Following the announcement that T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS would merge, the companies revealed plans to transition their current GSM and CDMA networks into a single HSPA+/LTE network within the next few years, The Verge reports. Due to the high device turnover rate among MetroPCS customers, the carrier will shutdown its CDMA network by 2015 and repurpose the spectrum for expanded 4G LTE coverage. Customers will be migrated to GSM-based devices offered by T-Mobile, while at the same time the carrier will continue refarming its 1900MHz spectrum to improve its GSM and HSPA+ coverage.
“At the date the deal closes, we will have an array of GSM, HSPA+, and LTE devices available for MetroPCS customers to purchase,” the companies told investors on Wednesday. The two companies plan to offer GSM and HSPA+ service solely on the 1900MHz band and 4G LTE coverage on the AWS spectrum.