T-Mobile’s $200 million investment increases 5G in multiple NCWV counties

Story by Jeff Jenkins, MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — T-Mobile says it recently completed a $200 million investment in West Virginia.

A news conference at the state capitol Friday with Gov. Jim Justice highlighted the upgrades that include 5G service via 377 new towers and upgrades to 121 existing towers.

“We believe that connectivity is not just a ‘must have’ but it is crucial for economic advancement, it is crucial for education, it is crucial for safety,” T-Mobile executive Edwige Robinson said.

Gov. Justice said there’s been a significant increase in T-Mobile’s 5G availability in a short period of time.

“Today 90% of our state has access to T-Mobile’s 5G network, a 500-thousand person increase in two years,” Justice said.

T-Mobile, which merged with Sprint in 2020, purchased Shentel Wireless, a primary mobile service provider in West Virginia in 2021.

T-Mobile said you can get its 5G service along all of the interstates in West Virginia and 70% of state residents have access to the company’s Ultra Capacity 5G which provides faster download speeds.

The company said 5G is being offered now in Barbour, Braxton, Marion, Monroe, Nicholas, Summers and Upshur counties.