14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile phone operator Verizon Wireless already announced plans to roll out a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network next year, that is no mystery to anyone, yet now the company's senior vice president and chief technology officer, Tony Melone, has unveiled a few more details on the carrier's plans and strategy for the deployment of the upcoming 4G network. At the 2009 PCIA Wireless Infrastructure Show, Melone stated that the company would focus on its core competencies and on facilitating partnerships, as this is the path any company should follow to succeed in the 4G world.
“We can build all the bells and whistles and make lots of bold claims, but none of it will matter if the network - and all of the underlying infrastructure that supports the network - isn't fundamentally reliable,” Melone said. “I can promise you that reliability will continue to differentiate Verizon Wireless in the marketplace. And that is also what will differentiate the suppliers we choose. There will be no substitute for good old-fashioned engineering: reliability built in at the start based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined approach year after year will continue to be our mantra.”
Verizon's LTE network will be the first one of this kind in the United States, and delivering the best network possible is a key factor in the company's success, especially when 4G is already available in the country through Clearwire's WiMAX network. At the same time, the wireless carrier also needs to ensure flawless performance for any device or application that will be based in its upcoming 4G LTE infrastructure, something that won't be possible if the network is not a reliable one. According to Melone, Big Red will focus on delivering the most reliable next-generation LTE wireless network in the US, and it already took a proactive approach on the matter.
Thus, various collaborative initiatives are already in place, including: - Open Development, meant to offer developers the possibility to come up with devices that will work on its network, with more than 55 devices certified to date; - Verizon LTE Innovation Center, also focused on the development of products based on Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network; - Verizon Developer Community and V CAST Appsa group of application developers focused on helping Big Red on delivering new applications to its users on the upcoming network (V CAST Apps should become available before the year's end); - Joint Innovation Lab; - Designated M2M Focus for Important Market Segments.
In addition, Verizon's CTO also said that the carrier planned on fulfilling an aggressive 4G LTE network build plan, with the launch of the network in 25 to 30 markets in 2010, and by providing LTE coverage to its entire 3G footprint by 2013. “As with previous advancements in technology, LTE promises plenty and will likely deliver even more. Now more than ever, partnership and collaboration among participants up and down the value chain will be a major factor in the growth potential of our businesses, and our industry in general. Network reliability will be as critical as ever, and Verizon Wireless intends to be at the forefront of delivering 4G to our customers.” Melone concluded.