Beverly
Hills – The first five AT&T markets to get 4G LTE service will go on line
Sunday, Sept. 18, chief financial officer John Stephens said during a
communications and entertainment industry conference here.
The
carrier previously said the first five markets would be Atlanta, Chicago,
Dallas, Houston and San Antonio and that LTE service would be expanded to at
least 15 markets with a population of 70 million by the end of 2011.
The
carrier has already seeded the market with two LTE-equipped data devices, a $49
USB modem and a $69 mobile Wi-Fi hot spot, both from Sierra Wireless. Prices
are with two-year contract. The carrier will offer an LTE data device plan of $50
for 5GB of data, the same as for AT&T’s 3G and 4G HSPA+ data devices.
Prepaid options available with select 3G and 4G HSPA+ data devices from
AT&T are not available with the LTE devices.
Both
LTE devices feature 4G LTE at 700MHz, 4G HSPA+ speeds in the carrier’s U.S.
850/1900MHz HSPA+ markets with enhanced backhaul, and HSPA+ operation in
international 2.1GHz markets.
For its part, Verizon Wireless
operates a 4G LTE network in 143 cities covering 160 million people.
