Verizon Wireless continues plugging away at its LTE build-out, with 46 new markets and expansion in 21 others announced yesterday. The 46 new markets will go live on June 21.
These latest markets bring Verizon’s total to 304, making the next-generation network available to two-thirds of the U.S. population.
“Our aggressive 4G LTE network build-out is on track, providing our customers with the largest 4G LTE network in the United States – and the world – today,” said Nicola Palmer, CTO of Verizon Wireless.
Verizon has committed to more than 400 markets by the end of 2012, with an end goal of offering the service across its entire 3G footprint by the end of 2013.
Verizon boasts that 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 Mbps on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
Verizon’s chief competitor, AT&T, currently has rolled out LTE in 41 markets. Sprint and T-Mobile are also pursuing LTE.
Verizon’s network recently scored fastest in PC Magazine’s recent survey of LTE networks, while AT&T and T-Mobile claimed top honors in similar research conducted by PCWorld. The latter study included HSPA+ networks and Sprint’s WiMAX network, as well as existing LTE networks.