T-Mobile, a trailblazer in the telecommunications industry, has set a groundbreaking record by achieving unprecedented uplink speeds of 345 Mbps on its 5G standalone (SA) network. The company utilized a cutting-edge feature known as UL Tx switching during a recent test, marking the fastest uplink speeds ever recorded in North America using sub-6 GHz spectrum. This achievement underscores the potential of UL Tx switching to revolutionize the transmission of data from mobile devices to the network.
UL Tx switching is a revolutionary technology that enables seamless switching and a combination of different frequencies, effectively expanding uplink capacity and enhancing uplink speed. In simpler terms, it is akin to adding new, faster lanes to the 5G superhighway, providing spare capacity for data traffic to move at unprecedented speeds. The test incorporated carrier aggregation and SU-MIMO technologies, resulting in uplink speeds that were 25% faster than T-Mobile’s previous record of 275 Mbps. The equipment used included Nokia’s advanced AirScale portfolio and a mobile test smartphone powered by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.’s flagship Snapdragon® Modem-RF system.
Ulf Ewaldsson, President of Technology at T-Mobile, emphasized the company’s dedication to innovation, stating, “This achievement is a testament to our relentless pursuit of innovation and our commitment to delivering an even better network experience to our customers.” He highlighted the potential of uplink transmit switching to significantly boost upload speeds and capacity, encouraging global partners to integrate this capability into the evolving 5G ecosystem.
While T-Mobile’s 5G network has already delivered impressive enhancements in download speeds, this latest achievement focuses on elevating uplink speeds. Greater uplink speeds are crucial for various customer activities such as content creation, sharing, remote work, collaboration, gaming, and emerging technologies like XR.
Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, expressed pride in collaborating with T-Mobile to enhance the uplink speed and capacity of their 5G network. Durga Malladi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Technology Planning & Edge Solutions at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., highlighted the potential of switched uplink to meet the increasing demand for upload-heavy user applications and use cases.
T-Mobile, recognized as the leader in 5G, boasts the largest, fastest, and most awarded 5G network in the United States. Covering more than 330 million people across two million square miles, T-Mobile’s 5G network surpasses the combined coverage of AT&T and Verizon. With over 300 million people enjoying the benefits of T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity 5G, the company continues to outpace its closest competitors in terms of both speed and coverage.
