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Verizon wireless have announced huge growth and expansion of their 4G LTE network for tomorrow. The company looks t0 add 46 new markets, some insignificant and some not, to their portfolio.
They’re also looking to expand in 22 other markets. This will be one of Verizon’s biggest pushes yet, and their goal of getting their entire LTE network up by 2013’s end doesn’t look unattainable at this rate.
This is perfect timing for those looking to upgrade using their discount ahead of Verizon’s June 28th launch date of the Share Everything family plans.
If you haven’t heard, users will be forced into these plans if they upgrade their phones June 28th and beyond with no option for keeping unlimited data unless you buy a phone for its full, off-contract price.
The Share Everything plans give customers a pool of data that can be shared between all lines on the account. These plans may be beneficial for those already on Verizon’s tiered data plans, but those on unlimited are likely going to want to steer clear.
Regardless, a whole heap of you should be resting easy knowing that your area now has 4G and that your upgrade (if you aren’t already on a 4G phone) won’t go wasted. Read on for full press details and the full list of cities.
VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK AVAILABLE IN MORE THAN 300 MARKETS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
Company Adds 46 New Markets, Expands in 22 Other Markets on June 21BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless, owner of the nation’s largest 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, today announced that its 4G LTE network will be available in 46 new markets and expand in 22 additional markets across the United States on June 21. Just in time for the summer travel season, the company will bring its 4G LTE network to a total of 304 markets, enabling 4G LTE speeds in vacation destinations throughout the country.
With the new and expanded markets, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network continues to expand its reach with 4G LTE speeds available to more than two-thirds of the U.S. population, and more 4G LTE coverage than all other networks combined.
“Time and time again, third-party surveys affirm that the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network keeps its promise to provide customers with consistently reliable responsiveness, download and upload speeds, and greater availability in more places throughout the country than any competing network,” said Nicola Palmer, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. “Our aggressive 4G LTE network build-out is on track, providing our customers with the largest 4G LTE network in the United States – and the world – today. We are committed to cover more than 400 markets by the end of 2012. We will continue to expand and strengthen our 4G LTE network and plan to offer full nationwide coverage everywhere we have 3G coverage today, by the end of 2013.”
New and Expanded Markets
On Thursday, June 21, the company will introduce its 4G LTE network in 46 new markets: Florence, Ala.; Harrison, Ark.; Yuba City/Marysville, Calif.; Panama City, Fla.; Carrolton, Gainesville and Newnan, Ga.; Blackfoot, Idaho; Decatur/Effingham, Kankakee/Bradley-Bourbonnais and La Salle/Peru/Ottawa, Ill.; Columbus and Michigan City/La Porte, Ind.; Greater Portland, Maine; Greenville/Greenwood, Jackson and Tunica, Miss.; Houghton and Traverse City, Mich.; Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks and West Plains, Mo.; Binghamton, Elmira/Corning/Hornell and Oneonta, N.Y.; Burlington, Hickory/Lenoir, Jacksonville and New Bern, N.C.; Bedford and Sharon/Farrell/Hermitage, Pa.; Anderson, Florence and Greenwood, S.C.; Lufkin/Nacogdoches, Midland, San Angelo and Waco, Texas; Danville, Va.; Ashland, Ky./Huntington, W.Va. and Logan, W.Va.; Fond du Lac, Janesville/Beloit and Sheboygan, Wis.; and Gillette, Wyo. The Lihue, Hawaii market launched June 11.
The company will also expand its 4G LTE network in 22 markets where Verizon Wireless 4G LTE was already available: Denver and Fort Collins/Loveland, Colo.; Philadelphia., Pa./Wilmington, Del.; Daytona Beach, Gainesville and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Hilo, Hawaii; Boise/Nampa, Idaho; Chicagoland, Ill.; Lafayette, Ind.; Hammond, La.; Springfield, Mo.; Glens Falls and New York, N.Y.; Charlotte/Gastonia and Greenville/Washington, N.C.; Indiana, Pa. and Hagerstown, Md./Chambersburg, Pa.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va.; Seattle, Wash.; Appleton/Oshkosh, Wis.
4G LTE Devices, Plans and Speed
Verizon Wireless offers 24 4G LTE devices, the largest selection of 4G LTE devices offered by any carrier. Devices range from tablets and mobile hotspots to the latest smartphones and more, including the Samsung Galaxy S® III, currently available online for pre-order, and the soon-to-be available DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC. Details on available devices can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE and information on plans and pricing is available at www.verizonwireless.com/plans.
Verizon Wireless also offers a variety of smart accessories, including the FitBit Ultra Wireless Activity Tracker and the Withings WiFi Scale, for customers to use with their 4G LTE devices. A full list of smart accessories can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/smartaccessories.In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of 4G LTE coverage areas, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, where available, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.
Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable high-speed data network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their area or when they travel to areas already covered by Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.
On June 21, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network will be available in 304 markets across the United States. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for a full list of 4G LTE markets and additional information on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. For street-level detail of coverage and more, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE.
According to the verizon reps I spoke to, no one is to be forced into the shared data plan, when they renew. They have the option to keep their current plan without unlimited data or move to the shared data plan. Did anyone at phandroid actually reach out to verizon on this or were assumptions just made based on the press release?
I believe what they are saying is that those of us with unlimited data will be forced into a limited data plan if you renew starting the 28th. This may be an individual plan or a shared data plan. The only way to avoid this starting the 28th is to pay full price for the phone. I for example have an individual unlimited data plan and my contract expired Monday so I have until next Thurs. to upgrade or I’ll be forced to a 2GB limited data plan (for the same price, I can of course pay more for more data)
Oh hell yes! Houghton, MI is like 30 miles away from my cottage where I currently get almost no data coverage.
i’ll opt into the new plan when they flip the 4G switch on my local tower.
as far as costs go it’s a wash for me either way.
my only beef is my home phone will jump from 10 bucks to 30.
Still no love for Lubbock Tx???? we have to be one of the largest, if not the Largest city in Texas that doesn’t have LTE. 100000 more people than Waco who is getting it this round.
And this ladies and gentlemen is precisely why I am leaving Sprint and heading over to The Big Red. I have my GS3 preodered and am happily awaiting. Sprint literally has had their Wimax on about 4 towers here in Huntsville Alabama (covering about a 4 mile stretch on University Drive) and that’s it! They have not improved or expanded it in all this time. They just wanted to claim “we’ve got 4G in Huntsville!”
This really makes me cry inside. Sprint, where are you? Instead of playing a game of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, how about launching the LTE? That would give me at least some hope.
Considering Verizon is offering up religiously low data caps with their latest plans, I would call this a serious anticlimax. Who gives a damn about 4G if you can’t really use it.
Once again no love for central VA (Lynchburg, Roanoke) in the new or expansion department. Its getting a bit annoying having to wait when all they seem to do is just expand smaller markets
Roanoke has had it for some time. Lynchburg is currently in testing. Last week I got 16 down and 8.5 up.
4g in Florence had been active for a couple of Weeks.you have to give Verizon credit for getting it out quick
Their services might be expensive, but it’s well worth it.
Danville, va has had 4G for at least a month already
maybe that explains the dropped LTE coverage around Chicago
Sprint might lose a customer now. I live n Jackson Ms and I know Sprint won’t have LTE out here til late 2013. Hell even C spire will have LTE in September and will be getting the SGSIII. I got some serious thinking to do. Hopefully Sprint does too.