With consumer data usage increasing 50 per cent year-over-year on Verizon’s 4G LTE network, the company continues to add network capacity for a better customer experience. In the first quarter of 2016, 13 additional markets added XLTE technology – essentially doubling the network bandwidth – similar to adding lanes to a highway. Verizon now covers 466 markets nationwide with its XLTE technology, part of the company’s network toolkit to increase bandwidth for data-hungry consumer and business customers.
New markets include:
- Alpena, MI
- Ironwood, MI
- Lewiston-Auburn, ME
- McCook, NE
- Oneonta, NY
- Petoskey, MI
- Pottsville-Frackville, PA
- Roseburg, OR
- Tupelo-Corinth, MS
- Vicksburg, MS
- Victoria, TX
- Waterville/Augusta, ME
- Wausau/Rhinelander, WI
How it Works
While XLTE network enhancements are invisible to the customer, the mobile experience is not. XLTE Ready devices automatically access both 700 MHz spectrum and the AWS spectrum in XLTE cities. Customers with 4G LTE devices operating solely on the 700 MHz spectrum in XLTE markets also benefit from the extra capacity created by XLTE Ready device traffic moving to the AWS spectrum.
First LTE in Rural America Participant adds XLTE
Verizon’s LTE in Rural America (LRA) program partners with local carriers to bring 4G LTE service and technology advances to consumers and businesses in rural markets. Recently, Bluegrass Cellular started to add XLTE network coverage to its 4G LTE high-speed wireless LRA network in Central Kentucky.
Participants in the LRA program provide 4G LTE network service utilizing 700 MHz upper C Block spectrum leased from Verizon. Now, in order to provide the capacity needed to serve increasing demand in these rural communities, Verizon leases its AWS-1 spectrum and enables LRA participants to provide XLTE service where it is needed.
Verizon’s LRA program includes 21 participants from 15 states and represent communities in 169 rural counties. The LRA participants continue to expand their 4G LTE networks that, when combined, currently reach over 2.7 million people and cover approximately 120,000 square miles, an area equivalent to the size of Arizona.
Karen Smith is a corporate communications manager for wireless network and customer experience. She reports on network preparation for national events, third-party network testing and LTE.