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MTS HSPA+ Network going live March 31st

By on February 2, 2011 at 11:52am in Featured, Mobile News, MTS


Originally MTS had a targeted completion to launch their new HSPA+ network at “end of 2010″ but unfortunately pushed it back until “the first quarter of 2011″. Finally some great news has arrived for those MTS customers who have been waiting and waiting as a confirmed date of March 31st has been announced as the go live date (this date also marks the last date in Q1).

MTS has invested over $100 million into the new HSPA+ network, customers could reach peak download speeds of up to 21mbps, roam in more than 200 countries (thanks to Rogers) and cover 97% of Manitobans. It’s currently not known what handsets MTS will offer… but Rogers did help them build out the new network and in the agreement it gives MTS access to their handset lineup (could see BlackBerrys, Androids, iPhone)

Kelvin Shepherd, President of MTS said “All of us at MTS are incredibly excited about bringing this next generation of wireless service to our Manitoba customers, which will give them faster data speeds as well as access to the best available national and international roaming. We offer Manitoba residents the broadest and most flexible bundling capabilities, the best dealer distribution network and superior customer service – all under the MTS brand that they have come to know and trust.”

The advantage that MTS is looking to gain over their competition is bundling their services together. They currently offer TV, Internet, Home Phone and Home Security. In the release it stated that “Also coming soon to MTS wireless customers across the province is the opportunity to sign-up for new, exclusive MTS bundled service offerings that no other service provider in Manitoba can match, making MTS’s wireless offers even more attractive”. It also seems that MTS will be coming out with an app of some sort that will give customers the ability of “controlling your Ultimate TV PVR with your MTS smartphone”.

As for the current CDMA network, MTS will still hold on and continue to sell and support devices and believes “the combination of HSPA+ and CDMA uniquely positions MTS to have the widest array of wireless solutions for Manitobans”.

Congratulations MTS! Big step forward and Manitobans I’m sure are incredibly thrilled about this news.

More here at MTS

Update: Reading over the HSPA+ support states that MTS will support unlocked devices: “Any unlocked devices (i.e. devices that are not tied to a specific carrier) will work with MTS SIM cards (on the MTS HSPA+ network). However, carriers such as Rogers, Bell and Telus lock their devices to work with only their SIM cards and these devices will not work with a MTS SIM card. Similarly, MTS intends to lock our devices to our SIM cards. Hence our devices will not be usable on another carrier’s network.” [thanks Lee]


Related posts:

  1. Rogers officially goes live with 21 Mbps HSPA+ network
  2. MTS gets green light to build out HSPA network with Rogers
  3. Koodo to set HSPA network live June 15th?
  4. Tbaytel goes live with their HSPA network, offers over 25 new devices

Discussion

21 comments for “MTS HSPA+ Network going live March 31st”

  1. This means I’ll get my 3G outside of Winnipeg then since I’m on Rogers? Wooo!!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Alex | February 2, 2011, 8:50 am
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  2. Finally!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Colin | February 2, 2011, 9:14 am
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  3. Good work MTS – the way you’ll win the cell battle in Manitoba is through price and bundled features. Just make sure not to penalize current customers who want to switch to the new network and you’ll be fine!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2

    Posted by Owen Finn | February 2, 2011, 10:17 am
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  4. I am still wondering if MTS is going to allow Virgin/Bell to Roam on their new network, as they do with their CDMA Network… someone let me know!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

    Posted by mattpopplestone | February 2, 2011, 10:19 am
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    • As far as I know, yes Bell/Virgin Canada will be using MTS towers. What I DON’T know is if Virgin will have their systems all ready to go “live” with HSPA the same date that MTS has. Bell owns Virgin Mobile, and Bell used to have part ownership of MTS (from what I understand). The technology should be the same, I just don’t know if the computers running it all will be sync’d up and ready to rock for all users (Bell/Virgin) by March 31. It would be nice that’s for sure. In fact I just emailed Virgin about this very question.

      Short answer: Yes, but maybe not right away.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

      Posted by Andrew | February 3, 2011, 8:48 pm

    • I’m with Virgin mobile and i just receive a letter from them that they will shutdown Manitoba for all users from outside Manitoba (I live in Montreal but work in Manitoba so….) :(

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

      Posted by Martin Houle | March 8, 2012, 12:02 pm

  5. Good job MTS. Looking forward to seeing their HSPA+ network go live!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 45 Thumb down 2

    Posted by JAWG | February 2, 2011, 10:21 am
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  6. Finally.. It will be nice to have new and current phones.

    Good work MTS

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Jason | February 2, 2011, 10:36 am
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  7. Wait, does this mean I’ll be able to use koodo’s blackberry then outside of Winnipeg?!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3

    Posted by LeprechaunLaura | February 2, 2011, 11:58 am
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    • NO, Koodo is a subsidiary brand of TELUS. Telus only has data services within Winnipeg. So far it appears that only MTS and Rogers will work 100% outside the perimeter of Winnipeg. Telus/Koodo only Voice and text will work outside of Winnipeg, on a CDMA Device.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1

      Posted by mattpop | February 2, 2011, 3:17 pm

  8. I am in Toronto and I am jealous!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2

    Posted by Archangelca | February 2, 2011, 12:32 pm
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  9. I just signed a 3 year contract with MTS. Anyone know if I can switch it over to the new network when it launches?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Christopher | February 2, 2011, 1:31 pm
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    • Absolutely, just buy a HSPA+ compatible Device, and purchase a sim card for the new network, and mts will transfer services to your new handset/sim.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

      Posted by mattpop | February 2, 2011, 3:15 pm

    • you would have to contact mts retention to be able to update to hspa device.

      958-1896 is mts dealer direct line to make arrangements…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

      Posted by pomfan | February 5, 2011, 12:50 pm

  10. its not that easy, if you just signed a contract they will make you buy it out for new hspa network..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3

    Posted by astroboy99 | February 2, 2011, 3:37 pm
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    • No they won’t it the same with bell. you can just buy a new device.. a new sim card.. and your set.. you already have an agreement with them for 3 years.. your just switching to a different device compatible with the newer network

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0

      Posted by mattpop | February 2, 2011, 4:34 pm

    • No they won’t it the same with bell. you can just buy a new device.. a new sim card.. and your set.. you already have an agreement with them for 3 years.. your just switching to a different device compatible with the newer network

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0

      Posted by mattpop | February 2, 2011, 4:34 pm

      mattpop, I’m hoping you’re right about this. I talked to an MTS dealer about this and they said “No, you’ll have to buy your CDMA contract out.” I said “Seriously?!?!?!” He said “Yup.” This would be bad news for any recent MTS customers who signed up before the announcement for the CDMA network.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

      Posted by Stan The Caddy | February 20, 2011, 10:32 am

  11. Ya “good job MTS” for FINALLY launching after initially promising the network would be launched in April 2010… Don’t be surprised if they pushed it back again the week before their newly-promised launch

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2

    Posted by WTF MTS | February 2, 2011, 10:00 pm
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  12. Its getting better and better….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

    Posted by CUNEYT KUSKAYA | February 5, 2011, 9:55 am
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  13. MTS will launch google nexus with market launch

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

    Posted by *pomfan* | February 22, 2011, 9:32 pm
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  14. I live in Montreal but work in Manitoba. My provider Virgin / Bell will shut down Manitoba March 23rd. Do you know what i can do to keep coverage in MB an rest of Canada ???

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Martin Houle | March 8, 2012, 12:12 pm
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