Metro PCS Details 4G Plans

It looks like low-cost unlimited wireless provider MetroPCS Communications Inc. is serious about rolling out LTE 4G wireless broadband next year. It’s announced Ericsson as its infrastructure provider, and Samsung Telecommunications America as its handset provider for the launch.

The carrier will roll out 4G LTE services and a dual-mode LTE/CDMA smartphone in major metropolitan markets in late 2010, and is beginning work on the buildout. Roger Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of the board, said in a statement that the carrier will “move directly to 4G,” presumably leapfrogging any 3G upgades.

MetroPCS plans to position its service as a replacement for home broadband, saying it will provide the ability to cut the cord on the Internet for a richer HTML browsing experience coupled with multimedia applications that allow a traditional wireline Internet experience directly on their handset.

The deal is big for the vendors too: It’s Ericsson’s second LTE deal in North America (after Verizon Wireless) and positions Samsung as a first mover in the LTE device game.