Sprint’s burgeoning 5G network reached its fifth city today. The mobile network operator, which finds itself increasingly desperate to gain regulatory approval to merge with T-Mobile US, says its 5G network in Chicago can now cover about 700,000 people.

Sprint previously launched 5G services in parts of Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City, and it plans to expand its 5G network to Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., in the “coming weeks.” When all nine markets are live, Sprint says its 5G network will span about 2,100 square miles with a potential coverage of 11 million people.

The new coverage goals reflect a slight downgrade from Sprint’s previous claims by 500,000 people and 80 square miles. Nonetheless, the operator says it will still be the “largest initial 5G coverage footprint in the United States.”

Sprint’s 5G network in Chicago is riding on 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum using Massive MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) radios from Samsung. The 64T64R (64 transmitters, 64 receivers) radios support a split-mode feature that allows Sprint to deliver LTE Advanced and 5G New Radio (NR) services in parallel.

Moreover, Sprint’s 5G NR and 2.5 GHz LTE coverage is nearly identical because the operator deployed the 5G Massive MIMO radios on its existing 4G cell sites. Sprint’s 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings factor heavily into T-Mobile US’ desire to merge with the company and design a nationwide 5G network riding on low-, mid-, and high-band spectrum.

Sprint says its 5G network is superior to Verizon, which began offering 5G service in Chicago three months ago. AT&T plans to expand its 5G network to Chicago later this year.

“We’re proud to give customers across the heart of Chicago their first truly mobile 5G experience,” Sprint CEO Michel Combes said in a prepared statement. Sprint CTO John Saw added: “By using Massive MIMO technology and 2.5 GHz mid-band spectrum, Sprint customers will have a great experience that isn’t limited to small pockets of millimeter wave 5G coverage.”

Combes also highlighted the enterprise opportunities that Sprint, like its competitors, hopes to unlock in energy, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, insurance, transportation, hospitality, and other industries. It’s a theme that runs throughout the industry, particularly among network operator executives.

“The true benefits of 5G are going to come over time, over the next few years. When we talk about the transformational nature of 5G, this is something that all of us as a society, as consumers, are going to experience in different ways as it relates to multiple industries,” said Mishka Dehghan, vice president of 5G development at Sprint, during a keynote at the Big 5G Event in May.