Send Us Tips!

Sprint to cover 28 new cities with 4G LTE in the coming months

4

by Jared Peters on
tagged , , , ,

If you’ve been a bit disappointed by Sprint’s LTE rollout, you might be in a for a nice surprise in the next few months. Sprint has released a mini roadmap for some LTE deployment in the coming months, listing 28 cities within its 3G footprint. Sprint is claiming this upgrade is part of their Network Vision strategy, so even 3G users should see some faster speed and enhanced voice quality. They even hint that 4G phones might pick up sporadic LTE a little early, and you’re welcome to use it before it’s officially available. (hint, hint) These 28 new cities are in addition to the 200 4G cities already announced by Sprint, so by the looks of it, 2013 is going to be a pretty busy year for LTE. Hit the break to see if your city is covered and check out the press release. » Read the rest

T-Mobile enhances coverage in 14 new locations as 2012 comes to a close

1

by Jeff Causey on
tagged , ,

T-Mobile’s Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray announced enhanced coverage for the carrier’s network in 14 metro areas. This final announcement caps off a year in which T-Mobile commenced a $4 billion investment in infrastructure. During 2012 T-Mobile’s network expansion has resulted in coverage for an additional 100 million people. » Read the rest

Republic Wireless sets up shop, offers pre-orders to the masses

3

by Colton Kaiser on
tagged , , ,

Republican Wireless is a new kind of MVNO carrier who has been testing its newfangled service for several months. The company is attempting to reinvent the mobile network space, offering a single device engineered to utilize Wi-Fi whenever it’s available for calls, texts and mobile data. When there’s no Wi-Fi within range, the device will automatically switch to a cellular network.

The service runs $19 per month with no contract and unlimited data, texting and calling. The carrier is poised to offer just one device, a Motorola Defy XT which will be sold outright for $249.99, alongside a one time $10 start-up fee. Sure, it’s not the most appealing handset, but at such a low price point it could prove to be the most viable option for those looking for an economic-friendly option.

So, what do you guys think?

Source: Republic Wireless

AT&T LTE network expands to eight new locations

1

by Jeff Causey on
tagged , , ,

AT&T announced today they were lighting up several new locations with their 4G LTE network. The new locations include:

  • Detroit (metro)
  • Portland
  • Honolulu
  • Seattle
  • Pittsburgh
  • Sacramento
  • Birmingham
  • Memphis

Along with these new cities, AT&T also expanded the existing network in Miami-Dade County. Readers with 4G LTE compatible devices can now enjoy the faster speeds of 4G in these locations.

LightSquared Network Application Facing Rejection Due To GPS Interference

0

by Josh O'Donnell on
tagged , , , , , ,

It appears that the LightSquared saga is one giant step closer to coming to an end. After recently requesting that the FCC become stricter on its GPS device standards, it’s reported that the FCC will be rejecting the company’s network application — inhibiting its ability to become a wholesale LTE network provider. This is all after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) sent a letter to the FCC stating “LightSquared’s proposed mobile broadband network will impact GPS services and that there is no practical way to mitigate the potential interference at this time”, which directly contradicts the FCC’s conditions for approval of the application that LightSquared not in any way interfere with any other signal spectrum.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. On top of the billions of dollars and heaps of resources put into the LightSquared project, this will most definitely be putting LightSquared’s ability to comply with Sprint’s recent ultimatum. However the company doesn’t quite want to take no for an answer, and went on record stating that they disagree with the NTIA’s decision, and will remain committed to finding a resolution.

source: the wall street journal

LightSquared Requesting the FCC Require Stricter GPS Device Standards

0

by Josh O'Donnell on
tagged , , , , , ,

LightSquared, the company which has spent billions of dollars developing a whole-sale only wireless broadband network, filed a document with the FCC regarding stricter standards of GPS devices. LightSquared believes that signals that are used as part of GPS bands are the culprit of interference on the spectrum that they’ve chose to use for their services. Originally, that spectrum was supposed to be a satellite-only type of deal, but the FCC cleared it for terrestrial use back in 2005. The FCC also granted the company a waiver so LightSquared could run a terrestrial-only network.

Now, due to Sprint delivering an ultimatum, LightSquared is pressed for time in achieving a resolution for all these interference issues. Losing a long-term multi-billion dollar deal like the one struck with Sprint could be potentially catastrophic for LightSquared, especially when you couple it with LightSquared’s largest investor, Harbinger Capital Partners, who last year reported a whopping 46.6 percent value loss. Although the potential of LightSquared can be valued quite high in my opinion, it seems that if it can’t strike a deal with the FCC, we might be seeing a little more sinking than swimming.

