T-Mobile scores another 5G first, and customers are already reaping the benefits
T-Mobile customers will continue to enjoy 5G SA in India.
No more regressing to LTE. | Image by NPR
T-Mobile kicked off its 5G transition with a fully independent 5G Standalone (SA) network. 5G SA uses a cloud-native 5G core network, enabling advanced capabilities and performance improvements. That bet is now allowing the carrier to unlock novel experiences for customers, including 5G SA roaming.
Carriers partner with other providers to enable connectivity for their customers beyond their coverage zone. Since 4G infrastructure is more widespread, roaming is usually 4G or, if you are lucky, 5G Non-Standalone (5G NSA) at most. T-Mobile is changing that.
The company has joined forces with India's Jio, another early adopter of 5G SA, to pull off the world's first 5G SA roaming connection. The interoperability is managed by global communications company Syniverse.
Unlike 5G NSA, which uses 4G equipment as a base, 5G SA unlocks the full potential of 5G. This makes 5G SA faster and more reliable.
The agreement with Jio means that T-Mobile customers will be able to enjoy the speeds and lower latency offered by 5G SA when they travel to India, and vice versa, instead of being relegated to a slower 5G NSA or 4G network.
Fierce Network has more details. The capability went live in August, and 40% to 50% of combined roaming traffic has moved to 5G SA.
The functionality supports both data and voice through Voice over New Radio (VoNR), meaning voice communication is also carried over 5G networks. While that might sound simple, former T-Mobile President of Technology Neville Ray said four years ago that it isn't.
T-Mobile Chief Network Officer Ankur Kapoor agrees that voice service remains complicated due to its sensitivity to latency, mobility, and network handover. The company overcame the issues by leveraging a unified network infrastructure that handles both 5G SA and 4G traffic.
Nearly 390 carriers have rolled out 5G networks, of which just about 90 offer 5G SA.
T-Mobile is in talks with several international carriers to bring 5G SA roaming to more countries. Still, because networks aren't fully standalone yet, managing handoffs between 5G SA, 5G NSA, and LTE remains a delicate dance.
As industry veteran and CEO of AI-Driven Consulting, Brian Newman notes, cross-border 5G SA is more than a display of technical capability. It's a sign that the new benchmark for providers is experience continuity.
Taking 5G across borders
Carriers partner with other providers to enable connectivity for their customers beyond their coverage zone. Since 4G infrastructure is more widespread, roaming is usually 4G or, if you are lucky, 5G Non-Standalone (5G NSA) at most. T-Mobile is changing that.
Unlike 5G NSA, which uses 4G equipment as a base, 5G SA unlocks the full potential of 5G. This makes 5G SA faster and more reliable.
The agreement with Jio means that T-Mobile customers will be able to enjoy the speeds and lower latency offered by 5G SA when they travel to India, and vice versa, instead of being relegated to a slower 5G NSA or 4G network.
This is a monumental step for global wireless, and T‑Mobile is proud to lead it. Leave one country, land in another, and your 5G experience is just as seamless — whether you’re streaming, sharing travel reels or running business apps. That’s the breakthrough power of this technology.
Ankur Kapoor, T-Mobile's Chief Network Officer, September 2026
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VoNR included
Fierce Network has more details. The capability went live in August, and 40% to 50% of combined roaming traffic has moved to 5G SA.
The functionality supports both data and voice through Voice over New Radio (VoNR), meaning voice communication is also carried over 5G networks. While that might sound simple, former T-Mobile President of Technology Neville Ray said four years ago that it isn't.
Voice services are generally more complex to support than data because they are highly sensitive to latency, mobility and handovers.
Ankur Kapoor, T-Mobile's Chief Network Officer, September 2026
T-Mobile Chief Network Officer Ankur Kapoor agrees that voice service remains complicated due to its sensitivity to latency, mobility, and network handover. The company overcame the issues by leveraging a unified network infrastructure that handles both 5G SA and 4G traffic.
More partnerships ahead?
Nearly 390 carriers have rolled out 5G networks, of which just about 90 offer 5G SA.
T-Mobile is in talks with several international carriers to bring 5G SA roaming to more countries. Still, because networks aren't fully standalone yet, managing handoffs between 5G SA, 5G NSA, and LTE remains a delicate dance.
The new battleground is a consistent experience
As industry veteran and CEO of AI-Driven Consulting, Brian Newman notes, cross-border 5G SA is more than a display of technical capability. It's a sign that the new benchmark for providers is experience continuity.
Other ways T-Mobile's network is improving:
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