Sprint officially announces 4G LTE network launch on July 15
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here: Sprint has officially announced that its new 4G LTE network will be launching on July 15 in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio. This means that Sprint customers with devices like the HTC EVO 4G LTE will be able to take advantage of the fastest data speeds Sprint has ever offered.
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse took this opportunity to announce that Network Vision is well underway in all of these areas, and that both 3G and 4G performance is “exceeding our expectation.” Sprint also reiterated that it expects to have completed the majority of its LTE build out by the end of 2013, covering over 250 million people across the US.
Even though these are the first markets to officially be announced by Sprint, we’ve been keeping tabs on what the Now Network is doing behind the scenes, as well – so be sure to keep checking back for our continuing coverage (and take a look here and here).
Sprint’s full press release appears below.
Sprint to Unleash the Speed and Power of 4G LTE in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio on July 15
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse announces that new network will deliver faster data speeds with 4G LTE and an improved overall 3G experience; Sprint brings an overall quality experience and unequaled value to customers
ATLANTA (BUSINESS WIRE), June 27, 2012 – As summer begins to sizzle, Sprint (NYSE:S) CEO Dan Hesse today invited Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio customers to harness the speed and power of 4G LTE on July 15 and to further enjoy the top-rated customer satisfaction experience among all national carriers, according to the 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index.
To better meet the growing voice and data demands of wireless customers, Sprint is building an all-new, nationwide 3G and 4G LTE network through the Network Vision program. This means that whether a Sprint customer is using a smartphone to share a picture or to check the Web, Sprint 4G LTE will make it faster. Coupling the speed of 4G LTE with the industry’s only truly unlimited data plan for smartphones makes Sprint the best choice in wireless.* Additionally, the new network provides significant enhancements to Sprint 3G service. Customers will experience better signal strength, fewer dropped/blocked calls, faster data speeds, expanded coverage and better overall performance as the improvements roll out across the country.
“The performance of both the 4G LTE and improved 3G networks are exceeding our expectations and we are pleased with the progress of the entire Network Vision program,” said Hesse.
With the launch on July 15, Sprint will have debuted 4G LTE to millions of people in five major metropolitan areas with more market launches in 2012 to be announced later this year. By the end of 2013, Sprint expects to have largely completed the build out of its all-new 4G LTE nationwide network – with an enhanced 3G network – covering 250 million people across the United States.
The Wireless Industry’s Most Customer-Friendly Data Plans
In today’s competitive wireless market, the value of unlimited has never been more apparent. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited data, texting and calling to and from any mobile phone in America while on the Sprint network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones.
Sprint continues the trend of delivering value to customers through its portfolio of 4G LTE-capable devices and unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint has already launched five 4G LTE-capable devices for less than $200 – HTC EVO™ 4G LTE ($199.99); LG Viper™ 4G LTE ($99.99); Samsung Galaxy Nexus ($199.99); Samsung Galaxy S III ($199.99 for 16GB version) and Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot, the nation’s first to support 4G LTE, 4G WiMAX and 3G ($99.99) (all pricing excludes taxes).
Over the past several years, Sprint has been working hard to deliver the best customer experience. Recently, the American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers and most improved in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, over the last four years. Building an all-new network is the linchpin to make Sprint the company customers want to do business with.
The launch of these metropolitan areas demonstrates the continued commitment by Sprint to invest in its network through Network Vision. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers and most improved in customer satisfaction across all industries during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
*Sprint is the only national carrier with no throttling, metering or overages, all while on the Sprint network. Sprint customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. See sprint.com/unlimited for details.
Dang it, no Austin! From the unofficial release updates we have seen, seems like Austin is a 1.5 release.
Same for Puerto Rico, I can’t wait!
The fact that Chicago isnt up and running yet is severely disappointing. With a market of around 7 million people, you’d think they would launch LTE here faster.
Adrian … 7 millions people is exactly the problem. They won’t put it live until ALL the sites are ready, and they’ve got a LOT of sites to get up. I would bet Chicago has as many sites done, if not more, than it took to complete any of the cities that are going live on the 15th.
Guess you’re right on that, but still, it would be nice to have LTE here considering that so many people got the phone. I work in cellphone sales and know the numbers a bit. It showed me how much of a demand for the phone there is just in my area hahahah.
Hell, we still haven’t even gotten WiMax here in Fresno.
Hello!! San Jose, the capital of Silicon Valley! The heart of technology!
I hope Mississippi gets put n the mix. Sprint will probably save Mississippi for last like always. I mean can Sprint at least show the state capital some love?
I’m in ATL, so I’m happy to hear this official news! Less than a month baby!
Heck, I was one of the first 10 EVO owners in Memphis, and we never got Wimax! You think we’ll ever see LTE! You’ve got to be kidding.
C Spire will be getting LTE in September in jackson Ms. I’m sure Memphis is on the list of deployment as well if not soon. I know it’ll be way before Sprint gets it our this way. C Spire will also be getting the SGSIII as there phone to launch there LTE, and they have unlimited data plans competitive with Sprints plans
civilian space travel isn’t quite ready yet, but it will be soon. I’m gonna go ahead and sign a two year contract on a spaceship. It’s not a phone launch, it’s a fundraiser.
Not only does Sprint need to make all of the phones compatible with PTT (push-to-talk) but all carriers need to do that. It should be another communications option, Phone, PTT, or Text.
Imo, by the time LTE is available to the Masses, there will still be some who not only didn’t receive Wimax, but LTE either, and most likely never were able to utilize this ‘New to Sprint’ technology on either the Wimax or LTE devices they purchased.
Hesse peeps his head out and speaks, like he thinks the majority of customers will be comforted and fooled with his ‘reassuring’ words.
I hope I’m wrong, and am left with egg on my face. But the odds are if I do, it’ll be quail eggs.
Sprint’s track record SUCKS, for lack of a better word.
Show me the Network!
We’ve got LTE Devices, Yea, but no LTE NETWORK for Everyone? till the end of 2014!
We had Wimax devices, But No Wimax Network, Ever, at least for the Majority of Sprint Customers!!
By the time Sprint Customers see Wide Area Coverage LTE, the other Carriers will have moved on yet again, to the next Newer Better Faster Technology.
Yea…….
Sprint is a fucking joke. Two years later and no major coverage of wimax, now two years behind on lte and sprint was bragging so hard about being first to 4g. My buddy on Verizon gets 4g almost everywhere and our is around 15 mb, enough to hook his PS3 up to. I can wait for my contract to end. Sprint 3g is the slowest also, what a joke. Dan Hesse needs to be fired