14 DAY TRIAL // Two months after the roll-out of its commercial 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network in the United States, wireless carrier Verizon announced that it has expanded it to more cities in the country. Starting with February 17th, customers in the metropolitan Detroit area representing more than 80 percent of the population there, can enjoy 4G LTE connectivity, the mobile phone carrier announced.
This is the first expansion that Verizon announces after the initial launch of the network in the United States.
On the new network, Verizon customers can enjoy speeds up to 10 times faster than those offered by 3G. Verizon touts average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
“Metro Detroit: Welcome to the future,” said John Granby, president –Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless.
“Our advanced technology is changing the way we all work and play. Today, it gives us the ability to move large files faster and soon enjoy smooth mobile video conferencing. But, this is only the beginning. It’s not about what 4G can do for you. Rather, it’s about what do you want or need it to do?”
Back in December 2010, Verizon Wireless made its 4G LTE network commercially available in 38 major metropolitan markets around the United States, and in 60 commercial airports across the country.
According to the carrier, a large portion of the metro Detroit area was impacted by spectrum interference with a Canadian TV station, but the problem was resolved, and Verizon was able to announce this early expansion as result of that.
The carrier aims at offering LTE coverage to over two-thirds of the US population by mid 2012, while being set to deliver the connectivity to its entire 3G footprint.
Users interested in trying out 4G speeds would be able to enjoy various compatible devices from Verizon, including modems, or USB sticks. Smartphones with support for the network would arrive soon as well.
The newly announced 4G expansion in the Detroit area offers coverage to various cities and towns, including:
Allen Park Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Township Canton Centerline Clarkston Clawson Clinton Township Dearborn Dearborn Heights Detroit Drayton Plains Eastpointe Ecorse Farmington Farmington Hills Ferndale Franklin Fraser Garden City Grosse Pointe Grosse Pointe Farms Grosse Pointe Park Grosse Pointe Shores Grosse Pointe Woods Hamtramck Harper Woods Hazel Park Highland Park Huntington Woods Inkster Keego Harbor Lathrup Village Lincoln Park Livonia Macomb Milford at the GM Proving Grounds Mount Clemens Melvindale Northville Novi Oak Park Pleasant Ridge Pontiac Redford River Rouge Riverview Rochester Rochester Hills Romulus Roseville Royal Oak Saint Clair Shores Shelby Township Southfield Southgate Sterling Heights Taylor Troy Walled Lake Warren Washington Wayne West Bloomfield Westland Wyandotte