T-Mobile USA today announced it is doubling the speed of its 4G network in 55 markets to achieve theoretical peak download speeds of up to 42Mbps. T-Mobile customers in these markets will thus get access to increased 4G network speed, capacity, and reliability. The company also confirmed it is planning to deliver a total of 25 4G-capable devices in 2011.
The wireless services provider is also launching its first 42Mbps-capable 4G product, the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 laptop stick, manufactured by ZTE. It is designed to take advantage of T-Mobile's faster 4G network speeds. It comes with a rotating swivel USB form factor and three changeable faceplates in cobalt blue, dark violet, and matte black. It will be available as of tomorrow from select T-Mobile retail stores and online at t-mobile.com for $100 after a $50 mail in rebate, with a qualifying mobile broadband plan on a two year service agreement (or for $200 without an annual contract). Postpaid monthly plans start at $30, and customers with a qualifying voice line of service with T-Mobile receive a 20 percent discount.
T-Mobile's 4G network currently reaches more than 200 million Americans in 170 markets. By midyear, T-Mobile expects that more than 150 million Americans will have access to increased 4G speeds as the company upgrades its 4G network. The following markets are getting the 42Mbps service from T-Mobile today:
Albany, Georgia; Athens, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Auburn, Alabama; Augusta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Bentonville, Arkansas; Boulder, Colorado; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Durham, North Carolina; El Paso, Texas; Fort Collins, Colorado; Gainesville, Florida; Gainesville, Georgia; Greeley, Colorado; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Long Island, New York; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, California; Macon, Georgia; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Oklahoma City, OkLouisiana; Olympia, Washington; Omaha, Nebraska; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Portland, Oregon; Salinas, California; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, California; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, California; Savannah, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; Spokane, Washington; Tampa, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Valdosta, Georgia; Vallejo-Fairfield, California; Warner Robins, Georgia, and Wichita, Kansas.
"We are continuing the aggressive expansion of America's Largest 4G Network, and also doubling our speeds in more than 50 markets this month," Neville Ray, chief technology officer of T-Mobile USA, said in a statement. "While customers with existing 3G and 4G devices will benefit from our continued network enhancements, new devices like the new Rocket 3.0 laptop stick will enable customers to reap the benefits of even faster 4G speeds."
Two months ago, AT&T announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $39 billion. The acquisition of T-Mobile, the fourth largest carrier in the US, would enable AT&T, currently the second largest US mobile service, to leapfrog the leader of the US market, Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group.
Furthermore, AT&T and Verizon Wireless would hold 79 percent of the US market if regulators approved the deal, leaving Sprint Nextel as an even weaker number three player in the US. Unsurprisingly, Sprint is doing everything in its power to appeal the huge deal.