Verizon Wireless Focuses On Efforts To Ensure That Its LTE Network Will Be The Largest 4G Network In The Nation

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — 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.

It’s Network-Ready: Visit Us at Booth #1034
The show floor spotlight shines on booth #1034, where the Verizon Wireless Open Development program and a variety of partners demonstrate exciting new products that are now Verizon Wireless network-ready. The solutions featured in the booth were built to work on Verizon Wireless’ 3G broadband network and include ruggedized tablet PCs and handheld computers, routers, a convergence phone, an exciting new product for the vending machine industry, and a new testing solution that offers modular testing options for manufacturers.

Coming Soon: Skype mobile from Verizon Wireless
The upcoming launch of Skype mobile™ on Verizon Wireless promises to bring more value to customers with 3G smartphones and data plans and highlights what’s possible on Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. The free Skype mobile app will let hundreds of millions of Skype users around the world and millions of their friends, family and business colleagues in the United States who use Verizon Wireless communicate more easily. The companies will share more details on March 23 at a news conference beginning at 12:00 p.m. PDT in the Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, Room N241.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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