AT&T activates faster network, U.S. Cellular to follow next week
BY ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
10/31/12 at 4:47 PM
No, it’s not a Halloween trick -- AT&T activated 4G LTE services in Tulsa Wednesday in a surprise move.
Customers with LTE-capable devices in Oolagah, Pryor, Wagoner, Muskogee, Coweta, Sand Springs, Owasso, Collinsville, Glenpool, Claremore, Sapulpa and Bixby woke up to the service today.
Additionally, U.S. Cellular announced their LTE service will become active Nov. 5 in Tulsa, Bartlesville, Miami, Claremore, Eufaula, Muskogee, Wilburton, Henryetta, Okmulgee and McAlester.
LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is the new generation of cellular technology that’s become embraced by most providers. The service provides download speeds of up to 75 megabits per second, though that speed can vary by company and signal strength.
Faster data transmission allows for a variety of improved services, such as clearer audio and video streaming, faster web pages, lag-free gaming and more.
Though AT&T has technically provided 4G services since last year, it referred to existing HSPA+ technology -- which has the potential to be upgraded to much faster speeds -- and not a local speed boost.
According to estimates by Apple Inc., HSPA+ delivers speeds of up to 21 megabits per second, compared to 3G HSPA at 7.2 mbps and 73 mbps for LTE.
Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular already offer 4G LTE services. When U.S. Cellular’s service becomes active, Sprint will be the last major carrier in the area without LTE.
