T-Mobile will finally be able to bring its Extended Range LTE coverage to Chicago residents thanks to a new spectrum deal with AT&T subsidiary Leap Licenseco, Inc.
T-Mobile said Wednesday it has agreed to buy 12 megahertz of 700 MHz A-Block low-band spectrum from Leap. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Un-carrier said the new spectrum will be used to deploy its Extended Range LTE coverage across the Greater Chicago area, including cities like Chicago, Elgin, Joliet, Waukegan, Evanston, Naperville, Aurora, Gary, Indiana, Rockford, De Kalb, Janesville, Wisconsin, Bloomington, Normal, Kankakee, and Kenosha, Wisconsin. With the addition of Chicago, T-Mobile said its Extended Range LTE coverage will be available in 10 of the nation’s 10 largest markets.
Launched in December 2014, T-Mobile said its Extended Range LTE already covers 195 million U.S. citizens, and will expand to cover 269 million Americans – or about 83 percent of the U.S. population – with this acquisition. The Un-carrier said Extended Range LTE carries cell signals two times further from the tower and provides improved in-building coverage.
T-Mobile said its deal with Leap is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, but is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2016. Deployment of the new 700 MHz spectrum can begin once the deal has closed, the carrier said.
Filed Under: Telecommunications (Spectrum)
