While Verizon's LTE network may have been out in various markets for awhile now, an AT&T exec promised that the company will begin to roll out its own fourth-generation LTE technology in 5 markets this summer.  First up to bat are Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio!

Ten additional US markets will soon follow suit, receiving LTE by the end of the year.  The telecom giant's ultimate goal is to reach 70 million Americans by the end of the year.  Check out the press release from AT&T President and Chief Executive John Stankey in its entirety below:

AT&T has delivered five mobile broadband speed upgrades in recent years, including our HSPA+ deployment last year.  And average nationwide speeds on the AT&T network have increased - more than 40 percent over the past two years alone.  The next network evolution will arrive this summer with the addition of LTE in five markets - Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio.  We plan to add another 10 or more markets in the second half of the year, and cover 70 million Amercians with LTE by year-end.  We also have plans to add 20 4G devices to our robust device portfolio this year, with some of those being LTE capable.  We're positioning to deliver a great mobile broadband experience in the near term with HSPA+ and a growing LTE footprint.  We've invested $75 billion in our wireless and wired networks over the last four years - more capital invested in the U.S. than any company in any industry.  And we plan to invest $19 billion in our wireless and wireline networks and other capital projects this year.  The investments we've made to evolve our mobile broadband network in recent years, plus what we have planned for the future, put our customers in position to benefit fully from a host of coming mobile broadband innovations.

via 9 to 5 Mac

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