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I’ve been looking for a great prepaid phone plan that I could use to give out to people as an official channel of communication.
I saw a MetroPCS (now Metro by T-Mobile) store where I live, and last time I remember, they were still on a CDMA network.
Since MetroPCS’s plans were pretty straightforward and had all the essentials, I decided to go for a MetroPCS connection, but I wasn’t sure if they were still on the older CDMA network.
Before spending my money on a connection, I decided to research online from some credible sources.
I visited a few carrier-focused user forums where people had shared their experience with MetroPCS and checked out MetroPCS’s official website to know what plans they offered.
This article summarizes everything I have found and will bring you up to date on what network MetroPCS uses now.
MetroPCS (now Metro by T-Mobile) uses T-Mobile’s GSM network, not CDMA, which MetroPCS used before the company merged with T-Mobile.
Find out more in the article on how GSM is the way forward and what the newer technologies like 4G and 5G use.
Does MetroPCS Use GSM?
MetroPCS (now Metro by T-Mobile) used to be on CDMA networks before, and after the merger with T-Mobile and the branding change that they’ve undergone, all of their devices now use T-Mobile GSM.
Any GSM phone will work with a MetroPCS SIM card as long as you’ve carrier unlocked the phone and purchased a MetroPCS SIM card.
GSM is the better standard because it uses techniques that CDMA just cannot, which enable a GSM phone to be faster on the internet and be more reliable while on a call.
The only advantage the CDMA has now is that it doesn’t require a SIM, which you won’t be bothered about after you’ve inserted it into your phone.
As of writing this article, all carriers have moved on to GSM, including those on CDMA before, because newer and faster technologies and standards are no longer compatible with CDMA.
GSM vs CDMA
Back when 2G and 3G were cutting edge, GSM and CDMA were very competitive, and carriers were adopting both standards across the industry.
But ever since 4G LTE became mainstream, CDMA was abandoned by the wayside since CDMA doesn’t work with 4G LTE.
The most important difference that you’d notice apart from the speed and other more technical aspects is that GSM requires a SIM card where CDMA does not.
This is because all of your subscriber information is on the SIM card to change phones quickly if you wanted to, while CDMA phones had your subscriber information in the phone.
As a result, you cannot change CDMA phones by yourself unless you go to the nearest store of your carrier.
When 3G was introduced, CDMA couldn’t handle voice and data simultaneously, so if you were using the internet when you received a call, your internet connection would be disabled until the call is ended.
Even though this was fixed in a standard update later, GSM already had this feature on their first-generation 3G connections, and most carriers chose to move to GSM partly because of this.
As we can see, GSM is the way forward in all aspects that a mobile connection should have, and then some, with the added benefit of being flexible with what device you’ll be using with your phone number.
GSM Is The Future
Because GSM is better in every aspect compared to CDMA and as of writing this article, 5G has allowed a GSM phone to reach gigabit speeds in select areas, something that only wired internet could previously achieve.
As your demand for data and internet use increases, having a high-speed connection is always the priority, and that is why GSM is the future.
Along with robust internet connectivity, 5G has also improved over 4G for reliable and high-quality voice calls.
The only downside to 5G is that there are only a few regions as of writing this that have good 5G coverage from carriers like Verizon and AT&T.
If your area doesn’t have 5G, use a 4G connection until your carrier expands to your area.
Why 5G Is Worth The Upgrade
5G during testing has been seen to be capable of 10 Gbps, and regular 5G connections that you can get right now start at 50 Mbps, which is close to the basic home internet fiber plans you can have now.
The difference in prices between 4G and 5G has remained somewhat low, and some carriers have opted to upgrade you to 5G for free.
It’s worth it to upgrade, and since remote work is becoming more mainstream and streaming services are seeing a huge boost in popularity, 5G is a great technology that can help you navigate this new landscape.
Video calling, movie streaming, and occasional competitive gaming are well executed with a 5G connection.
Call quality is crystal clear, and I haven’t had a single dropped call after a few months of use.
What Does MetroPCS Offer?
Since MetroPCS ( now Metro by T-Mobile) is a part of T-Mobile, they offer 5G services and their 4G prepaid connections.
The plans are priced at:
- $40 p.m. for 10 GB of high-speed data.
- $50 p.m. for Unlimited high-speed data.
- $60 p.m. for Unlimited data + Amazon Prime subscription.
The monthly cost goes down as you add more lines to an account, so it’s better to get lines for your family members on the same MetroPCS account to keep your monthly bills down.
Unlimited data doesn’t mean 100% unlimited, and if MetroPCS finds out that you’re using more than 35 gigabytes a month, they’ll throttle your connection until the next billing cycle.
You May Also Enjoy Reading
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- How to Activate an Old Verizon Phone in Seconds
- T-Mobile Edge: Everything You Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Which carriers are on GSM?
All carriers that have 4G or newer technology are on GSM.
As a result, CDMA has largely been abandoned, and no one operates CDMA networks now.
What type of carrier is MetroPCS?
MetroPCS (now Metro by T-Mobile) use T-Mobile’s nationwide GSM network and is a prepaid carrier that offers 4G and 5G phone services.
Can you still use a GSM phone?
GSM is the go-to standard now, and if your phone has a SIM card that you can remove, it is a GSM phone.
Is GSM 2G or 3G?
GSM is a standard that can use multiple technologies like 2G, 3G, and 4G.
Currently, 5G technology and the previous mobile standards like 4G and 3G use GSM SIM cards on phones.
