It is always good news when a network adds more speed for its customers and today Verizon announced another 14 markets would be getting its expanded XLTE coverage. They are as follows in no particular order: Midland, TX – Odessa, TX – Great Falls, MT – Sheboygan, WI – Rome, GA – Albany, GA – Valdosta, GA – Gainesville, GA – Mason City, IA – Gadsden, AL – Hickory-Lenoir, NC – Jackson, MI – Pendleton, OR – and Winona, MN. Today, more than 350 of Verizon’s 4G LTE 500-plus markets have been enhanced with XLTE, with more scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
Verizon’s original LTE network was really slowing down due to all of its subscribers using the same bandwidth, especially in heavily populated areas. In order to boost their 4G LTE speeds back up again they turned to XLTE, which utilizes Verizon’s AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) spectrum that allows Verizon to significantly increase capacity – doubling the speeds at a minimum – over its 4G LTE network. This means that in high-traffic areas, more customers can access it at the same time even during peak service usage. Jonathan LeCompte, president for the Georgia/Alabama Region of Verizon Wireless where XLTE was just expanded said:
“We have a long-standing commitment of making investments in our network, more than $100 million across Alabama in 2013 alone. With the doubling of bandwidth on our 4G LTE network, customers in the Opelika-Auburn area can now enjoy faster data service. Our advanced spectrum deployment is making a difference, and we are staying well ahead of demand to deliver 4G LTE services better, faster and to even more customers across the state.”
Verizon first launched its original 4G LTE network in 2010 and it is virtually complete – covering more than 500 markets nationwide, which is nearly 97-percent of the U.S. population. Verizon’s deployment of their XLTE is their way of enhancing network reliability and superiority, although their numbers, especially speed, are still a sore spot with many subscribers that live within 10-15 miles of a major metropolitan area. If their new XLTE is already deployed in two-thirds of their markets, I am not sure how much this will ‘LTE’ up our devices.
Please hook up with us on our Google+ Page and let us know if you are in an XLTE market and if you have noticed a difference in your network speeds…as always, we would love to hear from you.