AT&T revamp of LTE network will help customers switch to small carriers

Companies like AT&T generally aren't in the business of making it easier for customers to switch to competitors. But a new plan from the company will do just that.

Potentially resolving battles between AT&T and competitors over interoperability in the 700MHz band, AT&T informed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday that it intends to revamp its LTE network to be interoperable with networks of smaller carriers. As a result, a customer could switch from AT&T to a smaller carrier such as US Cellular or C Spire and be able to use the new network and roam on AT&T's network.

"This makes it possible for AT&T customers to maintain their devices if they were to switch to a smaller wireless carrier," Public Knowledge CEO Gigi Sohn said in a statement. "Enabling standards of interoperability at the lower 700MHz band gives consumers the chance to use their devices with large and small wireless carriers without purchasing a new device."