Verizon Wireless to Launch 4G LTE in Lehigh Valley April 21

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today that it is bringing the world's first large-scale 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network to the Greater Lehigh Valley April 21.

LTE coverage in the Lehigh Valley will include the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, the I-78 corridor, portions of Lehigh and Northampton counties, and Lehigh Valley International Airport.  A sneak peek of the 4G LTE network will be offered to the Lehigh Valley public today at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The event will feature live demos of the fastest, most advanced 4G LTE network in action, interaction with data experts and technology presentations at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The advanced, mobile broadband network provides speeds up to 10 times faster than the company's 3G network (5 to 12 megabits per second for downloads and 2 to 5 for uploads in a real-world environment). These speeds will enable smooth mobile video-conferencing, multiple simultaneous video streams, rapid downloading, uploading and transfer of large files, and other applications to improve efficiency and productivity wirelessly.

"This is yet another milestone that reflects the ongoing and consistent investments we've made in Greater Lehigh Valley over the years," said Verizon Wireless Regional President Mario Turco. "We previously said that we expected to launch 4G LTE service in the Lehigh Valley before the end of the year. With today's announcement, I'm thrilled that we're able to significantly over-deliver on our commitment and that residents and businesses here will now be able to experience the benefits of the most reliable and most advanced 3G and 4G mobile broadband networks in the industry."

Lehigh Valley customers can choose from two 4G LTE Mobile Broadband data plans: $50 monthly access for 5GB monthly allowance or $80 monthly access for 10GB monthly allowance, both with $10/GB overage.  For laptop connectivity, two 4G LTE USB modems are currently available: the LG VL600 and the Pantech UML290, each $99.99 after $50 rebate with a new two-year agreement.  

Customers will be able to access 4G LTE services on new devices including smartphones from LG, Motorola, Samsung and the recently launched HTC Thunderbolt, a MiFi from Novatel Wireless, and a mobile hotspot from Samsung. Two notebook computers from HP, and wireless modems from LG and Pantech will also take advantage of the company's 4G LTE network.

All 4G LTE devices are "backward compatible" and – when not in a 4G LTE coverage area –provide access to the Verizon Wireless 3G network, which covers 97% of the U.S. population.

The company's 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including improved in-building penetration and a contiguous, nationwide network footprint.  The company is building its 4G LTE network with the same commitment that has earned it numerous third-party accolades for performance and reliability over the years.  Verizon Wireless' laser focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company has invested more than $65 billion nationwide since it was formed - $6 billion on average every year to stay ahead of the growing demand for its voice and data services and bring services such as 4G LTE to its customers. Regionally, the company has invested more than $1.5 billion in its network since 2000

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

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 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