T-Mobile has officially activated 5G Advanced, positioning itself as the first U.S. carrier to offer this next-gen technology—exclusively for its customers. Built on its already-operational standalone 5G (5G SA) infrastructure, the company says it is fully equipped to deliver what it calls the next phase of 5G evolution.
Often referred to as 5.5G or 5G-A, 5G Advanced serves as a bridge between 5G and the forthcoming 6G era. This version of the network is expected to unlock new capabilities by optimizing performance, improving spectrum usage, and expanding functionality.
Now available across the country, T-Mobile claims its rollout puts it ahead of the curve, taking a dig at competitors still in the process of building the necessary 5G SA foundations. The carrier added that it has gone beyond the latest 3GPP standard (Release 18) by combining it with earlier features from Release 17.
The enhancements brought by 5G Advanced are designed to benefit everyone, but T-Mobile believes developers, tech companies, and businesses stand to gain the most from the improved speed and reliability.
According to T-Mobile, the network upgrade meets the modern demands of fast data, low latency, and high reliability—regardless of location. Users can expect better capacity, efficiency, and lower operational costs.
By leveraging technologies like carrier aggregation and Low Latency, Low Loss, and Scalable throughput (L4S), T-Mobile says 5G Advanced will enhance immersive experiences such as Extended Reality (XR), cloud gaming, and location tracking, while improving video conferencing with near-instant data transmission.
Another major advantage is improved network slicing, which dedicates specific bandwidth segments for high-priority needs. This supports use cases like T-Mobile’s T-Priority network, built for first responders.
Energy efficiency also gets a boost with 5G Advanced. The network’s integration of AI enhances real-time performance management, smarter resource use, and adaptive functionality—all while keeping energy consumption low enough to support AI-driven tools even in mobile environments.
The introduction of Reduced Capability (RedCap) technology ensures that 5G reaches beyond smartphones and into IoT expansion. T-Mobile says this advancement also lays essential groundwork for its future shift to 6G.
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Disclaimer: This news article is based on the latest public announcements and company statements at the time of publication. Network availability and performance may vary by location and device compatibility.
