Next frontier for T-Mobile could be the 7GHz band for 6G wireless service

There are certain frequencies that are associated with T-Mobile. The first is the low-band 600MHz spectrum that T-Mobile spent close to $8 billion on to win back in 2017. This win helped T-Mobile pick up the low-band airwaves necessary for nationwide 5G service as low-band signals travel long distances, and aren't blocked by buildings or trees. The downside is that low-band does not deliver blistering fast data speed.

To combat that, T-Mobile spent $26 billion to buy Sprint for the latter's hoard of 2.5GHz mid-band spectrum. These airwaves had everything T-Mobile needed to become the early U.S. leader in 5G: fast download data speed (although not as fast as high-band mmWave spectrum), and the ability to travel longer distances than mmWave.

You might want to get ready to associate the nation's second-largest wireless carrier with another frequency. A report in LightReading says that T-Mobile is already testing Nokia's telecom equipment in the 7GHz band to "support the advancement of potential future wireless technologies." That sounds like 6G to us. T-Mobile received a waiver from the FCC allowing it to " test experimental prototype wireless equipment" near the carrier's corporate headquarters in Bellevue, Washington.

While T-Mobile didn't mention 6G in its filing with the FCC, the frequencies used with the test, 7.125-7.525GHz, match the band used by Nokia in Dallas where it tests its 6G gear. It also matches a couple of reports that claim 7GHz and 8GHz will be the home to 6G. A White Paper published by 5G Americas claims that the spectrum block at 7.125–8.400GHz is important for 6G. It will deliver 10-20 times more capacity and higher data speeds while using the same base station sites in use now.

T-Mobile had been working on 6G with AI chip provider Nvidia and its 5G partners Ericsson and Nokia on a version of 6G that would be powered by AI. There has been speculation that T-Mobile was going to drop Nokia as one of its suppliers for telecom equipment. After all, both Verizon and AT&T had removed the Finnish networking giant from their teams. Verizon has apparently replaced Nokia with Samsung and Ericsson signed a huge deal with AT&T. However, T-Mobile appears ready to go ahead and test the 7GHz band for 6G using Nokia equipment.

Whatever you do, don't call your carrier and ask when you can switch to a 6G plan. We don't expect to see the next generation of wireless connectivity available until 2030.