BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- AT&T has turned on its 4G LTE wireless network in Birmingham, the company said today.

Area AT&T users say they noticed the change, with one confirming three to five times faster download speeds this morning.

AT&T says the LTE technology provides faster speeds for streaming, downloading, uploading and games.

The company also says the technology uses the wireless spectrum more efficiently, creating more space to carry data traffic and services.

The new iPhone 5 also also can operate on LTE networks. On Monday, Apple said

in the first 24 hours it was available.

AT&T

that its 4G LTE network would be available in Birmingham by the end of the year.

"We continue to see demand for mobile Internet skyrocket, and our 4G LTE network in Birmingham responds to what customers want from their mobile experience -- more, faster, on the best devices," Fred McCallum, president of AT&T Alabama, said in a prepared statement.