Verizon announced yesterday that its trials with the Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G standard are going well, with performance that’s significantly better than the speeds offered by its 3G network.
LTE speed tests in the Boston and Seattle markets returned peak download speeds of 40-50Mbps downstream and 20-25Mbps upstream. Verizon network engineers say that customers can expect real world performance of 5-12Mbps down and 2-5Mbps up, respectively.
“Our LTE rollout plan positions Verizon Wireless to be a global leader in 4G LTE deployment. We are on track to deliver an outstanding wireless data experience to customers in 25 to 30 markets covering roughly 100 million people by year’s end,” said Tony Melone, SVP and CTO at Verizon Wireless. “As device makers, manufacturers and others around the world begin to introduce newer and faster products to take advantage of these incredible new speeds, Verizon Wireless will be positioned to offer our customers new and exciting products on the nation’s first 4G LTE network.”
Verizon’s forthcoming LTE network operates on the 700MHz spectrum auctioned by the FCC in early 2008. The 700MHz spectrum offers excellent range and in-building penetration, the latter of which represents a distinct advantage over US implementations of 3G, which have trouble penetrating dense materials like brick.
Verizon expects to bring the first 25-30 LTE markets online by the end of 2010.
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