Few devices get launched in the U.S. market these days without supporting LTE--and for good reason. The United States is one of the most advanced LTE markets in the world, along with South Korea, Japan and to a lesser extent, Germany. If we are to believe the carriers' predictions, by the end of 2013 there will be four U.S. operators covering at least 200 million people with LTE. Although that is clearly not everyone and coverage strength varies, that is a lot more robust than at the start of 2013.
With all of this in mind, FierceWireless is taking a snapshot of the U.S. LTE market, focusing on the four Tier 1 carriers. (To be clear: A number of smaller carriers have launched LTE, but none offer networks as broad as those from the Tier 1 carriers.) Much has changed since last fall, when we offered our last LTE snapshot: Some carriers have been acquired (MetroPCS) and others are in the process of being acquired (Leap Wireless).
Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) generally continues to lead the market in terms of covered POPs and the amount of data traffic riding on its LTE network. Verizon is enjoying a headstart though--the carrier launched LTE in December 2010. But that doesn't mean that Verizon's competitor are standing still.
AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) has been furiously expanding its coverage in 2013, and aims to get within shooting distance of Verizon's LTE coverage by the end of the year. Sprint's (NYSE:S) deployment has lagged its rivals, but now that the carrier has received fresh capital from parent SoftBank, it plans to deploy Clearwire's 2.5 GHz spectrum for TD-LTE service on a nationwide basis to augment capacity. T-Mobile, which only deployed LTE commercially in March, already has 157 million POPs covered and T-Mobile CEO John Legere said that the company is on target to hit 200 million ahead its earlier deadline of the end of the year. (Legere has also been taunting rivals on Twitter with T-Mobile's LTE speeds.)
Putting aside all of the hype (including the latest kerfuffle between Verizon and AT&T over which company has the more "reliable" LTE network ) can be difficult, but FierceWireless compiled information from all four of the Tier 1 carriers on their LTE networks and future plans so that they can be compared as fairly as possible. Bear in mind that this report represents a snapshot in time, and the playing field will likely be different by year-end. Carriers are also moving ahead with LTE Advanced, which includes technologies ranging from carrier aggregation to enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC). Where available information on LTE Advanced is also included.
FierceWireless worked with Mosaik Solutions to provide updated LTE coverage maps for the carriers. All of the coverage illustrated in these maps is derived from public information provided by the carriers.
What do think of the current state play in the U.S. LTE market, as well as where things are going? Let us know in the comments! --Phil
Click here for a larger version of this map
(Editor's Note: The following explanation was provided by Mosaik Solutions on the company's maps: "Mosaik Solutions takes pride in creating accurate and detailed representations of operators' marketed network coverage patterns. The specific methodology for the creation of these patterns varies based on the originating source and proprietary processes. Sources for network data include information provided directly by operators, operator websites and filings from regulatory bodies. In the event that an operator is unable to share its data, Mosaik Solutions preforms its own research for any information available in the public domain.")
LTE POPs coverage as of Aug. 1: 301 million POPs
% of subscribers on LTE: More than 28 million devices, as of end of the first quarter. Verizon did not provide a subscriber breakout. Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo did say on an investor call Aug. 13 that one-third of all accounts are on LTE. Verizon had 35 million postpaid accounts as of the end of the second quarter, which would equate to 11.65 million LTE accounts.
% of network data traffic on LTE: 59 percent
Number of LTE devices available: 36 LTE devices, including smartphones, tablets, mobile hotspots and Jetpack modems.
Small cells deployed as of Aug. 1/small cell plans: "Small cell technology for us is an LTE-only technology, so soon as we can obtain that equipment from our supplier this year, we will begin deploying them," Verizon spokesman Tom Pica said. "We will deploy them in a variety of different configurations, but small cells are just one tool in the toolbox to adjust the capacity demands of our customers. We have made no announcements about small cell deployments."
Carrier aggregation/LTE Advanced plans: "LTE Advanced is really a set of enhancements that can be added to the LTE network," Pica said. "You will see us leading in the LTE Advanced space. However, we will deploy the various features of LTE Advanced, like carrier aggregation, where we need it, when we need it. You will see us strategically applying the specific features where and when our customers need it."
Main LTE infrastructure vendors: Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson
2013 capital expenditures: Expected to be $16.4 billion to $16.6 billion (though not all will be for wireless; in the first half of 2013, Verizon Communications spent $7.6 billion on capex, of which $4.3 billion was for wireless.)
Click here for a larger version of this map
(Editor's Note: The following explanation was provided by Mosaik Solutions on the company's maps: "Mosaik Solutions takes pride in creating accurate and detailed representations of operators' marketed network coverage patterns. The specific methodology for the creation of these patterns varies based on the originating source and proprietary processes. Sources for network data include information provided directly by operators, operator websites and filings from regulatory bodies. In the event that an operator is unable to share its data, Mosaik Solutions preforms its own research for any information available in the public domain.")
