I emailed T-Mobile to ask if they are planning on offering service here in Knoxville and the reply said keep a look in on our website due to the fact we may be offering service there soon.
T-Mobile has had an operational network for a few years in eastern TN as part of an FCC requirement for their license, but it is blocked from public access. Perhaps they are going to start using it.
I emailed T-Mobile about the Knoxville and Tri-Cities area a couple of months ago and they said something similar.
I'd like to see T-mo hurry up and get service here... I'd probably get a T-mo line just to have another phone around...
I wonder if they would go all the way up to here? Most cell phone companies stop their ktown area coverage in LaFollette (like 20 miles from me)
Here's a question I have: IF t-mobile has a network up and running there to hold their license, why do they block people from using it? I know that it's most likely not the best network and probably a few sites here and there like hot spots, but wouldn't it be smarter to allow t-mobile customers that visit the areas to access those sites instead of paying roaming to a different carrier?
I can't give you a good answer for that. Partly it depends on the scope of the coverge. A saver network to preserve a license typically covers a very small geographic area since PCS license requirements go by people covered, not land covered. So, you don't have to build out the network fully if it covers enough people (And the requirement is 25% or 50% IIRC I have to check on that though).
The FCC coverage requirements for a PCS carrier are 25% population covered within the first 5 years if you have a BTA (10-15 Mhz license) and 50% for an MTA (30Mhz license) You have to meet 10 year build-out requirements also:wink:
Nope... their current coverage doesn't even go to Lafollette I don't think. It's pretty limited... I'm thinking it barely makes it to Emory Rd in Knoxville. I saw the map on the FCC site awhile back and couldn't help but laugh.
FCC Buildout requirements anyone over 15 MHz to have 33% of population in 5 years and 66% in 10 years. If you are 15 Mhz or less 25% of population in 5 years. This may have changed. I don't know there is a 10 deadline for a BTA. * I should add this is for 1 license and not all the airwaves you have for a market. So if you have C1,E,F Blocks in the same market, that is 35 MHz. You still need are only required to have 25% of the population covered in 5 years since they are one 15 MHz block and two 10 MHz blocks.
haha wow, that's kinda bad. But everyone has to start somewhere how far down do they go in other directions? Does it go down to Alcoa/Maryville & to Seveir County ..pigeon forge & etc or is it just immediate Knoxville?
ookay. So they are in lafollette along 75.. but it just breaks from knoxville to there I guess? I just dont get why they all have to stop when they're so close to me.. lol... but oh well. At least cingular will be up and they'll have roaming in the areas there's no t-mobile.
Is that a really small network or comparable to Cingular's (DCS) in the region? It seems larger than just a "small network", but i am no expert and certainly do not know all the map represents.
Basically the blue represents areas where signal is better than a nominal level (I believe -104dB). Needless to say, that's a pretty small network especially when you consider all the gaps. However, it's large enough to cover the required amount of the BTA so as not to lose the license. Cingular has a LOT more coverage up there and certainly doesn't have the gaping holes in their coverage. This applies for both BTA's (Knox/Tri Cities). If T-mo's network is still in the same shape when they launch, their customers will be doing lots of roaming on Cingular.
So lots of roaming on Cingular.. that sounds great. Would it even be worth TMo to launch service if this is the case? (maybe this is why they haven't done it).
Yep and its about time, lol. About a week or so ago, my dad was over here and his cingular phone was working.. then a few days later he came back and it showed no network again. Hm. Maybe the network here will be back soon. I hope so, anyway... and I also hope they get a store in, I'm thinking about trying them out.
Daryl Lee; Not to suprising. most companies turn on a site for testing then turn it back down before doing the final turn-up. I understand they (Cingular) turned on 17 sites in your area.:browani:
yep.. and I must say that their coverage is quite good. ive had an OLD Bellsouth mobility phone w/ an old SIM in it to monitor coverage... (that used to belong to my dad_
