Cricket Communications (Leap Wireless) has started LTE service with a commercial market launch in its Tucson, Ariz.

Cricket Communications (Leap Wireless) has started LTE service with a commercial market launch in its Tucson, Ariz. Cricket market.  The launch marks the beginning of the Company’s planned, multi-year transition of its existing 3G network to 4G LTE. The Company plans to cover approximately 25 million residents with LTE network technology in 2012.

According to company, in pre-launch speed tests conducted in the Tucson market, Cricket’s 4G speeds ranged from 5 to 10 times faster than
current 3G data speeds.  More than 90 percent of Cricket’s Tucson market footprint will be covered by the new 4G LTE network and further expansion is planned for nearby Nogales, Ariz. in 2012.

At launch, LTE service will be accessible via mobile broadband services and the Cricket’s first 4G LTE device, the Huawei Boltz (E 397) modem, will be available for $149.99 (MSRP) at Cricket’s company-owned stores.  Tucson customers can select from two 4G LTE monthly service plans each providing up to 5GB of data per month.  The $50 plan offers download speeds of up to 3Mbps and the $60 plan offers download speeds up to 6Mbps.