band variety. And if they do that, [one unit that does everything, and works anywhere] the entire wireless industry would have to stand up and take notice -- at least until WiMAX comes out. Then who knows...
Aires @ Aug 14th 2007 8:31PM
I finally found the answers to why my new unlocked Sony Ericsson w850i will not pick up the 3G - because it works on the UMTS 2100. Any idea if this type of phone might work on the new T-Mobile 3G network? It is such a waste not to have the broadband access on this phone.
Great discussion page!
MG @ Mar 3rd 2007 3:40AM
The whole world is using two bands of GSM and on band of UMTS and the USA that counts 5% of the total population (and 40% of pollution and energy consuption) uses 2 different bands of GSM and 4 different bands of UMTS (not to mention CDMA iden and the rest of the crap). Oh not to forget that is the only country in the world using the imperial system. It seems that they want to be different! Screw them!
jonathan @ Aug 21st 2007 11:41AM
LOL, touche!!!
Murat @ Mar 14th 2007 5:18PM
I just wonder if I buy a Nokia N95 which will support WCDMA 2100, would I benefit from 3G in the U.S. if I use it with T-Mobile?
cg219 @ Apr 7th 2007 2:17PM
SO this means the e70 wont work on any of the new 3g spectrums. This sucks. But people with the 2100 phones now will get 2.5G beacuse its off a bit?? THis is still better than edge right??
Dominican Republic @ Jul 11th 2007 3:12AM
T-Mobile is the BEST!
Dominican Republic @ Jul 11th 2007 3:14AM
T-Mobile is the BEST!
Daniel @ Aug 7th 2007 5:22PM
Have there been any updates on T-Mobile's part about why they are dragging their feet on 3G deployment?
Asten @ Sep 14th 2007 12:14PM
Rumor has it that the government users currently on the frequencies they bought are dragging THEIR feet getting off them.
eddy7496 @ Dec 27th 2007 2:54AM
At least they're choosing 2100...for all my fellow HTC Universal users
John
www.DeserteDNJ.com
www.EdmundsProductions.tk