Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) says its new 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network will reach Manhattan by Labor Day -- Manhattan, Kansas, that is.

The operator is continuing in its scramble to deploy LTE on its network, saying it will launch the faster data service in four new towns and cities by Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3, 2012. The LTE network offers average downloads of 6 to 8 Mbit/s. Uploads clock in at 2 to 3 Mbit/s on average.

The new markets include:

• Baltimore
  
• Gainesville, Ga.
  
• Manhattan/Junction City, Kan.
  
• Sherman-Denison, TX
  
  

See how Sprint's 4G LTE map will look by Labor Day below:


View Sprint 4G LTE Markets in a larger map

Why this matters
Sprint is trying to build out LTE coverage as fast as possible to compete with AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Verizon Wireless , switching on street-level coverage as soon as it is deemed useful for users. The operator is building on its existing LTE clusters in Georgia, Kansas and Texas.

For more

• Sprint Hunkers Down for Network Vision
• Sprint's 4G LTE Scramble
• Sprint: The Birth of a Network
• Sprint's Not Snubbing Baltimore on LTE
• Sprint Launches 15 Markets in 4G LTE Clusters

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile