The news about AT&T Verizon spectrum purchase is worth hearing. AT&T is willing to pay Verizon Wireless $1.9 billion to use its spectrum across 18 U.S. states and reach 300 million customers with this LTE network by 2015.
Right now all iPad users in the U.S. know that the 4G LTE networks of AT&T and Verizon are not compatible. Why has it happened? Can it ever change? Is this the main reason for customers looking for iPad Wi-Fi only models and ignoring the more expensive 4G LTE models? Being unable to switch mobile operators, iPad owners have to choose between the two carriers all the time.
Being locked to one carrier is not too great. Still U.S. customers who want to have Apple tablet computer have no choice as their AT&T device will not work on Verizon and vice versa. We’ll try to explain the main differences between the carriers’ networks and discuss the AT&T Verizon spectrum purchase event. You will also learn some other interesting facts.
The New iPad and Carriers
It is true that the new model of iPad is built for two carriers, AT&T and Verizon, differently. So you should choose which carrier you wish to use before you make a purchase. You must also know that your AT&T or Verizon tablet will not work on Sprint or MetroPCS.
This is very frustrating and sad when you are unable to roam onto another operator’s network. Verizon got the 700 MHz spectrum and promised the FCC to keep its network “open” yet this doesn’t mean that you are able to freely use any iPad on it. AT&T has the same spectrum while Sprint uses 1900 MHz and partly 800 MHz.
The question is why the two operators with the same spectrum cannot interoperate. The case is that 700 MHz band has a lot of band-classes and two portions (upper and lower) used by different carriers that are unable to interoperate. Verizon uses the upper block while AT&T has got the lower portion.
What to Expect Tomorrow?
Will this situation ever change? The FCC, of course, is trying to make different carriers that share the same band to interoperate. Even if this happens, mobile operators are able to “close” their network and lock gadgets to their service only.
If the AT&T purchase deal of Verizon spectrum becomes a reality the competition between the two carriers will get tougher, still it doesn’t mean that iOS customers will win as we have no idea whether it will be possible to use the same gadget within two carrier’s networks or not.