Network modernization & upgrades

What is network modernization

Modernization is when T-Mobile upgrades and improves its network towers, usually in order to add
newer and faster technology.

Most modernization and upgrades may have temporary service interruptions during construction.

Customers may experience degraded service, including dropped calls or abrupt loss of service.

When connected to a tower near construction, customers may have slower data speeds and dropped
calls due to greater use and congestion.

Normal service return when work is completed. T-Mobile is not discontinuing any service.

In rare cases, changes to the tower tilt and power level may lead to changes in service after
modernization is completed.

Engineers monitor the site for weeks after modernization.

They will optimize to resolve any issues.

Check for modernization in Grand Central

Our Grand Central coverage map provides everything you need to check:

Where modernization is happening

Dates and times when work is active at a location

If the work impacts customers' service

To check for modernization and investigate coverage-related issues:

Open Grand Central, and enter the mobile number in the search tile

Click the Network tab.

In the Address field, either use the billing address or enter an address (if not at home).

Press Enter to search.

Use the map key to see if "Modernization is In Progress" and view details.

Data shows for the 5 closest sites. (limited to modernization completed in the past month or planned to
complete within 6 months)

Start and end dates are tentative. Never quote dates as firm to customers, because work may take
longer to complete.

Confirm if new technology is online when modernization shows "complete" for a tower.

Under the coverage map's address field, click the drop-down arrow next to TAC Code and select Tower
ID.

Enter the Tower ID.

Press Enter to search.

Review what technology shows as On-Air.

Click Get Tower Status to see status if the site is up, partially down, or fully down.

Click Events to see real-time maintenance updates on the tower.

Maintenance/Upgrade will display the most recent event logged by Engineering that indicates work
occurred resulting in a change to the tower’s status.

Click Show History to view Events logged in the last 30 days

Identify events for the technology used by the customer's device

Review the Current Status and Previous Status fields to identify when Service Impacting work may have
occurred

InService: Tower is On-Air

Maintenance SI:

Tower work is happening that is service impacting.

Use the Modified Date of each event to see how long a tower was in Maintenance SI status.

Maintenance NSI: Tower work is happening that is not service impacting

Local Site Issues displays tickets filed by Engineering when tower issues have been identified that is
service impacting

The Status field will indicate if the ticket is open (New) or resolved (Closed).

Use the Created Date and Closed Date to identify the length of the issue.

Upgrades of 600 MHz (Current)

Current modernization is expanding our LTE and building a foundation for 5G.

T-Mobile is aggressively expanding 600 MHz to give customers more coverage, capacity, and better
coverage indoors.

Extended Range LTE travels twice as far from the tower than higher frequencies.

It's better than higher frequencies for coverage on highways and in rural areas, and four times better in
buildings.

Our 600 MHz expansion helps pave the way for our 5G Nationwide network.

Not all areas with 600 MHz LTE will see 5G this year, this could occur for multiple reasons.
In some areas, other organizations like TV or radio broadcasters are still working to move their traffic off
our 5G spectrum, and as soon as those airwaves are clear, we’ll be rolling out 5G.

Customers must have both N600 (5G on 600 MHz) and mid-band LTE (L1900/U2100) coverage to have
5G access.

Never quote dates or time-frames of when a customer may get 5G. Always check Grand Central to
confirm if a customer’s location has 5G coverage available.

Make sure to check 5G coverage prior to ordering a 5G device for your customer.

Advisements you can provide customers whose service is impacted.

We're working on the towers in your area for a network upgrade. The work to complete this upgrade
may cause temporary service impacts until it's completed.

We know this can be challenging for our customers while the work is in progress, but it is going to be a
great upgrade! It reaches twice as far from the tower and is four times better in buildings than mid-band
spectrum, so it can provide better coverage in hard to reach places. Let me look at what device you are
using so we can ensure you benefit from these upgrades!