Verizon 4G LTE Coverage Blasts Past Year-End Goals
The folks at Verizon have today let it be known that their 4G LTE network will be covering 417 U.S. markets by the end of the day on October 18th, this destroying their year-end goals entirely. With a year-end goal at 400 markets total for 4G LTE in the USA, Verizon was more than happy to show off its greatness in a press conference today. This announcement was accompanied by assurances that the iPhone 5 launch has gone well so far and that their 4G LTE network has not given way to the massive amount of recently activated devices across the nation.
With data use on the rise, especially in the 4G LTE-using environment, it would seem that Verizon would have their network stability well in mind. As it stands, the company is not worried, noting with CNET that they're fine with the pressure. "We're not running that close to the edge", said Nicola Palmer, vice president of network operations for Verizon.
A celebration of the accomplishments Verizon has made with their quick market spread will be held in Marquette, Michigan. This city was the 400th to receive Verizon 4G LTE coverage and a lovely little party is planned – though it'll likely be friends and family only, of course. This point marks one in which Verizon will start expanding markets almost exclusively, with 2013 being a year of expansion of already-covered markets rather than a blast of new ones.
New cities in this latest addition include the following:
Gadsden, Ala.; Chico/Oroville, Calif.; Owensboro, Ky.; Waterville/Augusta, Maine; Marquette, Mich.; Brainerd and Fergus Falls/Alexandria, Minn.; Hattiesburg and Laurel, Miss.; Columbia, Mo.; Norfolk and North Platte, Neb.; Clovis, N.M.; Jamestown, N.Y.; Bend and Medford/Grants Pass, Ore.; Amarillo and Victoria, Texas; Aberdeen and Walla Walla, Wash; and Morgantown, W. Va.
Extended coverage has been added to the following companies as well:
Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Bakersfield, Fresno and Los Angeles, Calif.; New Haven/Waterbury, Conn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Albany/Tifton, Athens and Gainesville, Ga.; Hilo and Honolulu, Hawaii; Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho; Bloomington, Decatur/Effingham and Peoria, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Pittsburg/Parsons, Kan.; Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing, Mich.; St. Cloud, Minn.; Jackson, Miss.; Joplin and Kansas City, Mo.; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M.; Albany/Schenectady, New York, Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma, Wash.; and Casper/Gillette, Wyo.