Canada is set for expanded LTE coverage tomorrow as network partners Telus Mobility and Bell Canada announced plans to offer service across 14 markets. For Telus Mobility, the move is its first commercial LTE launch, while for Bell Canada the move is an expansion of previously launched services into seven new markets.
Both carriers said they expect to cover more than 70% of Canada’s population with LTE services by the end of 2012.
For Bell Canada, which focuses its operations in Eastern Canada, the expansion will include coverage in Montréal, Québec City, Ottawa, London, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, that will join existing coverage in Toronto, Halifax, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Belleville and Yellowknife.
For its launch, Telus Mobility, which focuses operations in Western Canada, said it will offer the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 tablet, LG’s Optimus smartphone and a Novatel Wireless modem.
The carrier’s are using their respective 1.7/2.1 GHz spectrum holdings for the LTE service, though both have noted that they hope to acquire 700 MHz spectrum in order to expand coverage to rural locations.
Both operators also offer extensive HSPA+ coverage, that was part of a move away from CDMA technology initiated in 2008.
Rogers was the first Canadian operator to launch LTE serices, firing up its network in parts of Ottawa last summer.
Smaller rival Shaw Communications announced last year that it was forgoing plans to deploy a wireless data network using cellular technology and would instead focus on using Wi-Fi to serve its mobile data needs.
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