Smartphone users may not be the only ones excited by the impending arrival of 4G LTE service in Flin Flon.
“Some of the upgrades we are making to launch LTE will add capacity to MTS’s core network, which may result in higher speeds for Flin Flon customers who access the Internet through a home computer or other wireline connection,” said Chelsea Ross, manager of corporate communications for the telecommunications provider.
Customers who want the benefits of LTE but don’t have a smartphone will be able to connect to the Internet wirelessly using devices like the Novotel Wireless MiFi2 or the Huawei E397 Internet Stick, Ross said.
MTS Allstream is currently upgrading its Flin Flon system with the goal of launching LTE service in the coming months. No firm date has been set.
In Flin Flon the company is mounting new antennas and lines, adding a new LTE base station and connecting back to headquarters in Winnipeg using new dedicated bandwidth, Ross said.
She said the available wireless plans in Flin Flon are not expected to change as a result of LTE.
“MTS wireless customers in Flin Flon will be able to continue to sign up for Manitoba’s only unlimited data plan after LTE has launched,” Ross said.
She added that MTS Allstream intends to reach 90 per cent of the Manitoba population with LTE within five years.
The upgrade will allow customers to tap into the full capacity of their smartphones with data speeds up to seven times faster than the existing HSPA-plus technology.
“With download speeds of up to 150 Mbps [megabits per second], this network gives devices the power to stream movies and download music, pictures and apps faster than ever before,” Ross said previously, “to play multi-player games and to quickly access emails and business documents.”
