Source: Android Central
What you need to know
- T-Mobile has deactivated Sprint's 2.5GHz mid-band 5G network as it continues to re-deploy the spectrum into its integrated 5G network.
- T-Mobile had started repurposing Sprint's mid-band spectrum in April, soon after its merger with Sprint was closed.
- Owners of first-gen 5G phones such as the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G and the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will need to upgrade to a newer phone to be able to access T-Mobile's new integrated 5G network.
Shortly after T-Mobile completed its merger with Sprint in April, the two carriers began the process of combining their networks. As part of that process, T-Mobile has now shut down Sprint's 2.5GHz mid-band 5G service.
T-Mobile has already re-deployed the new 2.5GHz spectrum in New York City, which is currently the only market where the carrier is offering 5G by combining low-band, mid-band, and mmWave 5G. The 2.5GHz spectrum has also been re-deployed in parts of Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.
Sprint's 5G service is no longer accessible to customers who have older 5G-enabled smartphones like the Galaxy S10 5G, OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, and the LG V50 ThinQ. If you own any of these phones, you will have to upgrade to a newer 5G phone that uses Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X55 5G modem to be able to access T-Mobile's 5G network. Apart from the Galaxy S20 5G, phones like the LG V60 ThinQ and OnePlus 8 5G are also compatible with the Magenta carrier's 5G network.
In a statement sent to Fierce Wireless, a T-Mobile spokesperson said:
We are working to quickly re-deploy, optimize and test the 2.5 GHz spectrum before lighting it up on the T-Mobile network. In the meantime, legacy Sprint customers with compatible devices can enjoy T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network
5G on T-Mobile & Sprint: Everything you need to know
Review: 4 months later, the Nest Audio is still a smart speaker champ
About four months after its release, the Google Nest Audio is still standing strong as one of the best smart speakers currently available. If you haven't picked one up yet, now's a great time to do so.
Why don't we see any more pop-up selfie cameras?
Pop-up selfie cameras defined 2019 phones, but the trend fizzled out shortly thereafter. Here's why you don't see many phones with pop-up selfie cameras anymore.
Jetpack Compose will breathe new life into tablet and big-screen apps
Tired of apps looking really bad and sometimes not working on your big screen devices? This new tool from Google can help developers fix things!
Here are the best phones you can get for Sprint/T-Mobile
Sprint has officially been laid to rest and is now part of the T-Mobile family. If you're looking for a new phone under the T-Mobile brand, here are the ones you should consider!