Verizon Wireless is once again pushing its lead in 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) by launching in 46 new markets (and expanding 22 existing ones), additions that extend the reach of its faster data to a total of 304 towns and cities in the U.S.

On Thursday, Big Red will introduce its 4G LTE network in these markets: Florence, Ala.; Harrison, Ark.; Yuba City/Marysville, Calif.; Panama City, Fla.; Carrolton, Gainesville and Newnan, Ga.; Blackfoot, Idaho; Decatur/Effingham, Kankakee/Bradley-Bourbonnais and La Salle/Peru/Ottawa, Ill.; Columbus and Michigan City/La Porte, Ind.; Greater Portland, Maine; Greenville/Greenwood, Jackson and Tunica, Miss.; Houghton and Traverse City, Mich.; Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks and West Plains, Mo.; Binghamton, Elmira/Corning/Hornell and Oneonta, N.Y.; Burlington, Hickory/Lenoir, Jacksonville and New Bern, N.C.; Bedford and Sharon/Farrell/Hermitage, Pa.; Anderson, Florence and Greenwood, S.C.; Lufkin/Nacogdoches, Midland, San Angelo and Waco, Texas; Danville, Va.; Ashland, Ky./Huntington, W.Va. and Logan, W.Va.; Fond du Lac, Janesville/Beloit and Sheboygan, Wis.; and Gillette, Wyo.

The operator will also expand its LTE network in these 22 existing markets: Denver and Fort Collins/Loveland, Colo.; Philadelphia., Pa./Wilmington, Del.; Daytona Beach, Gainesville and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Hilo, Hawaii; Boise/Nampa, Idaho; Chicagoland, Ill.; Lafayette, Ind.; Hammond, La.; Springfield, Mo.; Glens Falls and New York, N.Y.; Charlotte/Gastonia and Greenville/Washington, N.C.; Indiana, Pa. and Hagerstown, Md./Chambersburg, Pa.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va.; Seattle; and Appleton/Oshkosh, Wis.

Why this matters
Verizon recently won PC Mag's mobile network speed test in 30 cities across the U.S., in part because its LTE network is so much bigger than any of its rivals'. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) currently has 39 LTE markets online, while Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) and T-Mobile US Inc. have yet to launch LTE.

For more

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile