Let me preface this post with a quick beginning as there is reason to consider that T-Mobile rolling out an LTE network may or may not happen. This isn’t set in stone and is likely to change. There is nothing concrete being said or proof that it is 100% going to happen, especially when considering something that is more than two years away. However, at this meeting, it was stated that there was an expressed interest in a potential LTE rollout for the future. That isn’t definitive which why I have a question mark in the title. I apologize if the original wording confused anyone and made it sound like a sure thing because that’s far from true. We do know it was discussed openly at this event and that is one of the only times we’ve heard T-Mobile discuss a path beyond HSPA+ in recent memory.
Plenty has been made about 4G these days, what it is and what it isn’t. During T-Mobile’s press event at CES, there was a firm commitment to HSPA+ throughout the next few years, especially considering HSPA+ adoption was likely to see wider spread adoption during that time frame than LTE. What’s interesting then is one more bit of news coming out of today’s meeting. T-Mobile is considering an LTE network for 2013. Interestingly enough, T-Mobile will emphasize an LTE buildout for data only and voice and text will run over the HSPA+ network as we understand it.
Also, for those of you in the New York City Subway system, fret not because T-Mobile is bringing service to 6 stations launching “soon,” with plans for over 200 in the future.