4G LTE Speed Encourages More Mobile Consumption

With the major carriers building out their fastest network so far, customers are getting a taste for how fast this connection can be. Now users can access web pages, emails, and videos without the frustration of waiting for them to load. These faster speeds encourage users to use their mobile phones more often than before, increasing mobile consumption. William Ho, Principal Analyst at 556 Ventures, shared an article with RCR Wireless about how this will affect our spectrum and network development. “As 2014 begins, each company will continue investing in their LTE networks. Though Verizon Wireless seems to meet a geographic goal, customer data demand has the carrier increasing capacity with 1.7/2.1 GHz (advanced wireless services) spectrum assets with a 50 city target in the first half of 2014, complementing its national LTE 700 MHz network. Though T-Mobile US hasn’t publicly stated its 2014 LTE population intentions, it has mentioned an LTE expansion number of up to 230 million pops. AT&T Mobility’s LTE network is expected to reach 300 million pops covered by mid-2014 while it has already been deploying AWS spectrum to augment capacity demands. Mid-2014 also should see Sprint meet 250 million pops covered on its 1.9 GHz (personal communications services) LTE network while it seeks to cover 150 million with its 800 MHz repurposed iDEN spectrum. Its real speed card based on the 2.5 GHz portfolio will target 100 million pops covered with LTE by the end of 2014,” Ho explains. With the increase in speed, customers will begin relying on their mobile phones even more causing carriers to keep up with demand by building towers and continuing to upgrade their equipment on existing cell sites.