On Thursday, Big Red will turn on its 4G LTE network in 27 new markets, bringing its total to 230 potential customers covered
Verizon Wireless is going on a 4G rampage, bringing its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network to 27 new markets and expanding in 44 existing ones this week to increasing its coverage to two-thirds of the U.S.
The carrier announced the deployment update in 28 different press releases on Tuesday, noting that its LTE network will reach 230 U.S. markets once it flips the switch on Thursday. Verizon is on track to cover 400 markets and 260 PoPs (potential customers) by the end of the year.
The new LTE markets include cities and small towns in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas. (See Where's Verizon's 4G Going Next?)
Why this matters
Recent speed tests have pegged AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)'s relatively unloaded LTE network as the faster one right now, but coverage is Verizon's biggest advantage. Comparatively, AT&T covers 74 million PoPs with LTE and plans to reach 150 million by the end of the year. Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S), which won't launch LTE until mid-year, says it will cover 123 million PoPs by year's end.
For more
Time for a 4G Price War Already?
Verizon Adds 7 More LTE Markets
Verizon Goes All Out for LTE Smartphones
Mapping LTE: AT&T & Verizon's 4G Footprints
Verizon Takes LTE to Rural Homes
— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile
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