LAS VEGAS -- CES 2014 -- T-Mobile is ready to start deploying infrastructure to support its buyout of low-band spectrum from Verizon Wireless as soon as possible, Neville Ray, the operator's CTO, told us.
After T-Mobile US Inc. 's characteristically rambunctious press conference here Wednesday, Ray said he could start deploying 700Mhz A-Band network infrastructure "right now" in cities such as Dallas, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, and parts of Washington, DC. The deployment is slated to start in the fourth quarter after the spectrum transaction's completion, which is expected in the first half of this year. (See: T-Mobile Spends $2.4B on Verizon Spectrum.)
During the press conference, Ray called the low-band spectrum a new "weapon" that would enable T-Mobile to add better indoor service and improve rural coverage across the US. The CTO hopes to get a good start on beginning the deployment in 2014. "We are going to go and frighten the crap out of AT&T and Verizon Wireless."
The concern with the 700MHz A-Band spectrum is interference with the channel 51 broadcast TV spectrum. T-Mobile has already said the acquisition will give the carrier low-band spectrum covering 150 million people in major markets like New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington, and Detroit, and that more than half of the population covered will be outside channel 51's range. (See: T-Mobile: Channel-51 Interference a Non-Issue.)
The latest word from Ray gives some indication of where T-Mobile should be able to commence its low-band deployment.
— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading
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