T-Mobile LTE service working in 9 markets pre-launch

Last Monday, T-Mobile sent out an update that turned its version of the Samsung GALAXY Note II into an LTE enabled device and said that it would launch its LTE service before the end of the month. It seems that while T-Mobile has yet to formally announce that it has turned its LTE switch to "on", at least 9 cities are now being blanketed with the carrier's LTE signal.

According to OpenSignal, a crowdsourced Android app that detects wireless signal coverage, T-Mobile LTE has been discovered in 9 cities including Denver, Las Vegas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York, San Diego, San Jose, and Seattle. Additionally, some areas in Oakland have also shown signs of the mobile operator's speedy wireless service.

Unlike most carriers, which usually test out new wireless service in smaller markets, T-Mobile is debuting its new service in some pretty big markets such as New York. By the midpoint of  2013, the nation's fourth largest carrier expects its LTE signal to cover 100 million people, doubling to 200 million by the end of the year. According to OpenSignal, the service has been showing speeds of 25 Mbps down and 8 Mbps up. That is considered fast for a 5X5 network which is expected to double to 10X10 in some markets after T-Mobile's merger with MetroPCS is closed. OpenSignal spokesman Samuel Johnston said, "Obviously the network is under a very light load right now and these speeds will come down." T-Mobile is the last of the four major U.S. carriers to offer LTE data service.

source: OpenSignal via PCMag

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