AT&T Prepares to Launch LTE 4G Network in 5 Cities This Summer

[MacRumors]

AT&T today announced that it will launch its next-generation LTE 4G wireless network in five U.S. cities "this summer": Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Antonio. An additional ten unnamed markets are planned to see LTE roll out in the second half of the year with AT&T aiming to cover 70 million Americans by the end of the year.

AT&T has delivered five mobile broadband speed upgrades in recent years, including our HSPA+ deployment last year. And average nationwide speeds on the AT&T network have increased - more than 40 percent over the past two years alone.

The next network evolution will arrive this summer with the addition of LTE in five markets - Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio. We plan to add another 10 or more markets in the second half of the year, and cover 70 million Americans with LTE by year-end. We also have plans to add 20 4G devices to our robust device portfolio this year, with some of those being LTE capable.

The announcement indicates that AT&T remains on schedule for its LTE rollout and offers the first word on launch markets for the service.

Many observers had been hoping that Apple might include LTE technology in the next iPhone, particularly given rumors that Apple won't be introducing the handset until several months after its usual annual update window, but increasing numbers of reports are indicating that LTE won't make it into the new iPhone, simply because the chips required by Apple won't be available until late this year. Apple has stated that the current generation of LTE chips requires handset design compromises that the company is not willing to make.

Article Link: AT&T Prepares to Launch LTE 4G Network in 5 Cities This Summer

 

[mattwolfmatt]

Nice! I just wish there were some more cities in Texas getting the 4G speeds.

 

[jav6454]

Why just Texas? Why?!


Edit -

Before you quote me, answer is on Post #92 and #93 of this same thread.

 

[machpost]

It would be awesome if they actually made sure their 3G didn't absolutely suck in almost every city before attempting this upgrade.

 

[chrisfromalbany]

ATT is the best service ever..

 

[ToroidalZeus]

No major cities = fails.

New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco these are the cities that matter not Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.

 

[Moyank24]

Excited to see Houston on the list. Hopefully, the LTE iPhone will be coming sooner rather than later so we can take advantage of this.

 

[Molson1020]

No major cities = fails.

New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco these are the cities that matter not Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.

Chicago is the third largest city in the US. How does it "not matter?"

 

[BLACKFRIDAY]

Next year when the iPhone launches with LTE 4G, AT&T or Verizon, won't be advertising LTE network access with any phone.

To me, this tinkles me to believe that this year iPhone won't be LTE. :|

 

[Small White Car]

No major cities = fails.

New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco these are the cities that matter not Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.

Testing something new in only major markets first = fail

Come on now. Be serious.

 

[Mr. Gates]

The only reason I would want 4g in those cities would be to book a flight out quicker.

 

[min_t]

Testing something new in only major markets first = fail

Come on now. Be serious.

Sounds to me like they've already done the testing. Rollout doesn't mean testing...unless you're Google.

 

[theOtherGeoff]

fun with numbers.

AT&T has delivered five mobile broadband speed upgrades in recent years, including our HSPA+ deployment last year. Average nationwide speeds on the AT&T network have increased - more than 40 percent over the past two years alone

So with 5 major speed upgrades the last a verbal upgrade from 3G to '4G', they went from 250kbps average to 350kbps.

Whoopdie Freakin' do.

5 upgrades? 4G? You'd think you'd hear the words 'Doubled', or 'Tripled', or 'XX Times faster.' No... 40[.1]% is the speed increase. I'm spending I'm spending $200 a month with ATT, for the last 4 years, and I get '40%'? my stock portfolio did 40% COMPOUNDED annually.

 

[metzy25]

after everyone switches to a 4g phone a 3g iphone will be just as fast because there isnt going too be a lot of people left on 3g meaning the less people on 3g the faster 3g will be

 

[Small White Car]

Sounds to me like they've already done the testing. Rollout doesn't mean testing...unless you're Google.

I had my guess. So if it's wrong then what's your idea? Why imply that you have a better idea and then not share it?

 

[alexbasson]

No major cities = fails.

New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco these are the cities that matter not Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.

Chicago and Houston rank third and fourth, respectively, in the list of U.S. cities by population. San Francisco, with fewer than 1 million people, ranks 13th. Atlanta, admittedly, ranks 40th.

if you prefer metro areas to population within city limits, then Chicago/Joliet/Naperville and Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown rank third and sixth, respectively. Atlanta/Sandy Springs/Marietta ranks 9th, while San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont ranks 11th.

Not knowing basic U.S. geography nor knowing how to use Google to look up facts about basic U.S. geography = fails.

 

[topmounter]

Can't we finish the 3G roll-out first?


Heck, I'd be happy if they'd finish the EDGE roll-out first.

 

[deppisch]

No major cities = fails.

New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco these are the cities that matter not Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.

Wow, elitist much?

You do realize that Chicago and Houston are both larger than San Francisco, right? Also, I'm sure those living in the aforementioned cities don't echo your sentiments.

 

[Yelmurc]

I'd Rather ATT add more towers in the Houston area than this fake 4G. I still run into dead zones.

 

[Themaeds]

No major cities = fails.

New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco these are the cities that matter not Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.

That cant even offer reliable 3g in NYC.....why even bother with 4g

 

[starzplacez]

+1 for H-Town! Now where is that LTE iPhone 5/4G/4S/Stevie?...

 

[justgeig]

4G??? How about 3G first?

Yippee...another "G" that I won't have. AT&T: How about you cover your service area with 3G before you work on 4G? I'm stuck paying for a data plan that is practically useless because of how slow EDGE is.

 

[MacLawyer]

Battery Life

If Apple is to be believed, 4G is a battery killer. Even at 3G speeds, my son-in-law's HTC Thunderbolt can barely make it 8 hours in light use. And that's WITH a battery pack.

I suppose in a couple of years the technology will be such that these issues will be gone, whether it's an Apple or Android machine.

 

[starzplacez]

No major cities = fails.

New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco these are the cities that matter not Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.

not everyone and their mother live in those "major" cities.. those that enjoy lower gas prices and higher standard of living like it...

 

[zhenya]

Unfortunately just more marketing spin. The carriers don't have the bandwidth or the backbone capacity in place to saturate the current 3g chipsets. What's the point of a 20Mbps capable network that still operates at 1?

Honestly, 99% of users would be happy with a network that worked at a consistent 5x5 - which is within the capability of existing devices. No need for massive upgrades.