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Wireless spectrum in the US is carefully regulated to avert interference, which is why mobile carriers pay out the nose to license slices of the airwaves. Naturally, T-Mobile was quite perturbed recently when it detected heavy interference with its network in Brooklyn. The FCC has investigated, and it turns out the culprit was a Bitcoin mining performance.

T-Mobile uses several wireless bands for its nationwide LTE network, but this interference afflicted its prized 700MHz spectrum. This is known as LTE band 12, and information technology's present on all current T-Mobile phones and virtually unlocked devices. T-Mobile calls band 12 "extended range" LTE because of how well it propagates through obstacles like buildings.

antminer

The carrier told the FCC that signals from a local residence were disrupting its ring 12 signals in Brooklyn, so the bureau investigated. Information technology turns out that ane Victor Rosario had an at-home Bitcoin mining operation using the Antminer S5 (above). The Antminer is a purpose-built Bitcoin mining rig with ASIC (awarding specific integrated circuit) hardware. That means all information technology does is process Bitcoin transactions, but it's faster at information technology than traditional computing hardware.

The Antminer S5 is not a wireless device, then it should non have been transmitting on the 700MHz band at all. There may have been a design flaw, or the owner of the devices might have fabricated modifications that resulted in the spurious emissions. Either manner, the FCC confirmed that when the miner was shut off, the interference stopped. Information technology's not uncommon for miners to modify their hardware to speed things up. The FCC doesn't say if this device had been modified, but it seems unlikely every Antminer S5 could emit enough power to break T-Mobile's network — this would have come up upwardly before now.

The Antminer S5 is no longer on auction (it was released in 2022), simply the manufacturer has several newer versions. The S5 originally sold for $450, simply some versions of the electric current Antminer S9 become for more than than $2,000. A cheaper model will set up you back under $300. These devices are intended to earn the possessor Bitcoins in exchange for verifying transactions on the blockchain, but it's difficult to plough a turn a profit on Bitcoin anymore. Nigh profitable mining operations are in countries with cheaper electricity.

The FCC hasn't said all Antminers are illegal to operate, only the i in Brooklyn certainly is. Rosario has been barred from using the offending equipment. Continued usage could result in fines or seizure.