Amid all the Uncarrier 3.0 hubbub and Shakira concerts, T-Mobile slid in a new message: that its LTE network is now nationwide, covering more than 200 million customers in 233 cities.
The carrier is hitting the 200 million coverage mark well ahead of its anticipated end of year schedule and plans to keep going. On top of the 229 million people T-Mobile’s HSPA+ now covers, the company plans to have 10 x 10 MHz LTE running in 90 percent of its markets by year end. It added that it will begin deploying 20 x 20 MHz LTE next year.
T-Mobile announced its first seven LTE markets back in March at the first of its “Uncarrier” events where it did away with contracts and device subsidies. A little more than six months later, after the latest “Uncarrier” move offered free international texts and data for Simple Choice customers, the carrier has already deployed nationwide LTE.
By comparison, Verizon’s LTE covers 300 million people in more than 500 markets and AT&T’s LTE network covers 240 million people in 437 markets. Sprint has LTE deployed in 185 markets and is shooting to have 200 million people covered by year’s end.