Sprint Nextel on Friday announced plans to launch a fourth-generation LTE network by midyear 2012, joining its bigger rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
The mobile operator expects to introduce CDMA-LTE handsets and other devices by the same timeframe. Sprint said it will continue to sell CDMA-WiMAX devices such as the HTC EVO 4G and Samsung Epic 4G Touch throughout next year. Sprint anticipates introducing about 15 LTE devices throughout 2012, including handsets, tablets and data cards.
Sprint, which operates a 4G WiMAX network through a relationship with Clearwire Corp., anticipates completing the LTE network by the end of 2013.
Some analysts have speculated that Sprint would be at a competitive disadvantage over the long term without building 4G infrastructure based on Long Term Evolution or LTE, the high-speed technology that large mobile operators (including AT&T and Verizon Wireless) are rapidly adopting in the U.S. and around the world.
Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint is the third largest U.S. wireless operator with about 52 million customers, including 32.9 million postpaid subscribers, based on second-quarter results.
