At Mobile World Congress, Verizon's Dick Lynch, Verizon executive vice president
and chief technology officer, detailed plans to build America's first
next-generation Long Term Evolution (LTE) network for 4G.
Verizon Wireless selected Ericsson and
Alcatel-Lucent as primary network vendors for its initial LTE network
deployments in the United States. Verizon Wireless should become the first wireless company to offer
commercial LTE-based service in the United States, starting in 2010.
Lynch said, "Verizon Wireless' LTE network deployment will be driven
by our vision of providing ubiquitous global wireless broadband
connectivity and mobility. LTE enables us to continue to meet business
customer demands for a higher bandwidth, low latency service that works
broadly in the United States and globally, while helping us to meet
consumer demand for mobilizing the many applications they frequently
use when tethered to high bandwidth wired networks."
Verizon Wireless also announced that in addition to Ericsson and
Alcatel-Lucent, Starent Networks has been selected as a packet core
vendor.
In addition, Verizon announced that Nokia Siemens Networks and
Alcatel-Lucent have been selected as key suppliers for the IP
Multi-Media Subsystem (IMS) network, which will enable rich multimedia
applications regardless of access technology. IMS will be a
cornerstone technology in the evolution of Verizon's services
infrastructure. Verizon plans to offer IMS-based IP converged
applications and services on its wireless and landline broadband
networks. LTE will be one of the key wireless access networks linked to
the IMS technology.
Lynch said building and offering commercial services over Verizon
Wireless' LTE network, while also expanding its FiOS fiber network, is
a consistent and complimentary strategy focused on a committed future
in broadband. As has been previously reported, Verizon's total capital
expenditures totaled roughly $17 billion USD in 2008. Lynch noted that
LTE network costs would be within the company's overall program as
spending shifts from older technologies to new strategic initiatives,
such as LTE. The company expects to maintain commercial service on its
3G service well into the next decade.
"Vodafone is pleased to endorse Verizon Wireless' decision to select
these vendors as part of their LTE deployment plans in the United
States," said Steve Pusey, global chief technology officer for
Vodafone. "As well as supporting these plans for the United States
market, Vodafone continues to work in close cooperation with Verizon
Wireless on a range of initiatives designed to drive the commercial
development of LTE, including an extensive program of trials."
4G/LTE Innovation Center
Lynch also announced
that Verizon Wireless expects to foster creative solutions connecting
people, places and things wirelessly on its LTE network by creating the
Verizon LTE Innovation Center, which will be based in the suburban
Boston community of Waltham, Mass. With support from founding partners
Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent, Lynch said the mission of the Innovation
Center is to be the catalyst for early development of non-traditional
products for use on LTE networks. A number of companies have already
expressed interest in the Center, which will be solely focused on
helping Verizon Wireless technology partners quickly develop and bring
to market new and innovative LTE-based solutions within the consumer
electronics, machine-to-machine, and business products segments.
Trials and Deployment
Utilizing their existing
spectrum, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone have been field testing 4G LTE
networks in Minneapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and Northern New Jersey in the
United States, as well as in Budapest, Dusseldorf, and Madrid in
Europe, with a variety of network infrastructure providers. These field
trials have demonstrated download rates of 50 to 60 Mbps peak speeds,
though actual average download results will not be determined until the
commercial launch of the new Verizon Wireless LTE network. Utilizing
its recently acquired 700 MHz spectrum, Verizon Wireless will expand
trials this summer, and Lynch said the company will commercially launch
its LTE network in 2010. Once the initial rollout is complete, plans
are in place for aggressive deployment throughout Verizon Wireless'
entire network, including areas not currently covered by the existing
Verizon Wireless footprint.
By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment, Verizon
Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless
broadband network with excellent coverage and in-building penetration,
all at a cost structure significantly below current levels. Verizon
Wireless and Vodafone, together with a broad group of LTE ecosystem
suppliers -- infrastructure, device and technology companies -- have
advanced the technology that will deliver unprecedented wireless
broadband service for high performance mobile computing, multimedia,
and consumer electronic devices and applications.
LTE's Promise
Advanced LTE-based wireless
networks will support incredible new applications that businesses and
consumers can only access today through high-speed wireline networks.
In addition to simply faster e-mail and Internet access and better
quality video services, wireless users will be able to take
applications they are accustomed to using at home or in the office into
the mobile world; roaming on other global LTE networks will provide
portability to take those applications virtually anywhere on the
planet. LTE also offers the possibility of providing coverage in some
rural areas not currently served by wireless broadband. Most
importantly, a wide-area wireless LTE network will be able to connect a
full range of consumer electronics devices and machines to each other
-- the holy grail of true wireless interconnectivity.
Lynch noted, "The appetite for new and innovative broadband services
is insatiable: People want new and customized content, relevant
information and services, and increased opportunities to communicate
with each other and the world around them. With the promise of more
advanced devices and applications, Verizon is ready to lead the way in
harnessing the power of LTE, at the onset of the LTE revolution."
Today's LTE announcement builds on Verizon Wireless' technology
leadership. Verizon Wireless was the first company to broadly
commercially deploy high-speed wireless broadband service in the United
States -- a wireless broadband network based on CDMA Evolution-Data
Optimized (EV-DO) technology that covers approximately 274 million
people from coast to coast. The company's drive and dedication to
innovation and leadership are demonstrated by its introduction of new
multimedia devices and services, its pro-customer position on industry
issues such as wireless spam and privacy, and its industry-leading open
development program.
For more information on products and services from Verizon Wireless,
visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or
visit www.verizonwireless.com.