Sprint sure knows how to start a week off right. The big yellow carrier announced today that it's expanded its 4G LTE network to 20 new markets and that its tri-band Sprint Spark service is now live in a couple of new locales as well. First off, here are the 20 newest members of Sprint's LTE family:

• Bakersfield, Calif.
• Lancaster, Pa.
• Omaha, Neb.
• Shawnee, Okla.
• Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk, Conn.
• Mason City, Iowa
• Peoria, Ill.
• Trenton/Ewing, N.J
• El Centro, Calif.
• Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• Provo/Orem, Utah
• Visalia/Porterville, Calif.
• Hot Springs, Ark.
• Nogales, Ariz.
• Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla.
• Willimantic, Conn.
• Kenosha, Wis.
• Ocean City, N.J.
• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
• Zanesville, Ohio

Sprint also flipped the switch on its Spark LTE service in Provo, Utah, and Trenton N.J. Sprint Spark utilizes three different LTE bands to provide faster data speeds and increased capacity to devices that support the feature. Today's expansion brings Sprint's Spark coverage up to 18 total markets. Sprint says that its HD Voice service is now live in Provo as well and that it'll arrive in Trenton soon.

Sprint still has some ground to make up when comparing its LTE footprint to those of AT&T and Verizon, but the carrier definitely appears to be putting in the work to grow out its 4G network. It's also worth noting that Sprint's LTE expansions benefit Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile customers with LTE-enabled hardware, so those prepaid folk have something to get excited about today as well.

Are you located in one of Sprint's new LTE markets? If so, how is the service working for you today?

Via Sprint