3G In Oklahoma City

[tzsm98]

When I asked T-Mobile about 3G in Oklahoma City I was politely told by the Technical Customer Service Representative (TCRS) it would be rolled out by the end of the year. When I asked if they had the licenses to roll it out in Oklahoma City, since Cricket operates on the 1700/2100AWS band in OKC I was put on hold. When the TCRS came back she had talked to her manager and told me that no one in her chain of command knew if they had the licenses but I was welcome to the check the FCC site. So I did. Auction #66 8/9/2006 - 9/18/2006 for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-1).

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1882A2.pdf

T-Mobile has no licenses for the AWS Band in the Oklahoma City area.

The closest they have is Lawton, Oklahoma.

Maybe they have some other arrangement but if they do they didn't share it with me so I followed their advice, looked it up on the website and this is the result.

[eric_cartman]

That's weird. I talked to someone and he said it could be launched as early as April or May.

Also, notice that there is no spectrum owned by T-Mobile for Dallas, yet they do provide service there. Also, T-Mobile bid for a large amount of spectrum at the auction, so they will provide 3g service for plenty of markets eventually. It's just that they have to set up towers, do testing and all that stuff.

[tzsm98]

Yes, they bid on a lot of spectrum and were top bidder for some of it. The Oklahoma City market is not one of those places where they were successful. They might as well be rolling it out on Mars for all the good it does me if they do not roll it out here. They won't tell me they are rolling it out here.

This is what I was told most recently:
Upon reviewing your account, I do see that your issue has already been
resolved by another representative. Unfortunately, Robert we are unable
to give you anymore information, other than what you have already
received from the representative that you spoke with on January 5, 2005.
If there is anything else that we may assist you with at this particular time, please do not hesitate to reply to this e-mail.

Some resolution.

[eric_cartman]

I don't know. I'd say wait until the end of this year, to be sure.

[tzsm98]

My contract is up second week of February. That is the upper limit of how long I can wait for the real answer. As you can see I got started on this 5 January to give the wheels time to turn. It's up to T-Mobile to take advantage of that time to save "a valued customer of T-Mobile" to quote further from the most recent missive from from T-Mobile.
The media relations department of T-Mobile wrote to me to say they are going do more research in order to give me a very specific answer on this question. This is a very good sign that I will get a straight answer.

[eric_cartman]

Well, I'm not a T-Mobile employee, so I cannot help. And I don't think the store clerks have any info, until upper management decides to release info at the last minute.

[tzsm98]

I got it straight from a first level CSR that Oklahoma City is not on the list for 3G in 2009. I thanked her for her straight-forward approach to answering my question. That was last week. This morning I open up my mail to find this bit of stupidity,
"additional markets will launch as they are tuned for optimal
performance; however, we are unable to provide specific dates or
information specific to the market launches as there are many factors
that influence market-readiness.

I sincerely hope that I have addressed all your questions and
concerns. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to personally
thank you Robert, for being a valued T-Mobile customer. "

Of course I can't remember how long ago I sent in the original request for that clarification, probably about the time this thread started. That's a long wait for such a poor answer. I let them know that.

[tzsm98]

So, here we are on 12 February, the date my contract is up, a full five weeks after I begin this quest for a SIMPLE what device do I need search and here is the answer I get

Dear Robert,
Thank you for contacting T-Mobile Web Support. My name is Wayne, and I certainly understand that you are wanting your problem resolved. It will be my pleasure to be able to assist you with your concern today.

Robert, I see your contacting us in regards to you wanting to know if you need to buy a 3G capable device. We here at T-Mobile take pride in resolving problems, and answering questions for our customers. Robert I regret to inform you, but we via E-Mail are unable to resolve this issue for you. We require that you call in and speak with a WDS/Customer Care agent for better assistance with this issue. We will be more than happy to assist you over the phone, you can reach us by dialing the number posted below.

