The third-largest U.S. mobile operator said Wednesday that it will launch initial LTE service in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio this July. Baltimore is the only market that Sprint named as an initial market without an assigned launch date.
A July launch date was widely rumored for the planned "mid-year" launch of Sprint's latest -- and fastest -- mobile network technology. The operator hopes to cover up to 120 million people with its updated 4G network by year's end.
The operator already has several devices that support the new technology available. (See Sprint LTE Devices Arrive Before Network.) Why this matters Sprint is far behind larger rivals AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Verizon Wireless with LTE launches. Big Red currently has 304 markets up and running; Ma Bell has LTE service up in 41 towns and cities.
Sprint, meanwhile, isn't planning to focus on its existing WiMax network, now preferring to push that network through its Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA Inc. (NYSE: VM) pay-as-you-go operations. The future of the Sprint brand is now wrapped up in the complex, but necessary, "Network Vision" 3G and 4G upgrades and a spreading LTE footprint.
For more
- Sprint to Launch LTE Service Soon?
- Sprint & Vendors Lagging on LTE Build?
- Mapping 4G: AT&T Hits 41 LTE Markets
- Verizon Lights Up 46 More 4G LTE Markets
- Sprint's 4G LTE Texan Triangle
— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile
We all know that Verizon is by far the marekt leader for LTE and the rest don't seem to have a sense of urgency to invest in LTE. I have a feeling that Apple is not ready to release LTE iPhone this fall. I wonder wether iPhone 5 is delayed until next spring.