Since the year 2000, Verizon has spent a ridiculous $3 billion to continually improve regional performance in the area. It?s Verizon?s hometown, after all, so you have to expect them to pay extra special care in their area of operation. Verizon has spent far more on its nationwide rollout of 4G and enhancement of 3G, though. Those efforts allowed Verizon to reach the milestone of 470 4G LTE markets this past December, and that number will only continue to rise from today.
Big Red?s aspirations have already been set as the carrier expects to cover a vast majority of its 3G footprint with 4G LTE by the end of this year. Other carriers aim to have their networks largely deployed by then, as well, but they will have a lot of work to do to catch up to Verizon.
T-Mobile?s situation is the most interesting of them all ? its only activity has been a limited launch in Las Vegas following the CES festivities, and rumors that the network is being tested in parts of Wichita, Kansas. The company hasn?t even unveiled any LTE-compatible devices yet, though we hear the Samsung Galaxy S3 will get refreshed with the radios in tow.
Sprint and AT&T are steadily building compelling device line-ups, but the two are still lagging behind Verizon when it comes to coverage. Both seem confident that their goals can be reached, though, so we?ll have to take their word for it until we look for a status report at the end of the year. For now, Verizon still seems to be the king of 4G. Read on for full press details.
VERIZON WIRELESS COMPLETES $301 MILLION IN
WASHINGTON, DC, MARYLAND &VIRGINIA NETWORK ENHANCEMENTS IN 2012
Company?s Regional Network Investment Over Past Decade Exceeds $3 Billion Milestone
LAUREL, MD�?�Verizon Wireless�today announced the completion of�$301.4 million�in�wireless network�enhancements�in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia in 2012,�increasing the company?s regional network investment to�more than�$3 billion since its inception in 2000.
During the year, Verizon Wireless expanded its 4G LTE network, providing customers with speeds up to ten times faster than 3G, to more than�470�markets nationwide.� Regional markets where the company activated its 4G LTE service in 2012 included Harrisonburg, Martinsville, Staunton, Danville, Fredericksburg, Lynchburg, and Charlottesville in Virginia.
Nationally, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $80�billion since it was formed�in 2000�to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide networks and to add new services.
?Since 2000,�Verizon Wireless has�invested�more than�$3 billion into our regional wireless network to provide our customers in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia with the fastest and most reliable mobile coverage,?�said Mike�Maiorana, regional president, Verizon Wireless.� ?Today?s wireless consumers, including business and government customers,�need a wireless provider who understands and anticipates their mobility needs.��Verizon Wireless continues to invest what?s required to deliver a superior network experience every day.?
Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Timeline�in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia
o���Verizon Wireless launched�blazing fast 4G LTE network�in�the�Baltimore/Washington, DC area with coverage extending to suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia as well as Annapolis.
o�����Verizon Wireless extended 4G LTE coverage up I-270 Corridor to�Frederick, MD, including communities of Monrovia, Urbana, Green Valley, Holly Hills and Futura.
o���Verizon Wireless launched 4G LTE on campus at Virginia Tech and in surrounding community of�Blacksburg, VA.
o���Verizon Wireless lit up Virginia markets of�Richmond and Greater Hampton Roads, VA, including the communities of Norfolk, Newport News and Virginia Beach.
o���The company also extended 4G LTE coverage further up I-270 Corridor from Frederick to�Hagerstown, and announced plans to expand service south to Myersville, west to Clear Spring, north into Pennsylvania and east to Catoctin Mountain by year?s end.
o����Verizon Wireless activated�4G LTE in�Roanoke, VA�and surrounding communities of Smith Mountain Lake, Christiansburg, Radford City, Buena Vista City, Lexington City and Rockbridge, VA.
o���Expanded Washington, DC 4G LTE footprint now includes southeast portion of Prince George?s County, MD.
o�����Verizon Wireless 4G LTE reaches 195 markets and more than two-thirds of all Americans.
o���Verizon Wireless extends its 4G LTE coverage along the I-81 corridor in Virginia, reaching Harrisonburg, Martinsville and Staunton. Coverage is also enhanced southward from Prince William and Stafford Counties into Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
o���The beach communities in North Carolina?s Outer Banks now have access to 4G LTE.� Coverage also is extended in southwest Virginia to include Danville.
o���Lynchburg, Virginia comes online.� Additional enhancements in Fredericksburg and surrounding counties are completed, and coverage is extended across the West Virginia border to Beckley.
o���Verizon Wireless activates its 4G LTE in Charlottesville, Virginia.
o���Additional enhancements are made to provide continuous 4G LTE coverage from western Virginia to Bluefield, West Virginia.
o���Just two years after its initial launch, Verizon Wireless? 4G LTE coverage includes 470 markets nationwide, more than all other carriers combined.
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About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation?s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 98.2 million retail customers, including 92.5 million retail postpaid customers. �Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 73,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).� For more information, visit�www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at�www.verizonwireless.com/ multimedia.
23:00
Tom
