Verizon to Roll Out 4G Network in Boston, Seattle

U.S. telephone giant Verizon Wireless reportedly said this week that it made its first phone calls in Boston and Seattle using Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, over the emerging LTE technology, the move that company says is the part step in rolling out 4G networks nationwide.

 

The 4G network is based on a technology called Long-Term Evolution that will make it easier for users to download high-quality video and audio content to handheld devices. The data calls, Verizon said, involved streaming video, file uploads and downloads, and Web browsing. More than anything else, Verizon made data calls using VoIP to aid voice transmissions over the LTE 4G network.

 

Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Verizon Wireless expects to commercially launch its LTE 4G network in up to 30 markets in 2010, and cover the whole nation by 2013.

 

Technology partners the helped Verizon with this task include Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson for base station/radio access network, LG and Samsung for trial devices, and Starent Networks and Nokia Siemens Networks for network equipment.

 

Verizon’s Chief Technical Officer Tony Melone said the carrier is fully committed to harnessing the power of LTE over 700 MHz spectrum, and the test validates the decision to select LTE as the standard for next-generation wireless broadband network.

 

Boston and Seattle each now have 10 LTE 4G cell sites up and running on the 700 MHz spectrum.

 

Verizon selected Boston and Seattle because of their suburban and urban areas, as well as the high-technology population, the company said.

 

With the successful test, Verizon is heading to compete with Clearwire and its partners, which are already rolling out commercial service for their 4G wireless network that uses a technology called WiMax.

 

Clearwire has already launched 4G service in Atlanta, Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Portland, Ore, and the operator is likely to add another 10 markets over the coming months.