iTech Post Staff Writer Tech 12.17.2012 04:Dec AM EST

T-Mobile Upgrades 4G Coverage to Five Metros, Now Accessible to 100 Million People

In an attempt to reach out to more customers, T-Mobile rolled out its iPhone-compatible 4G HSPA+ to five major metro areas including Chicago; Reno, Nev.; and Fresno, Sacramento and Southern Calif.

"T-Mobile has now enhanced the network in 23 metro areas, and we have already reached 100 million people with this improved network experience," Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer for T-Mobile USA, said in a statement. "These upgrades will now provide voice and data enhancements, improved signal strength and in-building coverage for customers."

The mobile carrier does not yet have 4G LTE; however, it claims that its 4G (HSPA+) is fast enough to be called 4G. T-Mobile said it plans to develop a 4G LTE network which is unlikely to begin until next year.

T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ 1900 MHz network is accessible in the below-mentioned cities:

- Chicago, including the surrounding areas of: Aurora, Berwyn, Chicago Heights, Cicero, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Naperville, Oak Park, Schaumburg, Wilmette and Winnetka.

- Reno, Nev.

- Sacramento, Calif.,including the surrounding areas of: Antelope, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Loomis, North Highlands, Rancho Cordova, Rio Linda, Rocklin, Roseville, Vacaville and West Sacramento.

- Fresno, Calif.

- Southern Calif.,including:Alhambra, Anaheim, Claremont, Culver City, El Monte, Encino, Garden Grove, Granada Hills, Inglewood, Irvine, La Crescenta, Laguna Niguel, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Newport Beach, North Hills, North Hollywood, Paramount, Pasadena, Redlands, Reseda, Rosemead, Santa Ana, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Monica, South El Monte, Temple City, Torrance, Upland, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Westminster and Wilmington.

T-mobile said it will enhance the network in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, the New York metro area, Philadelphia and San Diego areas soon where many users are already experiencing improved coverage and unlocked iPhone "speed sightings" on T-Mobile's 4G network.

"Internal tests of unlocked iPhone 4S devices running over 4G (HSPA+) on our 1900 MHz network recorded on average 70 percent faster download speeds than iPhone 4S devices on AT&T's network, Ray said.