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T-Mobile has put out a press release to give an update regarding the work on establishing their 4G LTE network and introducing their HSPA+ services on the 1900 MHz spectrum. The entire release is posted below, but the main points are:
1. LTE trials are underway, and the network should launch next year.
2. HSPA+ on the 1900 MHz bandwidth is currently being tested, and was spotted by a few people in San Francisco near the Moscone Center.
3. New equipment has been installed at “modernized GSM/HSPA+” sites, and the aim is to reach 2,500 sites by the end of July.
Press Release
Fast Progress on 4G Network Modernization
June 14, 2012We’re making great progress in just three short months since we first announced T-Mobile’s $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, including network modernization and deployment of long term evolution (LTE) service in 2013. Here are some of the highlights:
Just last month, T-Mobile announced multi-year agreements with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to support our $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, which will include a modernization of 37,000 cell sites and a move to the latest, state-of-the-art, LTE release 10 capable equipment.
Initially, this effort will improve existing voice and data coverage, make our 4G network compatible with a broader range of devices (including the iPhone), and pave the way for long term evolution (LTE) service next year.
With contracts in place, we’re making excellent headway on our network infrastructure transformation. By the end of this month we expect new equipment to be installed at our first 400 modernized GSM / HSPA+ sites and we plan to grow this to over 2,500 sites by the end of July.
We’ve also secured zoning approval or do not require zoning for over 19,500 sites and have completed necessary entitlement work, including obtaining building permits for over 4,000 sites.
As new equipment is in place, we’re turning up some small scale tests of 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum. Some customers with unlocked iPhones recently saw evidence of those tests; clocking much faster data speeds at the Moscone West conference center in San Francisco. More of these speed sightings will occur as we work toward introducing 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum in a large number of markets later this year.
Finally, LTE trials are underway and this summer we’ll begin using Release-10 equipment in these trials. The ability to launch with this next version of LTE technology is one advantage of launching next year.
[via CellphoneSignal]
T-Fumble.
At&t or Verizon?
hspa 42 is great and great on batt …lte sucks
HSPA 42 is great but LTE doesn’t suck. It is more spectrally efficient and will bring standardization to the whole industry. Battery life is a temporary problem now like it was for HSPA when the first 3G phones were released.
I somewhat agree, but you have to remember that GSM 3G IS HSPA. I’ve never noticed a difference on battery between EDGE and HSPA. I’m not doubting your knowledge, but I’m saying that if there ever was an issue, it’s a very very small one at that.
GSM 3G was EDGE…. which was abandoned for W-CDMA… or UMTS… whichever name you prefer. HSPA is an enhancement of that air interface. And battery life was a problem at first – and for many years after. First deployments of UMTS were in 2002.
It’s not temporary in that poof you get a software upgrade and have 3G type battery life.. There are some strategies that will be taken to improve it some, but from what I read there are 2 antennas required for LTE which is one of the main sources of power drain.. This may be alleviated some when they switch to voice over LTE as they can drop a radio.. but I think we are a ways down the road from that.. The thing is, I am GSM and I don’t think I want to gain LTE without having my GSM and I don’t know if the CDMA crowd are ready to go without CDMA either.. Eventually maybe..
Lol. T-Mo took that AT&T money and spectrum to step up and swoop AT&T customers. Slick move T-Mo.
Great I wanted to get the Galaxy S3 on T-Mobile, but this just means in 6 months they are going to release the “Galaxy S3 LTE” model and completely forget about the Galaxy S3 HSPA+ model.
They did the same thing with the Vibrant. A couple months later they released the Galaxy S 4G and completely dropped update support for the Vibrant.
still worthless in zip 38221 and will never change, so i did.
The best part of this LTE roll out is T-Mobile is using the Release-10 , this is better and faster then both Verizon and AT&T is using right now. This was not available when Verizon & AT&T first rolled out their Network. T-Mobile will have a bad ass LTE Network and I am very excited about this new Release-10 equipment. I am very surprised no so called journalists have spoken up about T-Mobile getting back on their feet. They are first to poke fun at the so called # 4th Network in the country. Personally I rate T-Mobile 3rd, Sprint is the slowest Network in the US right now, the only plus it has is the I-Phone but what good is it when you can not enjoy it with such terrible data speeds. Just My Opinion.