T-Mobile achieved a new industry milestone by demonstrating 550 Mbps uplink speeds on sub-6 GHz spectrum, the first commercial network to do so using 3GPP Release 17 UL Tx Switching. Conducted live at a site in Seattle, the record-breaking uplink performance was delivered using 100 MHz of TDD spectrum (n41) and 35 MHz of FDD spectrum (n25), a MediaTek flagship test device, and Nokia infrastructure.
This breakthrough underscores T-Mobile’s leadership in advancing uplink capabilities, an increasingly critical component in real-time, cloud-connected applications like gaming, 4K video uploads, and immersive XR. While most operators continue to focus on download speeds, T-Mobile has been pushing uplink performance forward since achieving 275 Mbps in 2022 and 345 Mbps in 2024. With Release 17, uplink performance is enhanced via smart multiplexing that leverages UL Carrier Aggregation and MIMO across both TDD and FDD spectrum.
The demonstration reflects broader momentum in 5G Advanced as operators and device makers optimize for interactivity and low-latency services. This evolution is expected to be vital for enabling future mobile experiences and supporting data-intensive creator, enterprise, and AI-driven use cases.
- T-Mobile set a new uplink speed record of 550 Mbps in sub-6 GHz spectrum using Release 17 UL Tx Switching.
- The live demo used 100 MHz of n41 and 35 MHz of n25 spectrum with MediaTek’s integrated M90 modem device and Nokia radio access gear.
- UL Tx Switching enables dynamic optimization of transmit chains, combining Carrier Aggregation and MIMO for improved uplink throughput.
- T-Mobile’s past uplink records include 275 Mbps (2022) and 345 Mbps (2024), showing steady gains through 5G Advanced evolution.
- The demo reinforces T-Mobile’s push toward uplink optimization for applications like real-time video, AR/VR, and mobile AI services.
“Everyone obsesses over download speed, but at T-Mobile we see what’s coming, and uplink is the next big thing,” said Ulf Ewaldsson, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “Whether you’re uploading 4K video, gaming in real time or powering a VR headset, this record shows that T-Mobile is already building the network for that future.”
