@ CTIA: Leap set to launch LTE this year, signs roaming deal with LightSquared

ORLANDO, Fla. – Leap Wireless International Inc. is set to move forward with LTE network plans that will include building out coverage in its current markets and striking a roaming deal with LightSquared for nationwide coverage.
The regional carrier said it has entered into a long term “4G” roaming agreement with LightSquared that will expand coverage for LTE services that carrier plans to begin rolling out later this year, with continued expansion over the next several years.
Leap has noted previously that it had sufficient spectrum in most of its markets to launch LTE services save for the Chicago area where it lacks sufficient depth.
“Our business progress demonstrates how data services are increasingly important to our customers, as evidenced by our customers’ significant uptake of smartphones and data-focused, higher-ARPU service plans,” said Doug Hutcheson, Leap’s President and CEO. “We intend to deploy our own LTE networks beginning this year to complement the existing nationwide 3G services we currently offer to customers. This new roaming arrangement will allow us to offer customers an even-greater 4G service area as LightSquared expands its own network. We believe that the broad coverage resulting from this business agreement will enhance our ability to offer compelling products and services and allow us to strengthen our retail relationships and distribution capabilities. It will also give us flexibility to access additional 4G capacity where needed as data-centric devices become more popular and require more and more bandwidth.”
The deal is also a significant win for LightSquared, which has recently launched a satellite to support nationwide broadband services as well as its plans to roll out a terrestrial-based LTE network. The company plans to offer wholesale access to the network.
Financial terms of the deal were not released.