Rogers Wireless launching LTE 2011

[serans1987]

Well looks like if Bell and Telus are going to upgrade their networks, Rogers thought they should be one step ahead. The announcement of the LTE for 2011 came ahead of Rogers Q4 earnings, so no matter the earnings this was planned. The LTE network is being planned for Vancouver 2011 February on time for Olympic audience that will be from around the world with around LTE devices. lol maybe. Everything with Rogers seems to be focusing on switching to 4G.

Rogers’ LTE network is currently ahead of its development schedule
Recent tests have yielded 50 Mbps download speeds without any sort of optimization (woo!)
Speeds at launch are expected to reach 70 Mbps
The initial launch of the Rogers LTE network will take place in Vancouver and the surrounding area, in time for the 2010 Olympics (February 2010)
The service will launch with a USB stick - Rogers is still talking to vendors - but it has no plans to have any 4G-enabled handsets available at that time
The Rogers 4G network will expand outside of the Vancouver area during Q2 2010
Rogers will have 4G phones available by the end of Q2 2010 as it extends its 4G network
Rogers noted that its 3G launch was a mess but it is taking measures to ensure that 4G goes much smoother

Article for BGR. (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/02/19/rogers-lte-launch-details-revealed/)

[dirtyj]

Well looks like if Bell and Telus are going to upgrade their networks, Rogers thought they should be one step ahead. The announcement of the LTE for 2011 came ahead of Rogers Q4 earnings, so no matter the earnings this was planned. The LTE network is being planned for Vancouver 2011 February on time for Olympic audience that will be from around the world with around LTE devices. lol maybe. Everything with Rogers seems to be focusing on switching to 4G.

Rogers’ LTE network is currently ahead of its development schedule
Recent tests have yielded 50 Mbps download speeds without any sort of optimization (woo!)
Speeds at launch are expected to reach 70 Mbps
The initial launch of the Rogers LTE network will take place in Vancouver and the surrounding area, in time for the 2010 Olympics (February 2010)
The service will launch with a USB stick - Rogers is still talking to vendors - but it has no plans to have any 4G-enabled handsets available at that time
The Rogers 4G network will expand outside of the Vancouver area during Q2 2010
Rogers will have 4G phones available by the end of Q2 2010 as it extends its 4G network
Rogers noted that its 3G launch was a mess but it is taking measures to ensure that 4G goes much smoother

Article for BGR. (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/02/19/rogers-lte-launch-details-revealed/)

Minor typo, 4G will be launched Q2 2010 in Vancouver, Q3 2010 nationwide, not 2011 :P

As one of the commenters posted in BGR, it's just a PR move. When news broke that they posted a loss yesterday, the share price took a thrashing so they needed to release something to help it recover (or at least slow the drop) and create a positive outlook for investors during the recession.

[Skippy101]

...When news broke that they posted a loss yesterday, the share price took a thrashing so they needed to release something to help it recover (or at least slow the drop) and create a positive outlook for investors during the recession.


That is crazy.... i guess anything for a buck.

[dirtyj]

Yea first line of the article says:

"Rogers recently held a conference call ahead of its earnings call and you know your pals at BGR would have all the goods for you."

But I have a sneaking suspicion that they already knew that their earnings would be negative and that the whole thing was... planned!

LOL

[serans1987]

Thanks for the correction, this any how is good news we get upgrade service but with an upgrade is and increase of prices. They give a little and take a lot. But on the bright side wonder what kind of device we can expect a 4G blackberry sweet.

[Sweetness]

More updates... audio of the conference call:

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/02/20/rogers-lte-launch-details-revealed-follow-up/#more-17916

[CreamyGoodness]

ok bell all eyes on you, get your GSM up and running. HURRY

[Kronk86]

Anyone actually believe they will get it up by then? lol

TELUS and Bell and going to have their HSPA+ network by then and LTE by Early 2011, but Rogers getting their whole network done by then? I don't think so. Their current HSPA network only covers 17% of Canada...TELUS and Bell are going to cover 93% of Canada with HSPA+....

Another ploy by Big Red.

[sirk76]

Anyone actually believe they will get it up by then? lol

TELUS and Bell and going to have their HSPA+ network by then and LTE by Early 2011, but Rogers getting their whole network done by then? I don't think so. Their current HSPA network only covers 17% of Canada...TELUS and Bell are going to cover 93% of Canada with HSPA+....

Another ploy by Big Red.


HSPA is actually covering 71% of the country at this point...all of the smaller communities are following by fall 2009.....fact finding is a great thing!;)

[serans1987]

haha wow i never knew 71% of Rogers 3g was actually covered. No wonder they are dropping a lot more 3g devices.

[Rashan]

I hope other GSM companies crop up in canada...it might make rogers be more resonable with their prices..