Verizon and T-Mobile US this morning touted spectrum enhancements to their respective 5G networks that in the end should produce higher network speeds for end users.

In Verizon’s case, the operator is angling to plug quasi-licensed Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum into its 5G network. The carrier conducted a 5G data session trial with Ericsson that showed it was able to use both the shared and licensed versions of the CBRS spectrum to boost network capacity.

CBRS spectrum includes 150 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band. Access to that spectrum is through a multi-tiered access program that includes tier-one incumbents with “protected status,” including the Department of Defense for use by Navy ship radars and registered fixed satellite receiving stations; a tier two for “priority access licenses” (PAL); and tier three for “general authorized” channels.

Access to that spectrum is through a group of Spectrum Access System administrators comprised of CommScope, Federated Wireless, Google, and Sony. Verizon and other wireless carriers are looking to access CBRS spectrum through those administrators using the tier-two and tier-three models.

Verizon said it plans to use that spectrum to supplement the current use of its licensed C-Band and millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum for its 5G network.

T-Mobile’s spectrum move is a bit more advanced. The carrier aggregated three different spectrum channels running over its commercial standalone (SA) 5G network that produced network speeds in excess of 3 GB/s.

The test used 5G carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities to combine a pair of spectrum channels in the 2.5 GHz band and a single spectrum channel in the 1.9 GHz band to form a single 210-megahertz channel. This was transmitted over T-Mobile’s SA 5G radio access network (RAN) to a Samsung Galaxy S22 device.

T-Mobile launched its 5G SA network in mid-2020. This allows for a distinct 5G network untethered from legacy 4G LTE core network equipment.

The carrier is currently running all of its 5G data sessions over that SA network, with parts of it also supporting two-channel CA combining a pair of 2.5 GHz spectrum channels.

T-Mobile earlier this month launched commercial voice traffic running over its 5G SA RAN core in a pair of markets, portending toward a growing push by operators to consolidate their network traffic. The technology allows compatible devices in those areas to remain connected to the carrier’s 5G network for both voice and data sessions.