AT&T gave a glimpse into their 4G strategy, announcing they will use their considerable 700 MHz spectrum holdings for forthcoming long term evolution (LTE) technology. It’s the clearest direction AT&T has given to date about their long term 4G plans. AT&T says its 700 MHz spectrum will cover 100 percent of the top 200 markets and 87 percent of the U.S. population, “enabling the company to better compete in a vibrant and dynamic marketplace.” RCR Wireless is reporting that AT&T will also supplement its 700 MHz spectrum with AWS spectrum they acquired in a 2006 FCC auction.

In other 4G news, Sprint announced a delay in their 4G WiMAX plans. Xohm, Sprint’s identified WiMAX brand, will not launch in April as had been previously discussed. Sprint executives continue to publicly support Xohm, and promise it will soon be a reality. Verizon Wireless is expected to announce their 700 MHz plans soon. They have previously committed to LTE, but they will offer more details on their 700 MHz plans on April 4th. All of this talk of LTE and 4G by AT&T and Verizon should put pressure on their cable MSO competitors to outline their 4G wireless strategy. Will they go it alone with their own AWS spectrum, or will the rumors of a WiMAX joint venture with Sprint come true. With LTE research and development efforts providing wireless 100 Mbps speeds, one would have to conclude that the cable industry can’t afford to sit 4G out, as they have with the first three generations of wireless.

Stelera Wireless, an Oklahoma City based wireless provider, has been approved for a $35 million RUS broadband loan. Stelera intends to use the loan proceeds to launch broadband wireless service using HSUPA technology in 55 markets. Stelera intends to target rural or “underserved” markets with populations of 20K or less. The immediate planned markets are located in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. “This is only the beginning,” says Ed Evans, Stelera CEO.

Cricket, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless, has launched the first CDMA AWS handset in the U.S. They are using the UTStarcom CDM7126 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The handset is tri-band capable, and will be able to work in all of Cricket’s markets. The UTStarcom CDM7126 clamshell phone features external indicators, which alert users of incoming calls and messages without the need to open the phone, plus a full-color internal display, providing optimal viewing of incoming calls, messaging alerts, games and other data applications. The Bluetooth-capable wireless handset also features voice recognition, predictive text input for easy text messaging, and supports Cricket Mobile Web for browsing and downloading favorite ringtones and graphics.

The WiMAX Forum announced a technology roadmap that will allow mobile WiMAX to operate in the 700 MHz spectrum band. WiMAX in the U.S. has been mostly focused on the 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands, of which Sprint/Xohm and Clearwire are major holders/users. Expanding to the 700 MHz bands opens up a range of opportunities with other carriers, especially after the conclusion of the current 700 MHz auction. It’s unclear how long before 700 MHz WiMAX options will be available, but the WiMAX Forum reports that work on the technical specifications is already underway in the association's working groups.

An interesting side note is speculation by Fierce Broadband Wireless editors that suggests the WiMAX Forum is also close to announcing a WIMAX profile for the AWS spectrum bands, which operate in 2496-2690 MHz. It’s often overlooked that one of the largest holders of this spectrum is the cable industry. Should mobile WiMAX extend its roadmap to AWS, it could provide a path for cable companies to get in on WiMAX, providing them the broadband wireless strategy they so desperately need. Stay tuned.