T-Mobile has agreed to purchase mmWave spectrum in Ohio that it has earmarked for 5G. Specifically, it is looking at 1150 MHz of LMDS spectrum. LMDS spectrum falls in the 28 GHz to 31 GHz range. "The requested spectrum assignments will allow T-Mobile to deploy the 27,500 to 28,350 MHz portion of the licenses for next generational 5G mobile services in accordance with recent technologies that can leverage millimeter wave bands for fixed and mobile wireless communications," said the company in its filings with the FCC. T-Mobile would also use some of the LMDS spectrum for microwave backhaul. The move is attention-grabbing mostly because to-date T-Mobile has said it will deploy 5G in its existing 600 MHz footprint. Last year, T-Mobile eschewed the idea of mmWave spectrum when it first announced its plans for 5G. Many of the benefits of the 5G NR spec will be found in mmWave spectrum. The company has little spectrum in the mmWave bands, particularly when compared to competitors AT&T and Verizon. The terms of T-Mobile's purchase of LMDS spectrum were not disclosed.


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