T-Mobile Responds to Verizon’s LTE Claims

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Earlier Verizon announced their new 4G network to compete with T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network and Sprint’s WiMax network. Well, since T-Mobile is holding the “world’s largest 4G network” title at the moment according to their advertisements, they felt the need to respond to Verizon’s new network. Here is the press release:

What is T-Mobile’s reaction to Verizon’s 4G LTE announcement today?
Welcome to the wonderful world of 4G! T-Mobile customers across the country have been enjoying America’s largest 4G network for a while now and love it. Today our HSPA+ network offers 4G to more people than any other wireless network in the country (more than 80 metro areas to date) and we’re not done yet. We are now on pace to increase our 4G footprint – reaching 200 million people by the end of this year – with plans to offer 42Mbps theoretical speeds in 2011.

What do you think of Verizon calling its network, “the most advanced 4G network in the world?”
We stand behind our latest marketing campaign and TV advertising featuring the T-Mobile myTouch 4G and T-Mobile’s network, which is “America’s Largest 4G Network.” We’re delivering a compelling 4G experience across a broad lineup of leading devices in more places than competing 4G services.
Speed: With typical download speeds that are at least on par with other available 4G technologies, and an upgrade path that continues to provide room for exponential speed enhancements, T-Mobile’s 4G network is built for continued growth.
Breadth: Today T-Mobile offers customers a 4G experience in more than 80 major metropolitan areas. This year we have heavily invested in upgrading our network and are now on pace to expand our HSPA+ footprint to reach 200 million people in the U.S. by the end of this year.
Choice of devices: We have a strong lineup this holiday with multiple 4G products including the T-Mobile G2 and the myTouch 4G, which are differentiated from other products on the market and deliver a compelling 4G experience.

As demand for mobile data increases, T-Mobile is well-positioned to compete based on the strength and speed of our HSPA+ network, innovative products that take full advantage of it, and service options that provide a compelling value for customers.

Can T-Mobile claim that it offers a true “4G” broadband network?
4G is about performance. With the upgrades that T-Mobile has made to our network, we are delivering 4G performance with our HSPA+ based network. Independent testing demonstrates that our HSPA+ network delivers download speeds at least on par with competing 4G networks. In addition, unlike some of our competitors, we are not asking customers to pay a premium for this 4G experience.

Today T-Mobile’s 4G network is capable of theoretical speeds up to 21Mbps and we have seen average download speeds approaching 5 Mbps on our myTouch 4G phone in some cities with peak speeds of nearly 12 Mbps. Independent reviewers have seen average download speeds on T-Mobile’s webConnect Rocket between 5 and 8 Mbps with peak speeds up to 10Mbps.

Today our 4G network offers 4G speeds to more people than any other wireless broadband network in the country and we’re not done yet. We are now on pace to increase our 4G footprint – reaching 200 million people by the end of this year – with plans to offer 42Mbps theoretical speeds in 2011.

Ultimately, consumers care about the quality and experience of their mobile broadband service, the cost of those services and the devices available to access them. On this front, our 4G network has the potential to deliver impressive data rates and a broad lineup of leading devices – like the new myTouch and T-Mobile G2 – than competing technologies over the next few years.

One of the stated advantages of LTE over competing 4G technologies (WiMax, HSPA+) is reduced latency. How does the latency of T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network compare to Verizon Wireless’ LTE 4G network?
We believe that the experience using real-time applications on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network will be virtually the same as Verizon Wireless LTE 4G, which is what customers really care about. In addition to improved network performance, T-Mobile’s 4G network provides reduced latency that enables customers to enjoy services such as video, VOIP or online gaming on the go.

Thoughts?

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  • I just tweeted this, but a very debatable ‘4G experience’ is NOT TRUE 4G! The same HSPA+ is on AT&T and they don’t Lie… what’s with T-Mobile? I think they’re struggling for customer growth, and trying to use 4G as a buzz word to get people in.

    • You are partially correct in that HSPA+ is not a “true 4G technology” but but neither is LTE technically (one of the criteria off the top of my head is a 100mbps peak download speed which neither hits).
      Also T-Mobile’s HSPA+ is not the same as what ATT has. ATT has HSDPA which is 7.2mbps (which t-mobile also has in areas where there is no HSPA+ yet). HSPA+ is actually a step above that with 14.4mbps theoretical speeds (and is upgradeable to up to almost 50mbps theoretical speeds).
      TMobile has all the right to use the term 4G in my personal opinion as soon as Sprint did it with WiMax (which also isn’t technically a 4G technology but has similar 14.4mbps theoretical download speeds).

      As for it vs LTE though, it sounds a lot like trying to retain customers from leaving to LTE. LTE is definitely faster and TMobile wont be able to compete with those speeds (50mbps theoretical) until they upgrade the HSPA+ network to do those same speeds (which they say they will do in 2011).

  • Ryanmcclintock727

    LOL…if you think LTE is 4G your wrong…4G is not defined. LTE is exactly the same as saying HSPA, it’s just a different spectrum techology, neither are “4G” because 4G DOES NOT EXIST. TMobiles IS the fastest in the 3 major markets I’ve used it in. And by far.

    • Well, sorta :)Your right that LTE and HSPA+ are not 4G (neither is Wimax for that matter), BUT there are standards for 4G (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4…), it just so happens that nothing meets those standards yet so technically there is no 4G I guess lol
      But once Sprint said WiMax was 4G then how can the other carriers then say “Well ours is technically 3.75G” etc. Your average consumer is just going to go 4 is greater than 3.75G and think WiMax is faster lol

  • Anonymous

    Ryanmcclintock727, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. “4G” is merely a naming convention. Hell, if I were TMobile, I’d refer to it as “4G+” or “4GN” as in (it’s available) NOW!

    I lave Verizon’s coverage, but with five phones in the family, I’m making a car payment for something that should be better!

  • MyTouch 4G

    some of you are correct but some off you are totally off ATT doesnt have HSDPA connection ATT even stated in a press confernce that there network is strictly 3G nothing more its not LTE or WiMax or even HSPA+. And realisticlly T-Mobile is the only 4G company around their network speeds are not 3.75G there speeds are 3.95G. T-Mobile hands down has the strongest connection over Verizon, even when Verizon was saying they had the largest network, they never did realisticlly they were tied with T-Mobiles network how that T-Mobile set the marker every one is trying to keep up but cant and honestly in my personal opinion Metro PCS would be runner up in the 4G race cause their 4G LTE that was just released is faster than Verizon or Sprint hands down but not quite as fast a T-Mobile

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