AT&T has announce plans to expand its 4G LTE wireless network into eleven more markets over the next few months, the company announced today. The rollouts are scheduled to take begin in April and continue into early summer.
With their 4G LTE network AT&T promises customers faster data transfer speeds and more efficient use of wireless spectrum. The expanded 4G network will also allow customers to take better advantage of their 4G-capable smartphones and tablets, including the HTC One X Samsung’s Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet hybrid, and Apple’s new iPad.
Though newer and smaller than Verizon’s 4G LTE network, AT&T’s network takes a unique approach to 4G connectivity. AT&T employs a dual-layer technology with an HSPA+ (i.e., enhanced 3G) network deployed alongside the 4G LTE network. The HSPA+ network covers a larger area, alleviating the sudden drop in data transfer speed when a user travels from the 4G coverage area to a 3G coverage area. The dual-layering also allows users whose phones are compatible with HSPA+ but not 4G LTE (like the iPhone 4S) to take partial advantage of the upgraded network.
Here’s the full list of new 4G LTE markets:
Are you in one of the new 4G LTE markets? Do you have a 4G-capable phone? Will you be getting a new 4G-capable iPad? Let us know in the comments.