T-Mobile Reportedly Plans To Take Most Of Its LTE Network Offline By 2028
With T-Mobile reportedly plans to take most of its LTE network offline by 2028, the U.S. carrier is moving full speed toward a future powered entirely by 5G. LTE has been the backbone of mobile connectivity for over a decade, but with 5G becoming the new standard, T-Mobile is ready to phase out older technology and repurpose spectrum for faster, more efficient networks.
According to a leaked document obtained by The Mobile Report, T-Mobile intends to shut down most of its LTE network by 2028 as it reallocates the majority of its spectrum to 5G Standalone (SA). The plan reportedly leaves just a single 5MHz LTE channel active — enough to support legacy devices and older wearables that still depend on LTE or 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) connections.
Why T-Mobile Is Moving Away From LTE
The carrier’s strategy reflects the growing dominance of 5G across the United States. LTE is now entering its twilight years, with most consumers already using 5G-enabled smartphones and IoT devices. By freeing up LTE spectrum, T-Mobile can expand 5G coverage and capacity, improving speeds and reliability while reducing infrastructure redundancy.
However, this transition could pose challenges for users still relying on LTE-only or early-generation 5G NSA devices. Limited LTE capacity could lead to network bottlenecks, especially for business clients or customers with older equipment.
Key Milestones In The LTE Shutdown Plan
A few notable milestones in T-Mobile’s LTE sunset plan include:
-
January 1, 2026: LTE or 5G NSA activations will require special approval from T-Mobile’s Network IOU Team. This initial phase primarily affects enterprise customers, signaling the company’s push to migrate business accounts to 5G Standalone.
-
By 2028: The majority of LTE spectrum will be reassigned to 5G SA. Only a small LTE channel will remain active for compatibility reasons.
While T-Mobile hasn’t confirmed the timeline for consumer-level changes, industry experts predict similar restrictions could soon apply to individual customers as the carrier focuses entirely on 5G adoption.
What It Means For T-Mobile Users
For most T-Mobile users, this shift won’t bring immediate disruption. Modern smartphones already support 5G SA networks, ensuring a seamless transition. But those using older LTE devices may eventually need to upgrade to maintain full connectivity and performance.
T-Mobile’s aggressive LTE phaseout underscores its ambition to lead the U.S. in 5G network innovation. With faster speeds, lower latency, and improved efficiency, 5G SA offers a massive leap forward — and by 2028, T-Mobile wants its entire network ready for that future.
Post a Comment