I sincerely hope that I have addressed all your questions and concerns. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you Robert, for being a valued T-Mobile customer since. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us again by replying to this e-mail or by calling 1-800-937-8997 from your home phone.

Thank you for choosing T-Mobile Robert, and have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,
Wayne G.
Rep ID 59522
Technical Care Specialist
T-Mobile USA

Wow! Now, if I weren't fighting the issue of them not addressing my UMA problem with my 6301b as well as this I might consider sticking around. But UMA doesn't work, 3G isn't happening so now I have to wonder what it is they have to offer? Customer service? Certainly not by e-mail.

[btmec]

T-mobile won license AW-REA005-F which covers the central region

Map showing central region
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/data/maps/REAG.pdf

Auction results
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/66/charts/66cls2.pdf

This looks like they won spectrum in OK to me.

[tzsm98]

Although they will not put it in writing T-Mobile have told me twice on the phone that Oklahoma City is not getting 3G this year.

What I have to wonder is: Does having a central region license gives them the right to stomp all over a market specific license, such as the Oklahoma City market?

Cricket have gone to considerable expense in acquiring 1700 MHz infrastructure, working with device manufacturers to produce phones that operate on 1700 MHz and, I assume, training for their people. Will T-Mobile, when they feel like getting around to it, be able to turn on their Band IV transceivers and have their vast customer base use the same Band IV spectrum in which Cricket is so heavily invested?

If so, then they do have a license in Oklahoma City. If not, then they do not have a license in Oklahoma City.

[btmec]

T-mobile won block REAG F licenses and Cricket won block E licenses. I did some reseach and this does cover T-mobile 3g service in Oklahoma City. T-mobile does have a license for it.

I have been told by the corp stores Jan or Feb. Since Jan has passed then maybe this month.

[tzsm98]

I'll believe it when I see it. Thanks for the update.

To me, it is amazing that such a simple piece of information should take such tooth pulling to develop. It is in their interest to let their customers know what to expect. Not to mystify them, blow them off, tell them to do their own research.

[tzsm98]

T-mobile won block REAG F licenses and Cricket won block E licenses. I did some reseach and this does cover T-mobile 3g service in Oklahoma City. T-mobile does have a license for it.

I have been told by the corp stores Jan or Feb. Since Jan has passed then maybe this month.

And now February has passed ...

[edmondcardsfan]

Unfortunatley I dont see tmobile launching 3G anytime soon, as the new 8900 is not 3G, these are just my feelings but I would think if they planned an okc launch soon then the 8900 would be 3G. As for me I would love to get the 8900 but cant justify the upgrade if not #g if they do launch anytime soon.

[tzsm98]

T-mobile won block REAG F licenses and Cricket won block E licenses. I did some reseach and this does cover T-mobile 3g service in Oklahoma City. T-mobile does have a license for it.

I have been told by the corp stores Jan or Feb. Since Jan has passed then maybe this month.

And now March has passed ...

[Bethshaya7]

I don't know. I'd say wait until the end of this year, (http://bamboo-fiber-clothing.com)to be sure.

[Bethshaya7]

I don't know. I'd say wait until the end of this year,to be sure.

[tzsm98]

I don't know. I'd say wait until the end of this year,to be sure.
I waited until two weeks after my contract lapsed, and on 28 February, and picked up a 5610d-2b, non-3G, non-UMA capable device.

It wasn't until almost mid-March that T-Mobile got the UMA problem straightened out so I could make use of my 6301b for UMA with any sort of reliability.
3G in Oklahoma City - I feel like a Chicago Cubs fan "Wait until next year!"
The only other GSM alternative in this market, AT&T, is unacceptable for a contract because of their pricing. So I stay with the Germans two more years and see what happens.

[omegis13]

I hate to resurrect an old thread, but it appears T-Mobile is planning on expanding 3G to the OKC market some time in Q4 2009.

