Verizon Wireless is turning on its wireless network in 28 additional markets this week, bringing the 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network to a total of 102 cities across the country. Consumers and businesses can choose from nine 4G devices-three smartphones, a tablet, two hotspots and three USB modems-to connect to the network, the company noted.
The new areas where Verizon’s 4G LTE network will be available Thursday include Decatur and Huntsville, Ala.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Lakeland and Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.; Augusta, Ga.; Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului-Wailuku and Lahaina, Hawaii; Carbondale, Ill.; Wichita, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Baton Rouge and Hammond, La.; Springfield, Mass.; Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Toledo, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pa.; Charleston, S.C.; Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tenn.; Olympia and Tacoma, Wash; and Charleston, W.Va. The company is also expanding its 4G LTE network in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Northern New Jersey, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Seattle.
“On Thursday, when we light up 28 additional 4G LTE markets, we will offer consumers and businesses in 102 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. “In fewer than eight months we have introduced our 4G LTE network to more than 100 markets, and we are continuing to aggressively expand our 4G LTE network; by the end of 2013 we plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area.”
The devices include the LG’s Revolution, Samsung’s Droid Charge and HTC’s ThunderBolt smartphones; the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1; and the MiFi 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot. Laptop users can access speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon’s 3G network with three USB modems from Novatel, Pantech and LG. In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5M to 12M bps on the downlink and 2M to 5M bps on the uplink, according to a company release.
When customers travel outside of a 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon’s 3G network. Customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G devices will be able to take advantage of 4G speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas. The company’s 700MHz spectrum gives Verizon specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.
The company is also working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon’s core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700MHz spectrum. So far, 10 rural companies have announced their participation in the LTE in Rural America program and have leased spectrum covering, in total, more than 2.1 million people in rural communities and nearly 62,000 square miles.