Boost Mobile, a subsidiary of Dish Network, has become the first operator to commercially implement advanced carrier aggregation (CA) on its 5G network, marking a significant milestone in mobile network technology.
Carrier aggregation, a technique used to enhance data speeds and network efficiency, has been utilized by various operators for years. However, Boost Mobile’s achievement is notable for its specific implementation of four-component carrier (4CC) downlink and two-component carrier (2CC) uplink CA on a live 5G network. This innovative approach is a first in the industry.
The technology has been in testing since last year. In October, Dish reported achieving peak uplink speeds of 200 Mbps using 35 MHz of spectrum and downlink speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps using 75 MHz. The tests utilized a combination of spectrum bands at 600 MHz, 1.7 GHz, and 2.1 GHz.
Eben Albertyn, EVP and CTO of Boost, expressed pride in this advancement, stating, “As the first network operator to commercially launch simultaneous 2x uplink and 4x downlink carrier aggregation, Boost continues to push the boundaries of network technology. We support our Boost subscribers with the most advanced wireless technology available, offering an enhanced customer experience with increased speeds.”
In its commercial deployment, Boost Mobile combines 100 MHz of spectrum across four channels. While this is slightly less than the spectrum used in testing, it is expected to provide a noticeable improvement in customer data speeds. However, real-world conditions and spectrum availability mean that users might not always experience the maximum speeds demonstrated during tests.
Customers with compatible devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24, will be the first to benefit from these enhancements. As more compatible devices enter the market, a larger number of users will experience improved connectivity, provided they are in areas where the necessary spectrum bands have been deployed.
Boost Mobile’s achievement comes at a crucial time for Dish Network, which faces financial pressures with around $2 billion of debt maturing in November. Despite these challenges, Dish’s strategic shift from a satellite TV provider to a cloud-native mobile operator appears to be on track, underscored by this significant technological advancement in their network.