Source: CNET

AT&T, T-Mobile Ask FCC for Approval of $1 billion Spectrum Transfer

0

by Stacy Bruce on
tagged , , , , ,

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that AT&T and T-Mobile have filed an application with the FCC asking for their approval to transfer $1 billion worth of AT&T’s AWS spectrum over to T-Mobile. AT&T had already promised the spectrum to T-Mobile as a part of the failed $39 billion merger deal that went TU in December. “This additional spectrum will help meet the growing demand for wireless broadband services,” said Tom Sugrue, T-Mobile’s senior vice president for government affairs. We hope the FCC will move swiftly to approve the license assignments.”

Along with the AWS spectrum, AT&T also promised to pay T-mobile $3 billion in cash to make up for the botched merger attempt. T-Mobile also claims the spectrum is needed to keep up with the stiff competition from other US carriers.

Source: WSJ

 

 

 

Cricket Flips the 4G Switch with No Smartphones to Take Advantage

0

by Stacy Bruce on
tagged , , ,

4G LTE is all the rage theses days and carriers are all chomping at the bit to get a slice of the action. While we have been noticing the bigger name carriers advance and expand their current LTE markets, Cricket today has only just flipped the switch for the first time.

For those of you Cricket customers, you may be happy to know that the pre-paid carrier has launched its 4G LTE network, but unfortunately only in one market (Tucson, AZ) and with only one device, the Huawei Bolt USB modem. Currently Cricket doesn’t offer any handsets that are capable of taking advantage of the 4G network, but I imagine smartphone options will show up  as the network expands.

Cricket’s 4G LTE network will rollout across markets just as the big name carriers do. We will monitor its progress and keep you updated as coverage expands.

[via Phandroid]

 

 

 

Verizon to Expand 4G Coverage Tomorrow, Will Now Cover up to 190 Markets

1

by Stacy Bruce on
tagged , , , , , , ,

Last month we heard about Verizon’s plans to expand its LTE network even further. Until today, we didn’t know exactly which areas were going to receive coverage and many readers were hoping they would be next. If you are still without access to the nations largest 4G network, then you might want to pay attention to the following list. Today, Verizon issued a press release and says they are flipping the switch and expanding coverage on Thursday, Dec. 15th, in these locations:

New Markets

  • Dover, Del.
  • Lafayette, Ind.
  • Fitchburg/Leominster, Mass.
  • Duluth, the Rochester area and St. Cloud, Minn.
  • Manchester/Nashua, N.H.
  • Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
  • Findlay/Tiffin and Youngstown/Warren, Ohio
  • Indiana, Pa

Expansions

  • San Diego and San Francisco
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Savannah, Ga.
  • Chicagoland, Ill.
  • Baltimore and Hagerstown, Md

At just over a year old, Verizon’s 4G network will reach up to 190 markets as of tomorrows expansion. Pretty good compared to the other carriers 4G coverage. Jump past the break if you want to read the full press release. » Read the rest

T-Mobile Launches 42Mbps network, expands 21Mbps to 9 Additional Markets

3

by Stacy Bruce on
tagged , , , , , ,

Today, T-Mobile officially announced that they will be kicking off their high-speed, 42Mbps network in a total of 11 markets, and expanding their 21Mbps coverage in nine others.

Areas that will be the first to enjoy the HSPA+ 42 launch are: Bend, Medford and Corvallis, Oregon; Benton Harbor, Michigan; Bloomington, Champaign–Urbana and Springfield, Illinois; Columbus, Georgia; Hagerstown, Maryland; Montgomery, Alaska; and Yuba City, California.

Those who will be included in the HSPA+ 21 expansion will be: Corvallis, Oregon; Decatur and Peoria, Illinois; Evansville, Indiana; Holland and Kalamazoo, Michigan; Santa Barbara, Yuba City, California and State College, Pennsylvania.

If you are a T-Mobile customer and live in any of these areas, congrats! And don’t forget that you need an appropriate smartphone, such as the Samsung Galaxy S II or the HTC Amaze 4G, in order to take full advantage of the Now Network’s new speeds. You can check out the full press release right after the jump.

» Read the rest

123