Verizon to begin deploying 4G LTE “small cells” later this year to help further improve its network
Aside from a rather puzzling VivaMovil announcement earlier today, Verizon Wireless also had an announcement for their customers and even those looking to make the switch to a more reliable network. Seems the nation’s #1 largest wireless provider isn’t happy with simply blanketing nearly 95% of their 3G network in high-speed 4G LTE. Beginning the second half of this year, Verizon will begin deploying “small cells” (think tiny cell towers the size of a mini-fridge) around the country that will help, not only fill in gaps in coverage, but keep the 4G LTE flowing in dense, high traffic areas like malls or business districts.
You’ll start seeing these small cells popping up on lightposts, building walls and utility poles in your city later this year and combined with Verizon’s Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to help penetrate into marble and building basements, should leave no customer without video streaming or Facebook browsing.
With the 6 new markets just added as of Monday, Verizon Wireless is now looking at a total of 497 US markets blanketed in 4G LTE goodness. Verizon isn’t about to stop there, they also mention that the number of “normal” cell towers will continue to spread and that the AWS spectrum they purchased back in 2012 will also come into play, helping with overall network capacity.