Network Strategy Plan (2012)

NETWORK STRATEGY PLAN (2012)

So as we prepare for the future, our networks should be ready for the future to be used efficiently. These days people are requiring to look for directions to somewhere on Google Maps for example while on a call. There is currently a technology that DOES NOT support both Voice/Data access at the same time and it is called GSM (2G,GPRS/EDGE)/ CDMA (1X)/WCDMA(EV-DO).

Current Spectrum Tables:







Below are plans to support both Voice/Data in the future under NEW frequencies:

AT&T - 3G UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA/HSPA/HSPA+ (850)(23MHz) + (1700/2100, 2100/2300*)(23MHz) + (1900)(18MHz)  / 4G LTE (700)(25MHz) + (1900)(18MHz)

Verizon - 3G UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA/HSPA/HSPA+ (850)(24MHz) + (1700/2100)(13MHz) + (1900)(10MHz) / 4G LTE (700)(30MHz) + (1900)(11MHz)

T-Mobile - 3G UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA/HSPA/HSPA+ (1700/2100)(25MHz) / 4G LTE (1900)(25MHz)/***

T-Mobile (Merger Declined) - 3G UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA/HSPA/HSPA+ (1700/2100)(35MHz) / 4G LTE (1900)(25MHz)

Sprint - 3G WCDMA Rev. 0/A/B/C + SVDO (800/850*, 850/900*)(18MHz) + (700/2500*)(24MHz) + (1900)(17MHz) / 4G LTE (700/2500*)(24MHz) + (1900)(18MHz)/***

Chipsets: 3G ((700**) 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100) + 4G (700, 800, 1900)

* = Converted frequency to match networks/ 2.5GHz re-housed
** = Non-Wide used frequency over 3G
*** = Future exclusive auctions between 25-35MHz spectrum option
**** = If merger is DECLINED AT&T would have this exclusive auction

Future Auctions:
PCS Unknown (850) - T-Mobile ONLY
AWS Unknown - Sprint ONLY
AWS Unknown - T-Mobile ONLY/AT&T ONLY
LTE Block E - Sprint/T-Mobile ONLY
LTE Block F - Sprint/T-Mobile ONLY
NEW Frequency discoveries (Preferable under 1GHz)

So if T-Mobile had the chance to purchase 850 they could join the 850/1700/2100/1900 frequency over 3G & purchase of 700 would give them 700/1900. However, a second option is option splitting the 2.5GHz spectrum into 24MHz + 24MHz and the 24MHz would be sold to T-Mobile and relocated into LTE Block E or F under a NEW 700MHz frequency.

If Sprint we're given the option to purchase 1700/2100 & additional 700 they could join the same 850/1700/2100/1900 US 3G frequency & 700/1900 4G frequency.

However, if this merger is DENIED, which is most likely. AT&T would have the opportunity to purchase another 10MHz of AWS. T-Mobile would have then 35MHz of AWS. T-Mobiles 3G 1900 would be split to 1/3 for 3G & 2/3 for LTE among additional spectrum for 700.

So how would this all look with all the Auctions & Sale Transfers going on:

AT&T - NO Change

Verizon - NO Change

Sprint - 3G WCDMA/REV. 0/A/B/C + SVDO (800/850*, 850/900*)(18MHz) + (1700/2100, 2100/2300*)(12MHz) + (1900)(17MHz) / 4G LTE (700/2500*)(24MHz) + (1900)(18MHz)

T-Mobile - 3G UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA/HSPA/HSPA+ (850)(15MHz) + (1700/2100)(25MHz) + (1900)(9MHz) / 4G LTE (700/2500*)(24MHz) + (1900)(16MHz)

Any problems with this?

NEXT PHASE: Frequency Channel Expansion/What is effected by this

So in order to achieve the best mobile network solution each of the following FREQUENCIES:

700, 850, 1700/2100, 1900 should receive channel expansions.

Current Frequencies:

700 (698-763; 775-793; 805-806)(698-798)(15MHz addl.)
850 (809-849; 854-894)(809-895)(6MHz addl.)
1700 (1710-1755)(1700-1780)(35MHz addl.)(AWS Merged/Downlink/Uplink Reversal)(Frequencies Separated)
1900 (1850-1995)(0MHz addl.)
2100 (2110-2155)(2100-2180)(35MHz addl.)(AWS Merged/Downlink/Uplink Reversal)(Frequencies Separated)

So what would continue to work?

AT&T - 3G = YES(w/ NEW device needed for added frequency), 4G = YES (w/ NEW device needed for added frequency)

Verizon - 3G = NO(GSM type device needed/ w/ NEW device needed for added frequency), 4G = YES (w/ NEW device needed for added frequency)

Sprint - 3G = YES(w/ Firmware UPDATE/ w/ NEW device needed for added frequency), 4G = NO (w/ NEW device needed for added frequency)

T-Mobile - 3G = YES(w/ NEW device needed for added frequency), 4G = N/A(NEW network install/NEWER device needed)

So we can look into Channeling for each network. Example:

Channel 1000 - 5000 - AT&T
Channel 5001 - 9000 - Verizon
Channel 9001 - 13000 - Sprint
Channel 13001 - 17000 - T-Mobile

Future Frequencies to look into:

267-332MHz
335-400MHz
960-1164MHz
1435-1525MHz
1780-1850MHz

How does Smart Channeling enhance a network?

