Verizon Wireless is investing billions in building out its Long-Term Evolution network but it can’t do it alone. The nation’s largest carrier has launched a program to help it find partners to bring 4G to rural America.
We are seeking companies that can assist in bringing the benefits of 4G LTE service to rural areas that currently lack Verizon Wireless coverage. Verizon Wireless may work with rural companies that have towers and backhaul capabilities, even if those companies are not currently wireless operators. Together, we will plan and coordinate a local LTE deployment schedule that makes sense for both Verizon Wireless and the rural company that we are collaborating with.
The company plans to have up to 30 major markets blanketed with LTE by the end of the year and this should cover about 100 million people. It will be using the 700 MHz spectrum for this rollout and it plans to have 4G cover its existing 3G footprint by the end of 2013.
This partnership program could be key in fixing the country’s “digital divide” – the lack of broadband Internet for many parts of rural America. For the service providers, these rural areas generally cost more to cover due to its size and the densely-populated regions don’t have the same return on investment as urban centers. Wireless options like LTE could potentially solve this problem.
Verizon isn’t the only one eying 4G, as Sprint Nextel already has WiMax rolled out in multiple markets around the country. The third-largest U.S. carrier is poised to launch the stellar EVO 4G and this could raise awareness for the next generation of mobile data networks.
Interestingly enough, Sprint has been downplaying the WiMax part of its 4G push. The company’s 4G infrastructure is provided by Clearwire, which is majority-owned by Sprint, and it has been rolling out WiMax for the last few years. Clearwire said it can switch to LTE with essentially a software upgrade if the market demands it.
[Via Verizon Wireless]