This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
AT&T announced Monday it has switched on its 4G LTE data network in Salt Lake City, the second cell phone carrier to offer the next generation of high-speed mobile Internet connectivity in Utah.
The data network is up to 10 times faster than the older 3G network but requires mobile phones or computer tablets equipped with LTE chips. Those include devices such as the iPhone 5, the latest generation of iPad and the Samsung Galaxy S III. Phones compatible with LTE will use that data network first and revert to the older 3G network if they are not in range of an LTE tower.
AT&T, the nation's second-largest carrier after Verizon, first turned on its LTE network last month in Provo and Orem. Verizon has been operating its LTE network in much of northern Utah for more than a year. Verizon's 4G LTE is in 400 U.S. markets, while AT&T's network is in 100 markets.
In a Consumer Reports survey released last week, AT&T's 4G LTE network was ranked No. 1 in the country in customer satisfaction, even though the carrier was ranked last in overall service. Verizon was ranked best overall, according to the survey.