MetroPCS to add CDMA EVDO support to 20 percent of its towers

Budget carrier MetroPCS has revealed that it plans to add 3G CDMA EVDO support to just under twenty percent of its towers. The EVDO support will complement the existing 1xRTT 2G support that MetroPCS's network has.

MetroPCS has not had a 3G network of its own, as it has only supported 2G 1xRTT services to this point. Instead of pursuing building its own 3G network, MetroPCS had chosen to skip 3G altogether and build a 4G LTE network, which it has deployed in a number of markets already. The 3G EVDO support that MetroPCS is adding to some of its towers will supplement its 2G network until the LTE services get more traction.

Currently, MetroPCS offers two LTE devices: the Samsung Craft and a smartphone called the Samsung Galaxy Indulge. The carrier doesn't expect LTE to take off until prices for devices and services come down. It did not say which of its markets would have access to 3G EVDO service. [via Fierce Wireless]