T-Mobile Press Release Details 2013 Move to LTE Network

Written by: TonyTha1AndOnly on June 16, 2012.

As a T-Mobile customer, it’s refreshing to see this news. T-Mobile has released a press statement regarding the upcoming switch from HSPA+ to LTE, which should happen sometime in 2013. While, some may say T-Mobile is a little late to the game on this one, it’s definitely better late than never for Magenta subscribers.

For those who would like to read the entire press release, I’ve posted it below, but for the quick skimmers out there, here’s the main gist:

LTE testing is currently underway, network tentatively planned for 2013 launchHSPA+ is being tested on the 1900 MHz band, sightings reported in the Moscone Center area of San FranciscoNew equipment installed at “modernized GSM/HSPA+” sites, 2,500 sites by the end of July is the targeted goal

/want… (Carly, of course. The LTE will just be a bonus.)

We’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.

We’ll be sure to keep you posted on our progress along the way.

Source: CellphoneSignal Via: Phandroid