AT&T launching LTE network this weekend; competitors shouldn't worry yet

For being the second largest mobile provider in the United States and one of the largest in the world, it has certainly taken AT&T a while to catch up to the competition with a 4G LTE network.

AT&T is finally answering the call (excuse the pun) for 4G with the launch of its LTE network this Sunday, September 18.

However, its competitors don't need to worry much...yet. Only a handful of markets are expected to be covered by AT&T's 4G network first, starting with Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Yet that group will be expanded to at least 15 markets by the end of 2011.

Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile all already have 4G networks of their own -- although the use of the term "4G" with these advanced networks is still debatable with many. All of these networks also already have several 4G-enabled devices each that had been available for some time now. AT&T is more limited on this front.

Additionally, other reports about the initial speed and performance of AT&T's 4G network haven't been overly positive.

Of course, Sprint really does have something to worry about if AT&T gets its wish and the acquisition with T-Mobile is approved. That would beef up and expand AT&T's 4G coverage exponentially as AT&T pleads that it can't upgrade its network alone.

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• Huawei's Impulse 4G is a budget smartphone for AT&T
• Why AT&T's arguments for the T-Mobile deal back it into a corner
• Sprint jumps onboard with DOJ; files suit against AT&T, T-Mobile