Each provider could use the same frequency ex. (809-895) and just unload their spectrum individually with SIM cards supporting Smart Channeling. Each network is assigned a range of channels to connect to. Smart Channeling is encrypted to prevent connecting to another network. To connect to another network you must know the Unlock Code to the carrier which is different per device. Once the unlock code is entered you will access the neighbors network(other major carrier) and your now unlocked. Devices would be programmed to check with the network to see if an Unlock or invitation to connect has been requested and if so it will ask you the Password the Operator has provided you. Once the password is entered it will check & connect to that networks assigned channel range. NO carriers spectrum would be combined and carriers could grow spectrum for their current bands for the future to enable faster data services. Wi-Fi routers operate within the 2.4GHz range. You can have 10 together connected to each of their DSL/Cable providers with NO interference whatsoever. So in the info menu it would show your connected to UMTS or HSPA or HSPA+ (811 MHz) Channel 1439 which means AT&T. Carriers would hand out NEW SIM cards and FIRMWARE RADIO updates for CDMA networks. Roaming agreements can still be provided to smaller carriers. You can link more than 1 channel range to the entire network infrastructure. In the future a customer can connect to the same channel and it would just populate a list of users on that channel by #.

What is IP Stay-Connected:
This means your IP Address won't change for at least every 24 hours. However, devices would be assigned either IPv4 or a IPv6 address. No matter if your going tower to tower it will not change the IP address till 24 hours later from the time you connect to data services. The tower would remember the IP address by logging in your # to the providers towers. So there will never be a stop in data connection to switch IP addresses.

How does handoff from 3G to 4G or 4G to 3G occur?
Well exploring how GSM handsoff to UMTS those are circuit switched networks. It is possible for LTE a data-only service to handoff to WCDMA then register onto UMTS or SVDO then it would register to the best data network available in the area.

How long did it take you to make that..

Altogether it took about 3 hours.

What does this mean though?  Does T-Mobile USA have spectrum to deploy nationwide LTE if they wanted to?  Meaning it was a finance issue all along?  If that's so, why have they just committed to advancing HSPA+ with a total disregard for LTE plans until the merger was announced?

Not enough spectrum for LTE right now, unless they turn off their 2G/GSM/EDGE network, which is the PCS band (1900), which I highly doubt they'll do.. Only other option is to buy more spectrum, which they can't since they don't have deep pockets (not including DT) like Verizon and AT&T does.. But Tmo's HSPA+ is just fine for now.

You could at least say AT&T has enough LOL.

Tmo refarming the PCS/1900 band for HSPA+ .. The start of the shutdown of 2G/GSM/EDGE! iPhone 4S (unlocked) confirmed working over Tmo's HSPA+ PCS/1900 Band: http://www.tmonews.com/2011/12/unlocked-iphone-spotted-running-on-t-mobiles-3g-network-its-true-sort-of/


No, I’m not crazy and yes, this story is about an iPhone running on T-Mobile’s 3G network. Yes we’re talking 3G here because only the iPhone 4S really supports what T-Mobile quantifies as 4G anyway. A small, unknown factoid about how T-Mobile is handling some of its spectrum refarming is that in certain parts of the country, they are using the 1900MHz band (known as the PCS band) for HSPA+. We’ve come to expect that any time we’re talking about T-Mobile’s 3G and 4G phones, we’re talking about phones that operate on T-Mobile’s AWS band of 1700/2100. Well, depending on the part of the country we’re discussing, T-Mobile is utilizing spectrum on the 1900MHz band and because of this… Some unlocked iPhone users are picking up 3G signals.

For instance, this user from Howard Forums was one of the first individuals to bring this to our attention and then we went to work. Of course by going to work we mean talking to TmoNews resident spectrum guru Conan Kudo who broke the whole thing down:

First and foremost, the area we’re specifically talking about is Nevada as that is where this individual unlocked iPhone owner lives. However, Nevada, parts of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are also seeing some pockets of 1900MHz spectrum refarming for HSPA+. There are other parts of the country T-Mobile can refarm the 1900MHz spectrum but, the focus is on the Pacific Northwest, Nevada, Utah and California for right now from what we’re told. We should emphasize and emphasize greatly that this post does not mean that all of the aforementioned areas are seeing this refarmed spectrum, just pockets inside those areas.


Read More in the link above...

Very nice post, Viper. Good info too. Better than some of my college posts. Hope things start turning around for you TMO people. I am wishing all you on TMONEWS all the best during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

BTW, 2 years to go for the pursuit of my BSIT.

Sincerely,
Dave Black aka BlackSheep427
 
Baa Baa for now (Patent Pending via iPantent.com)  and