T-Mobile to deploy 600MHz LTE in Puerto Rico

T-Mobile expects to deploy its LTE Extended Range network in Puerto Rico later this year, the company said in a statement. It wants to take the opportunity and build a faster network in the wake of the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

The technology, using the 600MHz spectrum the company obtained at a tender last year, enables signals to travel twice as long between towers, allowing for more coverage and setting the stage for the future deployment of 5G technology, the company added.

"After the devastating hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico last year, we saw the opportunity to rebuild an even better network: with 5G reads equipment," said T-Mobile chief technology officer Neville Ray.

In September Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean were hit hard by hurricanes Maria and Irma, with Puerto Rico losing around 90% of its cell sites in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

Since then the recovery has been ongoing, and recently the FCC approved US$64mn in additional funding for the recovery of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands telecoms infrastructure. It is also seeking commentary on US$445mn of funding over the next decade to support fixed broadband coverage expansion in the island.

T-Mobile said in another statement that it doubled the number of its generators on the island and that it added infrastructure to its towers in preparation for this year's hurricane season, which started on June 1.