Verizon: 35% of data traffic now rides over LTE

Kevin Fitchard — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:53:08 +0000

Though only 12 percent of Verizon’s contract customers have an LTE device, that 12 percent is consuming vast quantities of data. Speaking at CTIA’s MobileCon in San Diego, Verizon Wireless CTO Nicola Palmer said that 35 percent of all of the carrier’s mobile data traffic now traverses the not-yet-2-year-old 4G network.

In a few months 4G traffic will increase to 50 percent of the total, Palmer said. Though she didn’t go into details on why they expect such a huge jump in such a short period, it’s easy to guess the reason. The iPhone 5 is the first iteration of the iconic Apple device to sport LTE radios. As Verizon sells millions of new iPhones leading up the holidays, Verizon will begin shifting the iPhone’s huge data load from its 3G CDMA networks to LTE.

Palmer also said that Verizon will hit its 2012 goals for coverage on Oct. 18, when it will launch its 400^th market, Marquette, Mich. In 2013, Verizon will largely be filling in the gaps between cities and towns, and by the end of that year, Verizon’s LTE network will be everywhere its current 3G EV-DO network operates, Palmer said.

In 2013, Verizon will also begin deploying its second 4G network over the airwaves it just bought from its new cable partners. Palmer said Verizon has already started laying the groundwork for that launch, but the doubling in network capacity that would accompany the upgrade won’t begin until mid next year, she said.

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Verizon: LTE everywhere and in all future smartphones

Kevin Fitchard — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:19:17 +0000

Verizon Wireless is upping its already considerable commitment to LTE, revealing to the Dow Jones that it will complete its core LTE rollout this year and reiterating its commitment to selling only 4G smartphones from here on out.

Verizon is expanding its 2012 target to 260 million pops covered, which is only 10 million more than it previously projected, but it will leave the operator only 30 million people short of completely overlaying its CDMA network with 4G as well as bring the mobile broadband service to 400 cities, large and small. Verizon has stated it eventually plans to offer LTE everywhere it has 3G services. To bolster that commitment, Verizon revealed 7 new small LTE markets scheduled for launch on Thursday and that it has expanded coverage in 17 existing markets.

Speaking to Dow Jones, CTO David Small also backed up commitments that a Verizon marketing exec made at CES to introduce only new smartphones with LTE connectivity going forward; older 3G-only models may still be an option (think iPhone 4S), but new devices must have LTE. There are few remaining doubts that the forthcoming iPhone will have LTE connectivity as Apple is supporting the technology in the new iPad, but Verizon probably just dispelled those that remain. Even Verizon wouldn’t be so bold as to take such a stance if it weren’t positive the iPhone would include LTE radios.

Here are the new markets launching on Thursday: Dothan and Enterprise, Ala.; Naples, Fla.; Greenville, N.C.; Altus and Durant, Okla.; and Longview/Marshall, Texas. In addition, Verizon is expanding its LTE network in Washington, D.C.; Elkhart, Ind.; Baltimore, Md.; Columbus, Miss.; Northern N.J.; Wilmington, N.C.; Duncan, Okla.; Allentown/Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Hilton Head, S.C.; Cleveland, Tenn.; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; and Kenosha, Madison and Milwaukee, Wis.

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Verizon: 35% of data traffic now rides over LTE

Verizon: LTE everywhere and in all future smartphones