T-Mobile Beats AT&T, Verizon Being First to Offer 5G in All 50 States

T-Mobile may have been the underdog in the past. That was then, but this is now. Now the wireless carrier is leading the way with its 5G network. The company recently announced an expansion that allows it to offer 5G connectivity in all 50 states, including the remote and rugged state of Alaska.

T-Mobile’s 5G expansion into Alaska this week was made possible by a new roaming agreement with Alaska-based wireless carrier GCI. GCI turned on its 5G network in April and currently provides service in Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage.

The Alaskan wireless carrier has plans to expand coverage across the state, starting with areas that already have a fiber optic wide area network. These future locations include Alaska’s capital city of Juneau and Fairbanks, the state’s second-largest city.

T-Mobile customers can roam on GCI’s network and enjoy the benefits of 5G connectivity, but that’s only half of the deal. T-Mobile is offering reciprocity for GCI customers. Alaskan citizens who have service through GCI can access T-Mobile’s 5G network, which covers almost 6,000 cities and towns nationwide. It’s a win-win situation for both companies and their customers.

T-Mobile is no stranger to GCI. The two companies partnered to offer voice over LTE in 2014 and were among the first wireless carriers to allow roaming on each other’s 4G LTE network. Now that 5G is quickly becoming the new standard, customers from both wireless carriers can continue to enjoy the benefits of this roaming partnership.

With 5G becoming more prevalent, the demand for 5G-capable phones will grow. Apple last year was criticized for not bundling 5G into its iPhone 11 series. This year, the company is expected to include 5G support in the rumored iPhone 12 along with the new A14 processor, LiDAR scanner, and an OLED display.