By Verizon’s on a roll this fine Thursday. It launched the new Jetpack MiFi 5510L, surprised Thunderbolt users with news regarding an impending Ice Cream Sandwich update, and now it has announced a major network enhancement project that cost the carrier $301 million. That project benefits users across the DMV — that is, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia — and brought improvements for both 3G and 4G performance.
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
- · December 2010:
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.
- · August 2011:
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.
- · September 2011:
o Verizon Wireless launched 4G LTE on campus at Virginia Tech and in surrounding community of Blacksburg, VA.
- · October 2011:
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.
- · November 2011:
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.
- · December 2011:
o Verizon Wireless 4G LTE reaches 195 markets and more than two-thirds of all Americans.
- · April 2012:
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.
- · May 2012:
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.
- · June 2012:
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.
- · July 2012:
o Verizon Wireless activates its 4G LTE in Charlottesville, Virginia.
- · October 2012:
o Additional enhancements are made to provide continuous 4G LTE coverage from western Virginia to Bluefield, West Virginia.
- · December 2012:
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.
I can’t argue VZW’s LTE coverage but, damn, I’d like to know their definition of a market. They must break them down to the smallest possible to claim that 470. Guess its all for marketing…
I believe it’s roll…
As one who now lives in the DC Metro and NYC…I applaud Big Red…But can’t stand their pricing structure for their services…FiOS anyone??!! I have FiOS but damn it is VERY expensive and I do have a mobile hockey puck from VZ and it is GREAT no matter where I go in the US…..
I live in the outer city limits of a large city here in Tennessee (Home of the Vols-shoukd pretty much nail the coty to 1 place lol), however I work about 40 miles west of there in a small city. I wouldnt even call it that actually, more like a place where humans inhabit so they named it. However in this very, very small area without even one redlight I manage to pull a consistent 4G signal and its amazingly fast at all times. Having LTE in a big city with Big Red is a given but the best part of there service is that I ofter have not only 3G, but 4G where I know that ATT & T-Mo dont even have voice availble. I think there pricing is out of hand–in fact if I hadnt been a customer since 1997 and didnt recieve a decent discount I wouldn’t use them. Wjat sets Big Red apart is they realize that even people who dont live or work in a bigger city, use a cell phone as well. I would say they have more LTE than all other carriers combined.
Here I thought this was about the California DMV ;)
http://www.dmv.ca.gov