T-Mobile has decided to halt any further expansion of 5G mmWave and has received approval from the FCC to relinquish some of its spectrum. They do not foresee the need or desire to continue deploying 5G mmWave in the areas they had previously planned for.
During the initial rush to launch 5G, carriers like Verizon embraced 5G mmWave as the solution for quick deployment and to showcase the potential of 5G. While 5G mmWave offered incredibly fast speeds, reaching over 1Gbps in some cases, its limited reach and requirement for direct line-of-sight to a tower hindered its effectiveness. T-Mobile, on the other hand, focused on utilizing mid-band 5G acquired through the Sprint acquisition, which proved to be a more reliable and efficient option for 5G deployment.
T-Mobile has informed the FCC that 5G mmWave spectrum is still valuable for crowded venues like arenas and stadiums to relieve network congestion, but it has limitations in meeting performance requirements, especially in situations where direct line-of-sight is not possible. The spectrum being relinquished by T-Mobile includes areas in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, and others, with only a few downtown sections maintaining active 5G mmWave coverage.
The FCC has the option to make this spectrum available to other providers if desired.
Source: Light Reading