Verizon LTE and AT&T first-gen incompatible

A Verizon spokesperson, Brenda Raney, has revealed that Verizon’s LTE phones will be unlikely to be interoperable with AT&T’s LTE network. Speaking to PC Mag, Raney said that Verizon’s LTE phones “will be on different frequencies.” Where 3G GSM phone owners are currently able to choose between networks by switching SIM cards, provided that their phones are unlocked, the same won’t be true for 4G LTE. Verizon’s LTE phones will operate in the 766-787MHz spectrum, while AT&T’s LTE phones operate on the 704-746MHz spectrum.

While there will some overlap, in the section of the spectrum known as “lower B block,” it would not be hard for either carrier to lock out access to the other network, even if the phones are unlocked and the SIMs swapped for another carrier. Other carriers who have adopted the LTE “standard” are also using different spectrums. MetroPCS is using the 1700MHz band, while LightSquared plans on using the 1500MHz spectrum.

It is possible that the interoperability issue may only affect first generation LTE handsets. Multiband LTE radios are in development that would work like current tri-band and quad-band 3G handsets in use today. While carriers may have the upper hand initially, it may not be long before users will again be in a position to unlock their handsets and move among providers at their discretion.

However, it also remains a possibility that even when multi-band LTE devices launch, that handsets will remain incompatible depending on whether carriers roll out LTE FDD or TD-LTE networks, or use different frequencies for the transmission of voice and data among other potential complications.

By Electronista Staff