T-Mobile Expanding HSPA+, webConnect WWAN Stick To More U.S. Markets

T-Mobile USA deserves more respect than they get. They're the smallest U.S. carrier out of the "Big 4" (Sprint, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and AT&T), and they definitely have the smallest amount of native 3G coverage areas. But they were the first to launch an Android phone (the G1), and they're still the only place in the U.S. where you can buy an HTC HD2 on contract. They're also well known for low prices and great service, but lacking in the 3G department has probably helped to keep their subscriber count down.


But that's changing. The operator has today announced the expansion of their HSPA+ network, promising "4G speeds" to over 25 major metropolitan areas across the U.S. The company expects to cover over 75 million Americans with HSPA+ by the end of June (this month), and in order to celebrate, they'll be expanding the availability of their first USB Laptop Stick to those new areas. The T-Mobile webConnect Rocket is a USB WWAN stick, and it's the first HSPA+ capable device from a national U.S. wireless carrier.

The full list of the new service zones are listed below, but we're still waiting for Sprint to balk at any other carrier promising "4G speeds" without a true 4G (WiMAX or LTE) network. Let the bickering begin!

 T-Mobile Expands Super-Fast Network and Availability of T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick to Cover 25 Major Metropolitan Areas

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced the expansion of its super-fast mobile broadband network, now offering 4G speeds1 to more than 25 major metropolitan areas across the U.S., and expects to cover more than 75 million Americans with HSPA+ by the end of June. Complementing the network expansion is the availability of the T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick, the first HSPA+ capable device from a national U.S. wireless carrier, in T-Mobile retail stores in these new areas.

    “T-Mobile has rolled out HSPA+ service to more than 25 major metropolitan areas in four month’s time, as we drive towards having the most pervasive mobile broadband network delivering 4G speeds in the country”

Now HSPA+ and the T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick are available in major metropolitan areas across the country including Los Angeles; Dallas; Atlanta; Houston; Seattle; Tampa and Orlando, Fla.; Pittsburgh; Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, N.C.; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; New Orleans; and Charleston, S.C. In addition, HSPA+ has been expanded to Bentonville, Ark.; Anderson, S.C.; and Fayetteville, N.C. T-Mobile’s HSPA+ mobile broadband service is already live in New York; Philadelphia; Las Vegas; Memphis; Upstate New York; Connecticut; Providence, R.I.; and the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

“T-Mobile has rolled out HSPA+ service to more than 25 major metropolitan areas in four month’s time, as we drive towards having the most pervasive mobile broadband network delivering 4G speeds in the country,” said Neville Ray, senior vice president of Engineering and Operations for T-Mobile USA. “T-Mobile is delivering unprecedented value to our customers with the availability of a super-fast mobile broadband experience combined with compelling and affordable devices and data plans.”

T-Mobile’s rapidly expanding HSPA+ mobile broadband footprint makes it easy for customers to enjoy 4G speeds on the HSPA+-enabled T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick. In addition, T-Mobile currently has 15 3G devices that can benefit from enhanced speeds when they’re on the HSPA+ network, including the newest smartphone available from T-Mobile today — the Nokia E73 Mode.

T-Mobile has made considerable progress in the number of areas with faster mobile broadband — and expects to continue this aggressive pace to deliver HSPA+ speeds in 100 major metropolitan areas with backhaul in place, covering 185 million people in the U.S. by the end of this year.

“With the rapid expansion of its HSPA+ network this year, T-Mobile is in a great position of being able to deliver high-speed data service to a broader number of customers today,” said Peter Jarich, principal analyst, Wireless Infrastructure, Current Analysis. “Ultimately, consumers don’t care what technology powers the network they’re using — they care about the quality and experience of their mobile data service, the cost of those services, and the devices available to access them. HSPA+ has the potential to deliver higher data rates across a broader lineup of devices in the next one to two years than competing technologies.”

For more information on where T-Mobile network service is available, please visit http://t-mobile-coverage.t-mobile.com/coverage.