Ma Bell, more formally known as AT&T and casually referred to as Big Blue, is fully committed to launching its next generation 4G wireless service in mid-2011. The 4G standard implemented will be LTE, short for Long-Term Evolution, and will be replacing AT&T’s HSPA 3G networks.

In the meantime, according to Electronista, AT&T will push a software upgrade to its tower to enable HSPA+, which “should use the advanced 3G to reach a peak 20Mbps sometime this year.”

Big Blue will initiate limited trials in 2010. Rival Verizon Wireless, now the largest US carrier after gobbling up Alltel, will begin its trial of LTE 4G late this year and plans a launch in 2010.

LTE will allow for faster download and upload speed than HSPA or EVDO 3G standards. Electronista states: “LTE is theoretically five times or more faster in downloads than AT&T’s planned HSPA+, at about 100Mbps, and has lower latency that should make multiplayer games, VoIP and two-way video calling more practical than on 3G.”