AT&T speeds up wireless network in Charleston

COLUMBIA — Some of AT&T’s wireless customers in South Carolina saw the letters “LTE” appear next to their smartphone’s signal bars Friday morning.

The wireless provider flipped the switch on its LTE network in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, bringing faster download speeds to smartphones and gadgets that are compatible with the network, the company said in statement.

AT&T joins Verizon Wireless as the Charleston area’s only two LTE providers.

LTE stands for Long-Term Evolution and is commonly referred to as “4G,” or fourth-generation technology.

It currently provides the fastest internet connections for wireless devices, AT&T said.

Users connecting to the network can expect to download music and stream video up to 10 times faster than previously on AT&T’s network.

Several of AT&T’s current smartphone offerings are compatible with the company’s LTE network, including the Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy SIII.

Some of the company’s portable wireless hotspots and tablets are also compatible with the network.

“We continue to see demand for mobile Internet skyrocket, and our 4G LTE network in Charleston responds to what customers want from their mobile experience — more, faster, on the best devices,” Jack Mitchell, AT&T’s regional director of external affairs, said in a statement.

The Post and Courier contribued to this report.