T-Mobile is testing Nokia’s experimental 6G equipment in the US
T-Mobile has received FCC approval to test Nokia’s prototype wireless equipment at its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. The testing is being done in the 7125–7525 MHz band which is the same frequency range Nokia is using for 6G tests at its Dallas facility. This spectrum is increasingly viewed as essential for 6G development since it should offer a much higher data rates and capacity compared to current 5G network radios. The 7–8 GHz range, in particular, is seen ideal in the US by its officials and industry players.
According to the filing, the tests will involve:
- Two fixed base stations and up to five mobile devices (all from Nokia)
- A coverage area limited to 2 km
- Both fixed and mobile use cases
- Experimental Massive MIMO antenna arrays
Interestingly, while T-Mobile doesn’t explicitly mention 6G in the application, Nokia confirmed that their research in this band is part of their broader 6G development efforts. The company is exploring technologies like advanced beamforming, innovative frequency sharing, and new radio configurations.
Confidence in Nokia?
The timing of this test is notable, especially with recent rumors suggesting that T-Mobile might drop Nokia as a network supplier, just like AT&T and Verizon reportedly have. However, if Nokia’s gear is being tested at T-Mobile’s HQ, that may point to ongoing trust in their capabilities for next-generation networks. But, T-Mobile has also been working with Nvidia and Ericsson, besides Nokia, to explore how AI can shape the future of 6G, with smarter and more adaptive networks.
The future of networks.
Work on 6G standards is well underway within the 3GPP group. While final specs (Release 21) are expected around 2029, companies like Apple, Qualcomm, and Nokia are already contributing their ideas. Interestingly, there is a slight shift away from bringing theoretical peak speeds that would suite end user goals like better coverage, battery life, and lower latency. Earlier 6G hype focused on terahertz (THz) spectrum, but recent discussions suggest the industry is backing away from that in favor of more realistic mid-band solutions, especially after 5G’s struggles with mmWave deployments.
Source LightReading
