MetroPCS bringing LTE to Las Vegas this year, Samsung doing infrastructure and first LTE handset: the SCH-r900

Look out folks, we're about to go LTE, and it's not from where you were expecting: MetroPCS is building out an LTE network in "various metropolitan markets," with Las Vegas due to go online first in the second half of 2010. Samsung will be doing the infrastructure work, and is running the presser here at CTIA, with a pretty impressive display of room-based LTE show of force. Samsung, as previously announced, will also be building the first 4G handset for the network, dubbed the SCH-r900, though they aren't sharing any other details about the device at this point. Samsung ran a quick demo of 4G performance using some laptops and a couple of racks of LTE parts (we'll have video up momentarily), and was also running some sort of LTE prototype (pictured above), though we don't know squat about it. PR is after the break.

Update: There's video after the break! Witness those blazing 4G speeds for yourself, you'll be amazed and astonished. Or at least mildly entertained.

Samsung and MetroPCS LTE press event

Show full PR text

SAMSUNG MOBILE ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL LTE 4G INFRASTRUCTURE AND HANDSET AT CTIA WIRELESS

LTE Infrastructure and Handset to Launch Commercial Service in the Second Half of 2010 for the MetroPCS Las Vegas Metropolitan Area

Las Vegas – March 24, 2010 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. 2, introduced today at International CTIA Wireless 2010 in Las Vegas one of the first commercially available LTE network infrastructures and LTE-enabled, multi-mode, CDMA, 4G handset, the Samsung SCH-r900.

Samsung Mobile's advanced commercial LTE network products will allow wireless operators like MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS), the nation's leading provider of unlimited, flat-rate, no signed contract wireless communications service, to provide advanced services using LTE compatible handsets as well as new and innovative network solutions. LTE makes possible services such as real-time streaming video on demand (VOD), music downloads, enhanced Web browsing capabilities at high download speeds, and utilizing voice communications to increase productivity and access downloadable applications. MetroPCS plans to initially deploy a commercial LTE network in various metropolitan markets, including the Las Vegas metropolitan area where Samsung Mobile LTE network products will be used, in the second half of 2010.
Samsung Mobile's commercial LTE network products leverage years of 4G orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) commercial network experience and have flexible bandwidth support of 1.4 to 20 MHz standards. Samsung Mobile's network infrastructure supports a wide portfolio of enhanced node B (eNB) products, including rack types, remote radio heads, picocells and distributed antenna system (DAS) hosts.

Samsung Mobile's network solutions feature a scalable, single rack, enhanced packet core (EPC) along with IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) products, to support rapid deployment and end-to-end quality control through devices.

Samsung Mobile's infrastructure network products also feature an open architecture which supports multi-vendor inter-operation through initiatives such as the LTE Strategic Test Initiative (LSTI). Samsung Mobile's network infrastructure will incorporate high efficiency multimode amplifiers and energy saving mode.

The Samsung SCH-r900 will be one of the first commercially available LTE-enabled, multi-mode, CDMA, 4G handsets in the United States when MetroPCS launches the handset in the second half of 2010. The introduction of the Samsung SCH-r900 is part of Samsung Mobile's collaboration with MetroPCS to deliver advanced LTE handsets, services and infrastructure.

###

[skyblaze Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:57AM]

...motro?

[sodaboy581 Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:57AM]

"MotroPCS?"

[skyblaze Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:58AM]

@sodaboy581

beat you...

[sodaboy581 Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:00PM]

@skyblaze p_q

[srostohar Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:58AM]

MotroPCS in the title...

[skyblaze Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:59AM]

@srostohar

...to it.

[minceyfresh Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:58AM]

*Motro* PCS? Hehe...

[kenroy112 Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:59AM]

Bring it Florida for me to care.

[elitist Posted Mar 24th 2010 1:31PM]

bring it ti florida quick!
kenroy has to care!

[mikend Posted Mar 25th 2010 11:35AM]

@kenroy112
Yeah! Bring it to South FL, Metro! It would probably light a fire in T-Mobile's ass to get HSPA+ rolled out.
If MetroPCS brings 4G to my area before my current provider, and it offers a 4G Wifi Router so I can connect all my mobile devices under 1 data plan, I would have a hard time not switching to them.

[ashleythehottiest Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:59AM]

Motro lol

[TheLondonExchange Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:02PM]

What the heck is that thing n the picture above? A protoype phone?

FUGLY

However I'm excited to hear more about LTE. I'm willign to wait for LTE while WiMax either dies out or is assimilated into LTE.

Good to know the ball is rolling though.

iPhone LTE here we come!

[BigE4284 Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:06PM]

@TheLondonExchange Yes, All LTE phones are going to be massive bricks with antennas sticking out of them.

[null Posted Mar 24th 2010 1:15PM]

@BigE4284
Hell yeah, sign me up!

[drksilenc Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:44PM]

@TheLondonExchange ... wow apple fanboi... wimax has and always will be compatable with lte...

