AT&T's annual meeting with analysts saw the U.S. carrier stressing that it'll be "firing up" new "LTE Advanced" service across its network during the second half of 2013.
LTE Advanced is effectively 4G LTE but, well, more advanced. "AT&T's network strategy revolves around a simple 4G message that incorporates the company's vast HSPA+ and LTE networks that stretch over its entire footprint," the analysts wrote.
"The network strategy will involve mainly LTE networks and LTE Advanced networks, which AT&T will begin firing up in 2H13. These enhanced networks will provide faster speeds and coverage to its subscriber base, as well as open up growth opportunities in new segments."
AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said the carrier is aiming to deploy LTE Advanced sometime next year, but refused to comment on the matter further.
The company, which has sold 6.4 million smartphones during the fourth quarter thus far, recently added six LTE markets to its wireless network, subsequently offering its service to 150 million consumers.
It had previously said it'll invest $14 billion in upgrading its network within a duration of three years. By the end of 2014, the firm plans to offer 4G LTE coverage to 300 million consumers.
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Zak Islam is a freelance writer focusing on security, networking, and general computing. His work also appears at Digital Trends and Tom's Guide.
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kdw75 cuecuemoreSo it turns out that LTE wasn't so...LT?Reply
Yeah. Verizon started calling their 3G 4G and then ATT jumped on the bandwagon and did the same. Last time I looked the 4G standard called for 100Mbps download speed. -
g00fysmiley yea marketing.. basically wimax and lte were both called 4g when tehey didn't meet the standards... that shit wouldn't fly in the EU but the US... corperations are people and people can lie.. MURICA!Reply -
mavroxur kdw75Yeah. Verizon started calling their 3G 4G and then ATT jumped on the bandwagon and did the same. Last time I looked the 4G standard called for 100Mbps download speed.Reply
Just because the standard allows for it, that doesn't mean providers' backbones can support it. The LTE Advanced standard, as laid out by the ITU-R, allows for up to 1Gbps download, and 500mbps uploads. Will you ever see that? Not a chance. -
Great maybe now ATT will get around to rolling out 3G coverage to my area, its only taken how many years since the standard was released, and my phone is still on edge.Reply
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sliem faster speed, same coverage, same dropped call %, same throttling limit/cap... maybe higher price (or pricier plan option)Reply
big yay...