Bellevue, WA (February 26, 2018)—T-Mobile made a surprise announcement on the eve of the World Mobile Conference in Spain that it has significantly expanded its low-band LTE coverage, potentially driving wireless microphone, IEM and comms users out of the 600 MHz band in major cities across the U.S.
“Our network team added lowband [sic] LTE to 100s of sites in just two weeks, which means more and better coverage,” tweeted T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray on Friday, February 23. In response to a request from tmonews.com, the carrier provided a list of the cities and towns affected—90 in all, across 26 states—without specifying whether it had lit up new 600 MHz or 700 MHz services.
T-Mobile acquired 31 MHz of the 600 MHz spectrum licenses made available by the FCC’s Incentive Auction, which ended in April 2017, with the stated intention to “cover every single American with low-band spectrum.” Anyone operating wireless audio equipment in the 600 MHz service band must cease operation as soon as T-Mobile and other new licensees begin their operations or risk a fine of $10,000 per day per violation.
T-Mobile Aims to Ease 600 MHz ‘Phase Zero’ Transition for Some Wireless Mic Operators
The carrier rang in the New Year with an announcement that its 600 MHz services had been expanded to 586 cities and towns across 28 states. Few of those were large population centers, but the new list from T-Mobile includes major cities such as San Jose, CA; Jacksonville, FL; Seattle, WA; Louisville, KY; and Tucson and Mesa, AZ.
More Wireless Mic Users Affected as T-Mobile Expands 600 MHz Coverage
The list provided by T-Mobile to tmonews.com includes the following cities, by state:
Alabama: Birmingham, Hazel Green, Phenix City
Arizona: San Tan Valley, Mesa, Tucson
California: Rancho Cucamonga, Pomona, Carlsbad, Bakersfield, Pismo Beach, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Leandro, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, San Jose, Healdsburg
Connecticut: Harwinton
Florida: Yulee, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Wesley Chapel, Winter Haven, Kissimmee, Ocoee
Georgia: Newnan, Swainsboro, Calhoun, Waycross, Barney
Idaho: Twin Falls, Swan Valley, Boise
Illinois: Des Plaines, Palos Heights
Indiana: Hebron
Kentucky: Louisville
Louisiana: Shreveport
Massachusetts: Littleton, Douglas, Middleboro
Maryland: Rockville
Michigan: Sterling Heights, Clarkston
Minnesota: Chaska, Maple Plain, Saint Cloud
Montana: Broadus
New Jersey: Clifton
New York: Albany, Cortland, Liverpool
Ohio: Brecksville, Kent
Pennsylvania: Mechanicsburg, Stroudsburg
South Carolina: Trenton
Tennessee: Sale Creek
Texas: Lancaster, Burkburnett, Zapata, San Antonio, Brownsville, Pharr, Georgetown, Shallowater
Utah: Coalville, Tooele, West Valley City, Paradise
Washington: Kirkland, Seattle, Langley, Vancouver
Wisconsin: Salem, Eau Claire
T-Mobile: How Mobile Works • www.howmobileworks.com
