Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Gov. Joe Manchin and Verizon Announce Plans to Launch 4G LTE in 10 West Virginia Metropolitan Areas

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- West Virginians will begin to see the benefits of Verizon Wireless' new 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network beginning as early as this year, thanks to the efforts of Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Gov. Joe Manchin. Verizon Wireless underscored its commitment to ensuring that West Virginians will benefit from the company's rapid deployment of the world's first large-scale 4G LTE network today at a news briefing with Sen. Rockefeller and Gov. Manchin at the Embassy Suites – Charleston. Verizon Wireless will roll out 4G in West Virginia over the next few years as part of the company's aggressive plans to have full nationwide 4G coverage everywhere it has 3G coverage today.

"Senator Rockefeller made a compelling case that West Virginians should be among the first in the nation to get the benefits of 4G service," said Tony Melone, senior vice president and chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. "We have a great opportunity for wireless expansion and 4G deployment in West Virginia, beginning in Charleston and rolling out to other metropolitan areas throughout the state by 2013."

"Building West Virginia's technology infrastructure and making sure every corner of our state has dependable, advanced wireless service has long been a priority of mine," said Sen. Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. "That is why I'm very happy to be here today to announce Verizon's unprecedented commitment. Expanded wireless service at super-high speeds means West Virginians can connect with family and friends, and it means real economic opportunity – the ability to earn a degree from home, to apply for a job, and to do business in West Virginia and across the globe. Thousands of West Virginians will benefit from the launch of Verizon's 4G network – while the state will move forward with a state-of-the-art network fit for the future."

"Expanding West Virginia's wireless communication capabilities allows citizens and businesses to compete and function in today's global economy," said Gov. Joe Manchin. "The state has made infrastructure development a top priority, and this latest partnership with Verizon Wireless will help support our ongoing efforts. I am pleased with the launch of this project and look forward to the benefits it will bring."

Verizon Wireless' 4G launch plans in West Virginia include:

• Deployment of 4G LTE to a portion of downtown Charleston by the end of this year.
• Complete 4G LTE coverage of downtown Charleston by mid-2011.
• Expansion of 4G coverage to include Huntington, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Weirton, Beckley, Clarksburg, Morgantown, Fairmont and Martinsburg by the end of 2013.

Verizon Wireless is building its 4G LTE network in West Virginia with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized. Verizon Wireless' laser focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.

Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE rollout positions the company to be the global leader in 4G LTE deployment. Verizon Wireless expects 4G LTE average data rates to be 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world, loaded network environments. These speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers' current or promised 3G network speeds.  

By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage.  The company is currently installing LTE equipment at existing cell sites and switching centers around the United States as part of its extensive, ongoing investment in its voice and data network infrastructure.  

In addition, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $10 million to expand its current coverage of the Interstate 79 corridor. Scheduled for completion in 2011, this expansion will enable continuous calling from Charleston to Clarksburg and, with this expanded footprint, Verizon Wireless will soon cover nearly 65 percent of the state's population with high-speed wireless services. West Virginia will be the leading state for Verizon's 4G deployment in markets where no previous 3G infrastructure existed, including Morgantown, Fairmont and Martinsburg.

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network.  

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with  more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless