The Mobile Report reports that US operator T-Mobile is preparing to phase out its LTE network starting in early 2026. According to leaked internal documents, T-Mobile's LTE shutdown will focus on reallocating key spectrum bands to expand its 5G standalone (SA) network.
The document indicates that T-Mobile will stop approving most LTE and 5G non-standalone (NSA) activations for business customers starting January 1, 2026. By around 2028, the majority of the LTE spectrum will be repurposed for 5G. Only 5MHz of LTE channels will remain for legacy devices until the complete shutdown in 2035.
Starting in January 2026, enterprise customers will need special approval from T-Mobile to activate devices that only support LTE or 5G NSA. Similar restrictions may apply to consumers in the future, but the document does not mention specific plans. Furthermore, new enterprise LTE contracts will not be extended beyond 2035.
This shutdown will affect older phones, tablets, wearables, and IoT devices that rely solely on LTE. Users may need to upgrade their devices or seek assistance from their carrier, similar to past 2G shutdowns.
LTE spectrum will be reallocated to 5G
According to the document, T-Mobile will complete the "reallocation" of LTE spectrum—repurposing existing LTE frequencies for 5G signals—over the next two years. T-Mobile currently primarily provides 5G service on the 600MHz (n71) and 2500MHz (n41) bands, with the former offering wider coverage and the latter offering higher transmission speeds.
Regarding LTE, bands 2, 4/66, 12, and portions of band 71 remain in use, but these bands will be gradually transitioned to 5G, with band 2 becoming n2 and band 4/66 becoming n66. To accommodate traditional IoT devices, such as ATMs and in-car infotainment systems, T-Mobile will maintain 5MHz LTE channels nationwide until at least 2035.
Reports indicate that for average users, the impact of this adjustment will be relatively limited. Since 2020, most smartphones available on the market have supported 5G networks. However, some early devices that only support 5G NSA, such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and LG V50 ThinQ, will still rely on LTE signals and may need to be upgraded within the next two years.
In addition, T-Mobile's home broadband service originally used 5G NSA technology. Earlier this year, the company implemented a software update to enable and enforce 5G standalone (SA) mode on its gateway devices to mitigate the impact of LTE network phaseouts.
Major Expansion of 5G Coverage
This shift underscores T-Mobile's commitment to advancing its 5G infrastructure. By phasing out its 4G network, T-Mobile can use these frequencies to improve the coverage and speed of standalone 5G, ultimately paving the way for 6G.
Currently, T-Mobile has one of the most extensive 5G networks in the US. However, its 4G coverage is only around 43%, lagging behind Verizon and AT&T. A full transition to 5G could help improve this figure and provide a more consistent experience nationwide.
Notably, AT&T announced on October 8th that it has deployed 5G SA nationwide, expanding its 5G RedCap nationwide to 250 million access points. Meanwhile, Verizon is nearing the end of its nationwide 5G SA deployment.
Prior to this, the three major US carriers had successively shut down their 2G and 3G networks, with T-Mobile being the last to terminate its 2G service. T-Mobile's network shutdown schedule had been repeatedly delayed due to lagging enterprise IoT device upgrades and integration complexities following its acquisition of Sprint. The carrier discontinued its 3G network in 2022 and began phasing out its 2G GSM service in early 2025, often offering free or discounted upgrades to affected customers.
T-Mobile is expected to take similar steps when it retires its LTE network, meaning customers may receive device replacement options or trade-in incentives. While consumers with newer smartphones won't feel the impact immediately, those with 4G-only phones or older IoT devices may eventually experience reduced functionality or service interruptions in some areas as the transition progresses.
