Last summer, US carrier T-Mobile released the results of production network tests showing that 5G independence (5G SA), when combined with carrier aggregation (NR CA), can deliver speeds of up to 3Gbps. Now, the carrier has officially launched its "stand-alone Ultra Capacity 5G" network service.

T-Mobile said it is taking its only nationwide 5G Independent (5G SA) network to the next level by lighting up Ultra Capacity 5G on the national 5G SA. The move will unlock faster speeds for customers across the country, while further reducing lag in the network with lower latency and improving the experience of applications such as gaming that require near-real-time response.

T-Mobile believes 5G is having a "meaningful impact" on its customers when it comes to smartphones, home Internet and disaster response, "but we've only scratched the surface of 5G".

While T-Mobile claims speeds of up to 3Gbps, don't expect to experience those breakneck speeds on 5G-enabled devices everywhere or on the network.

IT Home has learned that T-Mobile noted that the speed of the 5G SA rollout will initially apply to the Samsung Galaxy S22 line of phones, "and it will be extended to other devices in the near future over the coming weeks."

T-Mobile hasn't shared specifics yet, but it remains to be seen how much of a performance boost is expected in actual use, beyond the maximum 3Gbps test speed. But T-Mobile will be the first carrier to offer performance as fast or faster than 5G MMW with the intermediate frequency spectrum.