Verizon To Launch 4G LTE In 38 Metro Areas By Year End
by Jason Norment
Oct 7, 2010 7:00 PM –
Verizon announced yesterday that they would have 4G LTE available to over 110 million customers in 38 different metropolitian areas by the end of the year. The covered areas will include over 60 commercial airports across the nation. Lots of things happening at CTIA this week!
Verizon expects the LTE network to produce speeds between 5 – 12 Mbps downlink and 2 – 5 Mbps uplink. This network is built upon the 700 MHZ spectrum that they acquired back in 2008. This should keep Verizon in the running for providing fast data connections for it’s customers as other networks increase their speed such as Sprint’s 4G network and T-Mobile’s HSPA+. It’s nice to know we’re finally catching up to the rest of the world of wireless.
Interesting enough, in the press release Verizon specifically annouced West Lafayette, Ind. of particular interest. Verizon is working together with Purdue University to “using several innovative software applications on Verizon Wireless’ 3G network that improve student engagement and success, and Verizon Wireless is working with Purdue to explore the next phase of how 4G LTE technology can improve e-learning across the nation.” Interesting to see what type of results Purdue can come up with to utilize this new technology. I have some contacts at Purdue so I’ll have to keep a close eye on it.
You can view the list below or click on the map for the list of areas to receive LTE before the end of the year:
Verizon 4G LTE Map
Akron, Ohio
Athens, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Baltimore, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Houston, Texas
Jacksonville, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles, California
Miami, Florida
Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota
Nashville, Tennessee
New Orleans, Louisiana
New York, New York
Oakland, California
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Orlando, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Rochester, New York
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California
Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
St. Louis, Missouri
Tampa, Florida
Washington, D.C.
West Lafayette, Indiana
West Palm Beach, Florida
The downside to introducing new wireless technology is the need for new devices to be able to use it. I wonder what Android devices Verizon will come out with first! We should see some new handsets being introduced at CES in January 2011. We’ll keep you posted!
[Source: Verizon Press Release, Verizon 4G LTE Map]