Adding some bite to its LTE plans, regional operator U.S. Cellular Corp. (USM) said it now plans to launch LTE services covering more than 25% of its network by the end of the year.

The carrier said the network would cover 24 markets in parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. Markets are to include Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wis.; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, N.C.

U.S. Cellular, working with bidding partner King Street Wireless, picked up 152 A and B Block licenses during the Federal Communications Commissio\'s 700 MHz spectrum auction in 2008. Those licenses, which cost $401 million, included 12 megahertz of spectrum for each license.

In support of the launch, the carrier said it plans to introduce a “portfolio” of LTE-equipped devices during the first phase of the launch. Those devices are expected to be compatible with the carrier\'s current CDMA2000 1x EV-DO-based 3G network.

Verizon Wireless and MetroPCS Communications Inc. are both currently offering LTE-equipped devices that are also compatible with their legacy CDMA-based networks.