Verizon Wireless Introduces America's Largest 4G LTE Network In Mercer County, West Virginia And Tazewell County, Virginia

LAUREL, MD — Verizon Wireless customers in Mercer County, West Virginia, and Tazewell County, Virginia, will be able to experience the blazingly fast speeds and capabilities of America’s largest 4G LTE network when the service launches there today.  With the introduction of the network in 23 new markets and the expansion in 41 existing markets, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is now available in more than 410 markets across the United States, surpassing its previously announced goal of providing its mobile broadband service in 400 markets by the end of this year.  The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network covers nearly four out of five people in the U.S. – and offers more 4G LTE coverage in the U.S. than all other networks combined.  

On Thursday, Oct. 18, customers who live in or visit Bluefield, Princeton, Richlands, Tazewell and other surrounding communities will now be able to surf the Web, stream music and video, and stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues, all with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.  The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network expansion into Mercer County, West Virginia and Tazewell County, Virginia extends the company’s existing footprint west of Summers County and south of Raleigh County, WV.

“Less than two years since the launch of our 4G LTE network, this milestone signifies our continued commitment to expanding and enhancing our 4G LTE network to reach customers across the country,” said Mike Maiorana, region president.  “With the expansion of our 4G LTE network into more Virginia and West Virginia towns and cities, customers and local businesses will be able to take advantage of the innovative products and services made possible by 4G LTE technology.”

Innovations with 4G LTE Technology

To date, Verizon Wireless has introduced 37 4G LTE-enabled devices, including smartphones, tablets, personal Wi-Fi hotspots and more since the network launched 22 months ago.  Verizon Wireless customers can choose from the largest selection of 4G LTE devices and solutions to experience the nation’s fastest 4G network.  The newest 4G LTE devices include the DROID RAZR^™ M by Motorola and the Samsung Galaxy S^® III.  Details can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/4G LTE.  Information on plans and pricing for consumers and businesses is available at www.verizonwireless.com/plans.

4G LTE Coverage and Speed

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE customers should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. 

When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, 4G LTE devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable high-speed data network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their area, or when they travel to areas already covered by 4G LTE. 

For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 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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