TeddyK
on - last edited on by
ElizabethS
In theoretical terms, LTE can go as high as 75Mbps for downloading, but that’s not going to happen in any practical sense. You can expect somewhere between 12Mbps and 25Mbps for downloads. The bigger jump is actually on uploading speed. HSPA tops out at around 2Mbps, whereas LTE can probably increase that five-fold.
That’s going to matter a lot in the context of uploading content to cloud-based services. But for now, that only applies to laptops using the LTE Rocket Stick or LTE Mobile Hotspot. Smartphones and tablets will follow later this fall, apparently. As it stands, the only devices announced so far are the Samsung Galaxy S II LTE, the HTC Jet Stream LTE tablet and an HTC smartphone that has yet to be revealed.
The data plans currently on offer are only meant for the Mobile Hotspot and Rocket Stick because Rogers will present different plans for the LTE devices.
Plans start at $47.93 for just 2GB, a cost that is sure to be met with derision from customers. The largest data package was $92.93 for 9GB, but the carrier is now offering a “special introductory plan” of 10GB for $52.93 per month. There will also be no overage charges for the first two months after activation. After that, each gigabyte over the 10GB limit will cost $10.
Rogers will institute its Flex Plan for the others, so going over would bump you up to the higher bracket and cost.
2GB for $47.93
4GB for $62.93
6GB for $77.93
9GB for $92.93
The LTE Rocket Stick is available for $169.99 with no contract or $79 on a three-year contract.
As far as coverage goes, the new LTE networks will only over the actual cities themselves from the outset. That means wider metropolitan areas won’t get coverage, though Rogers is saying that it’s coming soon to those locales.
