Verizon Wireless Brings Its 4G LTE Network to Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Nov. 17

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Nov. 17, Verizon Wireless customers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa can take advantage of Verizon Wireless' 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the fastest and most reliable 4G network in the nation.  Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network allows customers to share music and photos, surf the Web and download files up to 10 times faster than before.  The 4G LTE network coverage will extend from Cedar Rapids north on Interstate 380 to Hiawatha; south on I-380 to the Eastern Iowa Airport; east on U.S. Highway 30 to the split north of State Highway 151; and west on U.S. Highway 30 to exit 246.  Additional cities included in the 4G launch are Center Point, Central City and Midway.

"Our network is the largest 4G LTE network in the nation and was just named the 'Fastest 4G Network Yet' by Popular Science's Best of What's New awards and ranked No. 1 on PC World's 100 Best Products of 2011," said Seamus Hyland, president–Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless. "We are proud to bring our 4G LTE network to Cedar Rapids so that residents, small businesses and local government can take advantage of the next generation of wireless technology, which is continuing to push the boundaries of communication and connectivity."

4G LTE Devices and Plans

Residents of  Cedar Rapids can choose from 16 4G LTE-enabled devices, including notebooks and netbooks; hotspots and modems; and tablets and smartphones, such as the new HTC Rezound™ and DROID RAZR™ by Motorola, to connect to the largest 4G LTE network in the country.  Details on each device can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE and information on plans and pricing is available at www.verizonwireless.com/plans.

Coverage and Speed

With a consistent focus on growth and reliability, Verizon Wireless has quickly expanded its 4G LTE network.  In addition to launching its network in Cedar Rapids on Nov. 17, the company is adding 13 other new markets (including Des Moines, Iowa) and expanding its network in Louisville, Ky.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; and Pittsburgh, Pa., for a total of 179 markets covered.  Verizon Wireless plans to continue rapidly expanding its 4G LTE network to its entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.  Previously the company launched its 4G LTE network in Eastern Iowa in Iowa City/Coralville and the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois on Sept. 17.

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE customers in Cedar Rapids should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. 

Extending Coverage and Reliability

When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless' 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless' 3G network is the largest, most reliable high-speed data network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their city.   

For more information about Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte. Coverage maps will be available online at launch. 

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 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