AT&T has all but completed its large-scale summer LTE expansion, polishing off the 4G upgrade this week in all but one of the 78 small cities and towns it had on his itinerary. But it’s not waiting around to start on the next phase of its rollout. Ma Bell announced 50 more markets it’s targeting for the new super-fast network this winter and fall, ending the year with LTE in 420 markets.
That will easily meet AT&T’s 2013 goal of 270 million people covered – it’s at 225 million today – putting it just 30 million people shy of completing its nationwide network. Verizon Wireless wrapped up its 4G rollout in June with 298 million people covered. AT&T expects to put the finishing touches on its LTE footprint by next summer. Both Sprint and T-Mobile have some catching up to do.
On Wednesday, AT&T’s new network will go live in Ruston, La.; New Bern, N.C.; State College, Pa.; Georgetown, S.C. and Jayuya, Puerto Rico. Here’s the full list of the 50 newly announced markets for the remainder of the year:
Fairbanks, Ark.; Dothan and Selma, Ala.; Redding, Calif.; Durango and Pueblo, Col.; Tifton and Waycross, Ga.; Kauai and The Big Island, Hawaii; Des Moines, Iowa; Twin Falls, Idaho; Lewiston, Idaho; Decatur, Kankakee-Bradley and Peoria, Ill., Paducah, Ken.; Alexandria and Lake Charles, La.; Lewiston-Auburn, Maine; Battle Creek and Jackson, Mich.; Joplin, Poplar Bluff and Rolla, Mo.; Brookhaven, McComb and Natchez, Miss.; Kalispell, Mon.; Greenville and Jacksonville, N.C.; Fargo, N.D.; Elmira and Utica-Rome, N.Y.; Portsmouth and Sandusky, Ohio; East Stroudsburg and Pottsville, Pa.; Abilene, Amarillo, Longview, Marshall, San Angelo and Tyler, Texas; Port Angeles, Wash.; Appleton, Fond du Lac and Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis.; Gillette and Sheridan, Wyo.
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