Verizon rolls out LTE Advanced network
Verizon on Monday rolled out its LTE Advanced network, dubbing it the largest and fastest LTE network ever.
The new network is now available in 461 cities, covering 90 percent of the US population. The network promises 50-percent faster peak speeds for customers with LTE Advanced-capable devices. There are currently 39 LTE Advanced-capable phones and tablets on the network, including the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S7, Moto Droids, and the iPhone. New devices from Apple, Samsung, LG, and other manufacturers will also be LTE Advanced-capable.
It works by using two or three bandwidth channels at once to send mobile data over the network.
"Imagine a road with multiple lanes in which, once you pick a lane, that's the lane you drive in. That describes our award-winning 4G LTE network," explained Nicki Palmer, Verizon's chief wireless network engineer, in a statement. "Continuing the metaphor, Verizon LTE Advanced allows cars to change lanes efficiently and flawlessly, balancing the flow of traffic and getting drivers to their destinations more efficiently. That means blindingly fast data transmissions when you need it most."
Two-channel carrier aggregation has shown peak download speeds of up to 225Mbps, Verizon said, while three-channel carrier aggregation can reach speeds greater than 300Mbps. Verizon customers will still typically see download speeds of five to 12Mbps.