LTE POPs coverage as of Aug. 1: 225 million POPs (AT&T expects to cover nearly 270 million POPs by the end of 2013)
% of subscribers on LTE: AT&T said more than 35 percent of its postpaid smartphone subscriber base have an LTE device, which equates to 17.21 million LTE postpaid smartphones (the company had 49.46 million postpaid smartphone subscribers at the end of the second quarter according to an SEC filing). The carrier did not provide any other LTE subscriber breakdown, though it likely has a significant number of LTE tablets.
% of network data traffic on LTE: Not provided
Number of LTE devices available: 35 (24 smartphones, seven tablets and four mobile hotspots)
Small cells deployed as of Aug. 1/small cell plans: Not provided. However, by the end of 2015, AT&T plans to deploy more than 40,000 small cells.
Carrier aggregation/LTE Advanced plans: AT&T declined to discuss specific LTE Advanced and carrier aggregation deployment plans. However, AT&T plans to launch LTE Advanced network technology in the second half of 2013, according to a December 2012 report from research firm Technology Business Research. When asked specifically about carrier aggregation, Kris Rinne, AT&T Labs' executive vice president of network technologies, demurred on when AT&T will start using the technology. "We haven't given a time frame but we would expect to be in a test mode in 2013," she told FierceBroadbandWireless in November 2012. "It's getting carrier aggregation from the infrastructure side and then getting it in our network so we can start certifying the devices."
Main LTE infrastructure vendors: Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson
2013 capital expenditures: Expected to be around $21 billion (though not all will be for wireless)
Click here for a larger version of this map
(Editor's Note: The following explanation was provided by Mosaik Solutions on the company's maps: "Mosaik Solutions takes pride in creating accurate and detailed representations of operators' marketed network coverage patterns. The specific methodology for the creation of these patterns varies based on the originating source and proprietary processes. Sources for network data include information provided directly by operators, operator websites and filings from regulatory bodies. In the event that an operator is unable to share its data, Mosaik Solutions preforms its own research for any information available in the public domain.")
LTE POPs coverage as of Aug. 1: Not provided (Sprint expects to cover 200 million POPs with LTE by the end of 2013)
% of subscribers on LTE: Not provided. However, in launched LTE markets, as of June, more than 35 percent of customers were using LTE phones, according to Sprint.
% of network data traffic on LTE: More than 40 percent as of June, nationwide. In Sprint's more mature LTE markets that number is closer to 75 percent, according to the carrier.
Number of LTE devices available: 25
Small cells deployed as of Aug. 1/small cell plans: Sprint has deployed over 1 million consumer femtocells and 10,000 enterprise femtocells. Sprint is currently testing LTE small cells in the lab and in the field.
Carrier aggregation/LTE Advanced plans: "Sprint has deployed several LTE Advanced features, including 4 Branch MIMO, Initial SON (Self Organizing Networks) (notably, Automatic Neighbor Relations (ANR), Automatic PCI selection and PCI collision detection), and Multiple Operator Carrier Network (MOCN)," Sprint spokeswoman Kelly Schlageter said. "Sprint is also currently testing several additional features that we expect to deploy later this year and next year."
Main LTE infrastructure vendors: Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Samsung
2013 capital expenditures: Expected to be $8 billion
Click here for a larger version of this map
(Editor's Note: The following explanation was provided by Mosaik Solutions on the company's maps: "Mosaik Solutions takes pride in creating accurate and detailed representations of operators' marketed network coverage patterns. The specific methodology for the creation of these patterns varies based on the originating source and proprietary processes. Sources for network data include information provided directly by operators, operator websites and filings from regulatory bodies. In the event that an operator is unable to share its data, Mosaik Solutions preforms its own research for any information available in the public domain.")
LTE POPs coverage as of Aug. 1: 167 million POPs in 116 metro areas, including 73 of the 100 biggest metro areas in the U.S. (T-Mobile expects to cover 200 million POPs before the end of 2013)
% of subscribers on LTE: Not provided
% of network data traffic on LTE: Not provided
Number of LTE devices available: 12 (10 smartphones that are LTE and HD Voice capable, one tablet and one hotspot)
Small cells deployed as of Aug. 1/small cell plans: Not provided
Carrier aggregation/LTE Advanced plans: "T-Mobile is deploying the latest state-of-the-art 4G LTE network hardware, so we can move to LTE Advanced features without needing to install new infrastructure," T-Mobile said in a statement. "We have not announced LTE Advanced launch timing."
"We'll begin rolling out LTE Advanced features later this year," Dave Mayo, T-Mobile's senior vice president of technology, strategy, finance and development, said in June.
Main LTE infrastructure vendors: Ericsson, Nokia Solutions and Networks
2013 capital expenditures: Expected to be $4 billion to $4.2 billion