Sprint Trumpets 5G Data Call on 2.5 GHz Spectrum

Sprint made good use of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week to tout its agenda for 5G and IoT. This included the announcement that it had completed a 5G data call using its 2.5 GHz spectrum and massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) on the carrier’s live commercial network. The carrier hailed the test as a significant milestone on its path toward launching mobile 5G service in nine cities in the first half of this year. The test was conducted in San Diego and used global 5G standards. Test partners included Nokia, which provided its dual-mode AirScale massive MIMO radio, and a test mobile device based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 5G modem. Sprint CTO John Saw previously noted that the carrier plans to use around 60 megahertz of its 2.5 GHz spectrum to support its initial 5G launch. The carrier has said it would have 5G nationwide by the end of 2019.