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Sprint to launch 4G LTE in 100 new cities in 'coming months'

With only a few days to go before Apple is expected to introduce its next iPhone, Sprint announced plans to launch its 4G LTE network in 100 new cities.

The network expansion will occur in "the coming months" in cities including Boston, Mass.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Memphis, Tenn.;, Miami, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans, La.; New York, N.Y.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Washington, D.C.

The network build is said to be currently underway, though a more specific timeframe for 4G LTE launches was not provided. Customers with Sprint will be able to use the company's "Truly Unlimited" 4G LTE data plans.

Customers with capable 4G LTE devices may begin to see 4G LTE coverage in the new areas and can use the network before its official launch. Sprint said it will officially announce commercial availability of 4G LTE in the more than 100 areas in the next few months. The full list of cities is:

  • Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastian, Puerto Rico
  • Albermarle, N.C.
  • Anderson, Ind.
  • Asheville, N.C.
  • Athens, Tenn.
  • Athens, Texas
  • Austin, Texas
  • Barnstable Town (Hyannis/Midcape), Mass.
  • Baton Rouge, La.
  • Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md.
  • Boston
  • Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, Mass.
  • Charlotte, N.C.
  • Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • Chicago
  • Clarksville, Tenn.
  • Cleveland, Tenn.
  • Coamo, Puerto Rico
  • College Station, Texas
  • Columbia, Tenn.
  • Columbus, Ind.
  • Cookeville, Tenn.
  • Crossville, Tenn.
  • Daytona Beach-Deltona-Ormond Beach, Fla.
  • Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.
  • Fayetteville, N.C.
  • Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, Fla.
  • Gainesville, Fla.
  • Gary, Ind.
  • Goldsboro, N.C.
  • Greenville, N.C.
  • Greeneville, Tenn.
  • Guayama, Puerto Rico
  • Hammond, La.
  • Harriman, Tenn.
  • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.
  • Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La.
  • Hutchinson, Kan.
  • Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
  • Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Johnson City, Tenn.
  • Jonesboro, Ark.
  • Kankakee-Bradley-Bourbonnais, Ill.
  • Kerrville, Texas
  • Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Texas
  • Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.
  • Kinston, N.C.
  • Knoxville, Tenn.
  • Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
  • Lancaster, S.C.
  • Lawrence, Kan.
  • Lincolnton, N.C.
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif.
  • Lumberton, N.C.
  • McPherson, Kan.
  • Memphis, Tenn.
  • Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla.
  • Morgan City, La.
  • Morristown, Tenn.
  • Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
  • Muncie, Ind.
  • Nashville, Tenn.
  • New Orleans
  • New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.
  • Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.
  • Ocala, Fla.
  • Ocean Pines, Md.
  • Palatka, Fla.
  • Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Fla.
  • Peabody/Lawrence-Methuen/Gloucester, Mass.
  • Philadelphia
  • Ponce, Puerto Rico
  • Port St. Lucie, Fla.
  • Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
  • Rochelle, Ill.
  • Rockford, Ill.
  • Rocky Mount, N.C.
  • Salina, Kan.
  • Salisbury, Md.
  • Salisbury, N.C.
  • San German-Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Sebastian-Vero Beach, Fla.
  • Sevierville, Tenn.
  • Shelby, N.C.
  • Southern Pines-Pinehurst, N.C.
  • Springfield, Mass.
  • Statesville-Mooresville, N.C.
  • St. Thomas, USVI
  • Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
  • Topeka, Kan.
  • Tullahoma, Tenn.
  • Tupelo, Miss.
  • Warrensburg, Mo.
  • Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria, Va.
  • Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.
  • West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, Fla.
  • Wichita, Kan.
  • Wichita Falls, Texas
  • Wilson, N.C.
  • Worcester-Fitchburg-Leominster, Mass.
  • Yauco, Puerto Rico

"We are committed to delivering a cutting-edge network as quickly as possible, one that provides a greater level of reliability and speed to our 3G and 4G customers," said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. "We know our customers depend on their mobile devices as their primary source of communication, business connectivity and entertainment. We want to deliver a network that delivers mobile access, productivity and entertainment at a highly competitive price point."

The more than 100 new cities will join 19 metropolitan areas where Sprint already offers 4G LTE coverage: Atlanta; Athens, Ga.; Baltimore; Calhoun, Ga.; Carrollton, Ga.; Newnan, Ga.; Rome, Ga.; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; Gainesville, Ga.; Granbury-Hood County, Texas; Houston; Huntsville, Texas; Kansas City, Mo./Kansas City, Kan.; Manhattan/Junction City, Kan.; San Antonio, Texas; Sedalia, Mo.; Waco, Texas; and St. Joseph, Mo.

The news comes soon after AT&T announced it has expanded its own 4G LTE coverage to 9 new markets, with 44 more coming before the end of 2012.

Apple is expected to introduce a new next-generation iPhone at a media event this Wednesday that will kick off at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. Last week, The Wall Street Journal corroborated that the next iPhone will boast global support for high-speed 4G LTE networks in the U.S., Europe and Asia, though functionality may not be available to all countries and carriers at launch.