MetroPCS is lighting up its 4G LTE network in the Motor City and Detroit citizens will soon be able to use the carrier’s next-generation mobile broadband network.

Detroit is the third U.S. city that MetroPCS offers 4G LTE service and the company was the first carrier in the United States to offer an LTE phone with the Samsung Craft. The device is not quite a feature phone but it does feature the ability to surf the web, watch video on the go, update social networks and more.

“Expanding our 4G LTE network to Detroit marks a key milestone for the Company by bringing 4G mobile broadband services to area customers and consumers who want to experience more and who demand more value. We look forward to expanding 4G LTE coverage throughout Eastern and Western Michigan throughout 2011,” said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS, in a prepated statement.

The move just shows that the 4G future is not too far away. MetroPCS is a smaller carrier compared to the big four but it still has a sizable amount of users who are attracted to its no-contract unlimited plans.

As for the competition, Sprint was first out of the gates with its 4G services based on WiMax. This has steadily made its way to various markets and the carrier has two handsets which can take advantage of this faster network, the EVO and the Epic 4G.

Verizon has loft ambitions with its 4G LTE network, as the nation’s largest carrier will roll out this network to more than 110 million people by the end of the year. Look for smartphones and tablets to be available at the beginning half of next year.

The T-Mobile HSPA+ 3G network delivers fast speeds and we’ve heard indications that the company will just start calling this “4G” later this year. AT&T will deploy its LTE network in the middle of 2011.

[Via photo]