T-Mobile US

2G Cell ID Layout

Sector ID	Frequency Band	Direction
1	1900 MHz (PCS)	North East
2	1900 MHz (PCS)	South
3	1900 MHz (PCS)	North West

3G (UMTS/HSPA)

T-Mobile uses AWS (1700/2100 MHz) and PCS (1900MHz) spectrum for 3G. In some areas, T-Mobile has migrated HSPA from AWS to PCS to allow more bandwidth for AWS LTE.

Cell ID Layout

Sector ID	Frequency Band	Direction
1,4	1700/2100 MHz (AWS)	North
2,5	1700/2100 MHz (AWS)	South West
3,6	1700/2100 MHz (AWS)	South East

The second value is the DC-HSPA (dual cell HSPA) second cell. So 1 and 4, 2 and 5, and 3 and 6 face the same direction.

Sector ID	Frequency Band	Direction
7	1900 MHz (PCS)	North
8	1900 MHz (PCS)	South West
9	1900 MHz (PCS)	South East

4G (LTE)

T-Mobile has deployed LTE on AWS (1700/2100 MHz, Band 4), PCS (1900MHz, Band 2), and 700 MHz A block (Band 12). AWS is T-Mobile's primary LTE band. It was used exclusively during T-Mobile's initial LTE deployment in 2013. PCS spectrum began deployment in 2014 as a cost-saving measure to allow rural 2G-only sites to be upgraded without requiring new antenna panels. Markets where T-Mobile holds limited AWS spectrum, such as Cincinnati, also use LTE on PCS spectrum. 700 MHz is in the early stages of deployment and will added to existing sites to improve building penetration and coverage area.

Cell ID Layout

Sector ID	Frequency Band	Direction
1	1700/2100 MHz (AWS) OR 1900 MHz (PCS)
2	1700/2100 MHz (AWS) OR 1900 MHz (PCS)
3	1700/2100 MHz (AWS) OR 1900 MHz (PCS)
4	1700/2100 MHz (AWS) OR 700 MHz
5	700 MHz
6	700 MHz
11	1900 MHz (PCS)
12	1900 MHz (PCS)
13	1900 MHz (PCS)
14	1900 MHz (PCS)
21	700 MHz
22	700 MHz
23	700 MHz
24	700 MHz

Band 12 has been reported on sectors 4-6 and sectors 21-23. It is unclear what will become the preferred layout.

AWS Migration

T-Mobile is migrating their 3G AWS spectrum to be used for 4G LTE

Here’s a full lowdown on the markets having their AWS 3G/4G networks shut down this year:

Indianapolis – February 25th

Louisville – May 18th

Chicago – June 18th

Houston – July 15th

Los Angeles – July 22nd

Albuquerque – July 25th

El Paso – July 25th

Oklahoma City – July 27th

Savannah (Jacksonville) – July 27th

Baton Rouge (Mobile) – July 27th

Columbus (Atlanta) – July 27th

Griffin (Atlanta) – July 27th

Charleston (Carolina) – July 27th

Kansas City – August 3rd

Roanoke (Virginia) – August 3rd

St. Louis – August 5th

Nogales (Phoenix) – August 10th

Madera (Sacramento) – August 10th

Boise City (SLC) – August 10th

Del Rio & Kingsville (Austin) – August 10th

Miami – August 20th

Laredo (Austin) – August 20th

Biloxi, Hattiesburg (Mobile) – August 20th

Anniston, AL (Birmingham) – August 20th