T-Mobile is gearing up to launch its first 5G-Advanced service by the end of 2024, according to the carrier’s president of technology, Ulf Ewaldsson. The announcement came during Ewaldsson’s conversation with Fierce Wireless at the Mobile World Congress. The upgrade will provide faster speeds, enhanced video streaming, and improved network capabilities.
T-Mobile 5G-Advanced Coming by Year-End
Ewaldsson revealed that T-Mobile’s 5G-Advanced service will be a software upgrade to its existing 5G standalone (SA) network. This advancement is based on the 3GPP Release 18 5G-Advanced specification. T-Mobile plans to roll out the technology by the end of this year, focusing on more efficient spectrum use and precise location capabilities.
“It’ll be at the end of the year. We’re going to be introducing a technology called L4S. It’s a video priority technology that creates a better video experience for different applications,” Ewaldsson said.
The upgrade positions T-Mobile ahead of its competitors, thanks to its nationwide pure 5G SA network. Unlike other smartphone carriers, who still depend on 4G LTE cores for their 5G networks, the company’s SA deployment offers a significant advantage in adopting the latest 5G technologies.
The new 5G-Advanced service will include features like enhanced spectral efficiency and improved positioning. This update will also introduce L4S (Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable) throughput technology, which is expected to elevate video streaming quality on the network. L4S technology enables the network to adapt video bit rates based on current conditions, ensuring a smoother experience during times of high demand.
T-Mobile has already started integrating other advanced features into its 5G SA network, such as voice-over-New Radio (VoNR) and network slicing. These developments, along with the upcoming 5G-Advanced service, highlight T-Mobile’s commitment to staying at the forefront of 5G technology.
Competitive Edge in 5G-Advanced Rollout
While T-Mobile continues to expand its 5G capabilities, other major carriers like AT&T and Verizon have also begun to implement standalone 5G technology. However, they have not yet achieved the nationwide reach that T-Mobile has.