Leaked memo reveals T-Mobile 3G expansion plans in 40+ U.S. cities | The Toybox | ZDNet.com (http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=3015)

[tzsm98]

T-mobile won block REAG F licenses and Cricket won block E licenses. I did some reseach and this does cover T-mobile 3g service in Oklahoma City. T-mobile does have a license for it.

I have been told by the corp stores Jan or Feb. Since Jan has passed then maybe this month.

And now April ...

[Scooby214]

I haven't visited the forum in a while, but am glad I found this thread. One of my lines will be out of contract in a few weeks, and have been deciding whether to re-up with a new 2G phone, or wait a while for a 3G phone. Looks as though I may as well pick up a 2G phone, as I'll have another line go out of contract during Q4 (when they claim that 3G will come to Okla. City). Sounds like I'm not the only one around who has stopped using the Hotspot@Home service. I started using it when they first launched it in 2007, but gave up on it as none of my UMA phones would work with it any more. (I'm on my second router.)

I watched as they put up a new T-Mo tower by my house a couple of years ago, and have been watching it for signs of 3G equipment being added. No signs of it so far...

[AngryCookyMonster]

I spoke to tmobile questioning the 3g as to it was said only major cities are being sit with 3g, Tulsa of wich is starting to see 3g, I ask about OKC, The response was that there were no plans this year for 3g. The way i see it, 4g will be out shoot maybe even 5g who knows seems tmobile is falling a little behind. But i sit and wait and be patient, like they say it has to get worse be it gets better.

[tzsm98]

3G for Oklahoma City is on the schedule for the last quarter of 2009. T-Mobile's 3G coverage map currently shows Oklahoma City as having 3G.

When I checked yesterday I was still getting GSM only but that may have been because of a setting in the phone. I don't have a T-Mobile 3G phone with me right now or I'd check it again. I'll check it out when I get home and report back later today.

...Later that evening...

I checked out T-Mobile with my Nokia 7376, set to UMTS only. I received four bars of signal with a 3G icon next to it. My other 3G capable devices, Nokia 3555 and Nokia 6263, displayed only the GSM icon but had five bars of signal. So, 3G is now up and running in Oklahoma City..

[tzsm98]

The other day I ran Speedtest.net's application to check my UL/DL figures. I was surprised to find I was now running 2.02 Mbps DL instead of my usual, and anemic, .80 or so. This was in the very early morning of Saturday. When I tested it again during the afternoon the same day I was back to ~.80 Mbps.

Was T-Mobile testing some new, faster equipment? I'm hoping that is the explanation and that they will get it on line really soon.

I tested 3G again on a Friday evening

http://www.speedtest.net/result/822296095.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

This is twice my usual DL and about average for UL

I've tested my speed on a weekday morning.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/824584562.png

This sub 2.0Mbps DL appears to be the new "usual". This is so much better than before.

Now another test, very early Saturday morning. This is cool.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/829671375.png

I'm hoping to see this sort of speed regularly. For some reason they think my phone is in Seattle. Go figure.

[tzsm98]

Broke new ground today in OKC!
http://www.speedtest.net/result/851897890.png

This is 50% of my cable speed, I am very impressed at the improvement. It is possible to please me!

Another of my wee hours tests.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/852281655.png

Early Saturday evening
http://www.speedtest.net/result/853030656.png
I'm seeing good, consistent results.

[tzsm98]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/889741262.png
This was the slowest of three checks today.
The fastest had a ping of 80; 5.51 up; .55 down.
My cable speed was slower (5.48 up).

The future has arrived!

http://www.speedtest.net/result/891039754.png (http://www.speedtest.net)


2 August 2010 using Nokia N900 (Type RX-51)
http://www.speedtest.net/result/900114956.png (http://www.speedtest.net) http://www.pingtest.net/result/21426414.png (http://www.pingtest.net)


24 November 2010 using Rocket 2.0 USB dongle
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1044316516.pnghttp://www.pingtest.net/result/28835715.png (http://www.pingtest.net)

[tzsm98]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1070482688.png

Today's results