No soup for you!
- Soup Nazi
T-Mobile USA subleases their spectrum to a mobile virtual operator called Simple Mobile. Now Simple Mobile is offering HSPA+ data service. Whether their HSPA+ network is considered a “4G” network may depend on how much credence you give to T-Mobile’s claims of 42Mbps.
Simple Mobile announced their MVNO deal with T-Mobile last March. The company offers voice and data plans from $40 to $60. For $60, Simple Mobile offers Unlimited Talk, Text and Data, making Simple Mobile the only nationwide GSM service provider offering unlimited everything at that price. Sprint has a competing Simply Everything service for $60 using their CDMA network (excluding Clear’s WiMAX support).
T-Mobile is likely the fastest 3G network, no matter what you call it.
Simple Mobile does not sell phones. The company provides provisioned SIM cards that users can insert into unlocked GSM phones. Thus, only phones that support T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network technology would qualify as supporting 4G speeds, explains Fierce Wireless.
T-Mobile says their HSPA+ network now reaches 200 million people in 100 major metropolitan areas. It plans to double the speed of their HSPA network in 2011, to deliver peak speeds up to 42 Mbps.
T-Mobile’s provides HSPA+ on their AWS band. It’s far less expensive then the forklift upgrade that Verizon and AT&T made for LTE. AT&T and Verizon each invested nearly $10 billion just buying new spectrum on the 700 MHz band. Not to mention huge new infrastructure investments, nationwide.
- AT&T’s LTE transition begins in the second half of 2011 and will go through 2013. AT&T’s LTE devices will fall back to HSPA.
- Verizon’s 700 Mhz LTE network is available in 38 initial launch areas for $50-$80 a month. Devices will fall back to Verizon’s CDMA network for voice and data.
But what can T-Mobile fall back to? They got nothin’. Virtual operators like Simple Mobile are stuck. No spectrum for you. No LTE.
Clear’s 2.6 GHz spectrum does make sense. Clear has backhaul and towers in place. Spectrum on 2.6 GHz is available and it’s relatively cheap. It’s also compatible with other carriers worldwide. It’s just a matter of price.
Too bad for WiMAX, which I believe delivers more bang for the buck. Especially Release 2. Money talks. Perhaps that’s why Craig McCaw resigned from Clearwire’s board. His revolution was co-opted.
I’m guessing lightning will strike next month at Mobile World Congress. On Clearwire.
