Band 71 (600 MHz)
Understanding Band 71
Band 71 was a strategic acquisition that transformed T-Mobile's network competitiveness. Before 600 MHz, T-Mobile's lowest-frequency holding was Band 12 (700 MHz, limited to 12 MHz in some markets). Competitors AT&T and Verizon had dominant low-band positions with 700 MHz and 850 MHz. By acquiring nationwide 600 MHz spectrum, T-Mobile gained the ability to build a coverage footprint matching or exceeding its competitors in rural and suburban areas for the first time.
Band 71 has a reversed duplex arrangement (uplink above downlink), similar to Band 20. The deployment required a TV repack process where broadcast stations were relocated to new channels to clear the 600 MHz band for mobile use. This process, managed by the FCC, took several years to complete nationwide. T-Mobile began deploying Band 71 LTE in 2017 and launched 5G NR on n71 in December 2019 as the basis for its "nationwide 5G" claim.
Band 71 Technical Parameters
UL: 663 – 698 MHz (35 MHz)
DL: 617 – 652 MHz (35 MHz)
Duplex spacing: −11 MHz (UL above DL)
Path Loss Advantage:
vs. 700 MHz (B12/13): −1.3 dB
vs. 1900 MHz (PCS): −9.6 dB
vs. 2100 MHz (B1): −11.0 dB
Building Penetration (residential):
600 MHz: 6–9 dB | 2100 MHz: 15–22 dB
Rural Cell Radius:
Band 71: 10–15 km | Band 4/66: 2–4 km
US Low-Band Spectrum Comparison
| Band | Frequency | Paired BW | Primary Holder | 5G NR Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 71 (600 MHz) | 617-698 MHz | 35 MHz | T-Mobile | n71 |
| Band 12 (700 MHz) | 699-746 MHz | 12 MHz | T-Mobile | n12 |
| Band 13 (700 MHz) | 746-787 MHz | 12 MHz | Verizon | n13 |
| Band 14 (FirstNet) | 758-798 MHz | 10 MHz | AT&T/FirstNet | n14 |
| Band 5 (850 MHz) | 824-894 MHz | 25 MHz | AT&T, Verizon | n5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the FCC incentive auction?
A two-sided auction (2016 to 2017) where broadcasters gave up UHF spectrum for $10.05B in payments, and operators bid $19.8B for the freed spectrum. T-Mobile spent $7.9B for 31 MHz nationwide. The process repurposed 84 MHz of UHF TV (614 to 698 MHz) for mobile broadband while repacking remaining TV stations into fewer channels.
How does 600 MHz propagation compare to other bands?
Path loss at 600 MHz is 1.3 dB lower than 700 MHz, 9.6 dB lower than 1900 MHz, and 11 dB lower than 2100 MHz. Building penetration is 6 to 9 dB versus 15 to 22 dB at 2100 MHz. Cell radius of 10 to 15 km rural. The ~50 cm wavelength provides excellent terrain diffraction, reaching into valleys and behind hills.
How is Band 71 used for 5G NR?
T-Mobile deploys n71 as its nationwide low-band 5G layer (5 to 10 MHz carriers, 30 to 75 Mbps). Coverage extends across rural and suburban areas where n41 sites are sparse. T-Mobile aggregates n71 (coverage) with n41 (capacity) for range and speed. Band n71 was the foundation of T-Mobile's December 2019 "first to nationwide 5G" launch.