At&t lte

[jstarett]

I been hearing how AT&T has started their deployment of LTE and will finish end of 2013 then I was online and I read where AT&T is actually not deploying a true LTE network but more of a lite LTE.

Does anybody know anything about this since google search only shown me one article stating this.

[TheQ805]

They are layering their "4G Technology"
Verizon is using LTE for 4G as well, but once you go off it, you're back on the old and slow CDMA.
AT&T has been deploying the HSPA+ network with expanded backhaul to increase data speeds throughout their current network. They will be launching LTE sometime in the summer. So that when you go off the new LTE, you'll still have fast data speeds.

[slab0meat]

Anyone know the first areas that will have their "4g" service? I never see any specifics..

[Mister Xiado]

No North American carriers have "4G" service, or will in the foreseeable future, they're just calling it that because the ignorant media led the research-phobic public to believe it in advance.

The truest indicator of a fourth generation network is having a 100 megabit connection. HSPA+ is less than 20% of that, and LTE isn't going anywhere near that speed. Heck, you'd be hard-pressed to find a home ISP that will give you anywhere close to that speed for any price.

[slab0meat]

Originally Posted by Mister Xiado

No North American carriers have "4G" service, or will in the foreseeable future, they're just calling it that because the ignorant media led the research-phobic public to believe it in advance.

The truest indicator of a fourth generation network is having a 100 megabit connection. HSPA+ is less than 20% of that, and LTE isn't going anywhere near that speed. Heck, you'd be hard-pressed to find a home ISP that will give you anywhere close to that speed for any price.

Right, that I know... I used it in quotes because that's what AT&T is calling it in their commercials. Where are the early locations where it'll be?

[Mister Xiado]

AT&T only fell in step with the 4G BS because everybody else was claiming that their LTE rollout was genuine 4G, and that AT&T couldn't compete.

LTE rollouts are supposed to happen in the major cities first. Surprisingly enough, Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus are in the list. Eh, we'll see what happens. Everything is set in sand right now.

[crackcookie]

Its kinda funny. ATT is actually learning from their mistakes. The reason they have problems with 3G is because once you lose it instead of being knocked down you are kicked off.

With their 4G network, it will just kick you down a peg but still be pretty much on 4G. Very smart. I will lock in a new contract with them once the Dakota comes out, so I guess I will find out how well it is at that time.

[jstarett]

Ok so that does answer my question that it will be a LTE-lite version then. My contract is up in January once again and I am trying to decide if I want to stay with AT&T or not. I am iffy about joining up with big red since I do a lot of voice and data at the same time.