T-Mobile has achieved a new US 5G first by reaching uplink speeds exceeding 200 Mbps in a live commercial 5G standalone (SA) network, using uplink carrier aggregation in collaboration with Nokia and Qualcomm. Uplink speeds are vital to enabling faster data transmission from customer devices, enhancing applications such as video calling, gaming and Extended Reality (XR). Carrier aggregation enables T-Mobile to combine multiple channels or carriers, increasing speed and performance. In this instance, the network operator merged two 5G channels of mid-band spectrum, which increased the speed and capacity of the network.

T-Mobile plans to start rolling out UL 5G carrier aggregation early next year, allowing customers with compatible devices to start benefiting from this faster technology. This latest milestone represents another step towards a true 5G-only experience for T-Mobile customers, as the company continues to drive towards advancements in technology such as carrier aggregation and Voice over New Radio (VoNR). T-Mobile is considered a 5G leader, with the largest, fastest and most awarded 5G network in the US, covering 326 million people across 2 million square miles.

The operator aims to reach 300 million people with Ultra Capacity 5G, which offers ultra-fast network speeds, by the end of the year.