Telstra to launch “4G” LTE handset in late January

There are reports that Telstra is gearing up to launch the “4G” HTC Velocity as the first handset on its new LTE network.

Speculation about the news first appeared three weeks ago on the tech forum Whirlpool and has since been confirmed by sources to both Fairfax Media and Gizmodo.

While Telstra launched its 1800 MHz LTE network in September last year for mobile broadband customers, to date they have not launched a mobile handset available for the new network. Optus has announced it intendeds to launch its own LTE network in April 2012, while Vodafone is currently trialling the technology.

Although marketed by Telstra as being a “4G” service, the LTE network does not meet the 4G specifications set out by the ITU-R organisation.