The road to LTE-Advanced, 4G voice, and denser wireless data coverage is going to be a hotter topic in the US as we move into fall with 4G.
Here's where the major US carriers stand with live LTE markets now:
Verizon Wireless has now covered its 3G footprint with 4G LTE technology. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), meanwhile, has just launched 13 new markets, bringing it to 383 markets live and 225 potential subscribers covered.
Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) and T-Mobile US Inc. are snapping at the big dogs' heels with 151 markets and 116 markets respectively.
What's coming?
The arrival of more widespread voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and the first networks with LTE-Advanced features are going to be among the key tech topics in the last three months of this year. (See: Verizon Promises Voice-Over-LTE in 2014.)
If VoLTE is to work properly, operators are also going to have to look at deeper density for LTE coverage. Many, many of the LTE markets now live do not have 100 percent coverage -- or even close to it. (See: When is a 4G LTE Market Really Covered, Anyway?)
For more
Lucky 13: AT&T Adds More 4G LTE
AT&T's 4G LTE Summer Splurge
4G LTE: AT&T Wins on Speed, Verizon on Size
— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading