March 20, 2010 - As tech watchers prepare for next week’s CTIA WIRELESS 2010® convention in Las Vegas, Verizon Wireless confirmed today that it’s on track with building the nation’s first 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless network. A host of ecosystem partners, along with the company’s network engineers, equipment vendors, backhaul providers and device design experts, are preparing for the launch of the highly anticipated fourth-generation network later this year.

Verizon Wireless engineers report trials showing peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps and expects LTE average data rates of 5 to 12 Mbps on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world environments.

Running on a nationwide license won at auction in 2008, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is being built to ultimately have the broadest geographic coverage and to leverage the deepest spectrum capabilities by using a commercial broadband technology that is unrivaled in its ability to extend into buildings.

Lowell McAdam, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, said, “The CTIA WIRELESS convention is the perfect setting to focus on the important behind-the-scenes work we are doing with more than 25 partners to bring 4G LTE to life. Our progress is good, and we’re confident that the next generation of wireless network technology will deliver the speed, reliability and bandwidth that businesses, government and consumers have been anticipating. Our work on 4G LTE underscores our continuing commitment to provide the best wireless experience available today. Building and operating great wireless networks is what we do, and everything we do at Verizon Wireless – from devices to applications to solutions – stems from that foundation of network know-how.”

The Path to 4G LTE
A variety of partners are working within the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE ecosystem, leading to robust business models with strong value chains. Verizon Wireless continues to create, foster and support these on-ramps to LTE, including through the LTE Innovation Center, Open Development and the Verizon Developer Community. Leaders from each of these efforts will join Verizon Wireless Chief Technical Officer Tony Melone to discuss how Verizon Wireless is bringing it all together in an open, collaborative way at a media panel on March 24 at 11:00 a.m. PDT in the Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, Room N241.