[think before you react Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:51PM]

@drksilenc
so I won't need a separate antenna for LTE and Wimax?

[Drybones5 Posted Mar 24th 2010 6:35PM]

@think before you react

WiMAX is CDMA :|

LTE is GSM

[B3ASTx3 Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:04PM]

Motro = FAIL!

[DoctarPeppar Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:04PM]

Motro!!

[Roger A Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:04PM]

Maybe MetroPCS and Motorola are merging :)

The new LTE network : Only from MotroPCS

[iFAP Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:07PM]

@Roger A

I believe Engadget leaked it.

[Roger A Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:11PM]

@iFAP They leaked something.... I dont know exactly what, but if the hint of Metro and Motorola = MotroPCS then Im all for it.

[dantzig Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:06PM]

you're going to have to delete all these and start the comments over once you fix that title.

[dantzig Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:08PM]

@dantzig
E and O are on opposite sides of the keyboard ... how did that happen?

[wegap Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:48PM]

@dantzig
maybe the keyboard on the LTE prototype board..

[ComeShot Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:09PM]

hey look windows xp!

[saddam3 Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:11PM]

impresive.

[cdm710 Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:12PM]

I thought AT&T was joking when they said initial LTE phones would be like bricks.

[NYNY Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:17PM]

Wow, MetroPCS? Really? Good job:D

[4u2nv Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:17PM]

Hello Motro!

[mastercheif Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:39PM]

MetroPCS dosen't even offer a smartphone yet. I bet those WAP pages will load nice n' fast

[christexaport Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:46PM]

@mastercheif
MetroPCS sucks, but they do carry a WinMo 6.1 model and a Blackberry, so they have a couple smartphones. They also market a couple of the TouchWiz dumbphones as smartphones too, though I disagree. But if Apple can do it...

[null Posted Mar 24th 2010 1:17PM]

@christexaport
Also, dont forget, you can bring a phone to them and they'll flash it. (Or at least the store near me will)

[iCello Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:49PM]

@null Really? So I could get say a palm pre plus and take it to metroPCS? What's the catch?

[Skwidwerd Posted Mar 24th 2010 12:51PM]

I give LTE another couple of years before it starts rolling around major cities. For now, my eyes are set on the HTC Evo 4G. And WiMax. :)

[Valicore Posted Mar 24th 2010 1:05PM]

I love that Cricket and MetroPCS are doing this kind of stuff, the underdogs keep pressure on the big guys a bit.

[hyundaifanscom Posted Mar 24th 2010 1:15PM]

MetroPCS??? Well this is a shocker.

[spodee Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:10PM]

@hyundaifanscom Yeah no kidding; where is the bandwidth speed test? I don't care if it's a multiple person technology and each person only gets 300 kbps.

[Johnathan Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:14PM]

@spodee

He mentioned it was capable of 4.1 mbps but averaged 1.7.

[zerotwone Posted Mar 24th 2010 1:27PM]

How fast is LTE?

[aschettler Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:47PM]

@zerotwone LTE network equipment will start of at 40 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up and is capable of being software upgraded up to 100 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up. LTE-Advanced will be capable of speeds up to 1 Gbps down. This may sound like a lot on a cellular network, but the hardware is designed to allocate more or less bandwidth where necessary using "Self-Organizing Network" software. Also, keep in mind that those are simply peak theoretical bandwidth figures.

[zerotwone Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:55PM]

@aschettler

So initially we can expect speeds of up to 40Mb down? It sounds like the National Broadband Plan over estimated by about 8 years or their efforts helped speed up the time to market. Either way, it's exciting to see faster speeds coming to the market soon. Hopefully priced affordably.

[Zerohour Posted Mar 24th 2010 4:10PM]

@zerotwone No. Those are theoretical speeds. Neither Verizon or AT&T own enough spectrum at this point to bring that type of speed to even a fraction of their customer base. Speeds starting out will be around the same as WiMAX.

[rosebowl23 Posted Mar 24th 2010 1:39PM]

this is awesome, metropcs is a great company

[KimH Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:13PM]

Wimax and LTE for Las Vegas!!!!!!

We win!

[HTCHD2 Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:21PM]

must everything run android

[Johnny Tremaine Posted Mar 24th 2010 4:26PM]

@HTCHD2
Yes.

[KAL326 Posted Mar 26th 2010 3:31PM]

@HTCHD2 Given that the SCH-M900 is a CDMA Android phone it would be reasonable to think that a LTE enabled, but still CDMA based phone would probably just be a modified form of the M900 which happens to run android.

[Alex Posted Mar 24th 2010 4:38PM]

MOTRO AHAHAHA... oh wait, it's over?

[jellotime91 Posted Mar 24th 2010 5:40PM]

all I saw in that video was this dude talking about 1.7mbps, and 4.1mbps.. That's not impressive. 3.75G on Bell and Telus with 7.2mbps compatible devices steadily hits around 5.5mbps.

I thought LTE was supposed to be 50mbps? >_>