Verizon is the nation’s largest 4G wireless carrier and it’ll remain in the number position for the foreseeable future. The carrier said earlier this week that it intends to double its LTE footprint in the upcoming year.
Currently, Verizon offers LTE in 203 markets across the US. This number will expand to 400 by the end of 2012 and its LTE network will cover more than 260 million people. “Our plans to double our 4G LTE network coverage from the end of 2011 to the end of 2012 align with the aggressive and rapid deployment strategy we have taken with our 4G LTE network,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless.
Verizon bolsters it 4G efforts by offering over 20 LTE 4G devices, including a 4G version of the new iPad. In the tablet wars, the carrier beat out AT&T on value when it decided to offer the iPad with mobile hotspot included in the data plan. Sometimes plagued with reliability issues, Verizon’s network delivers real-world speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps down and 2 to 5 Mbps up.
[Via Verizon Wireless]