Verizon Wireless Launches 4G LTE in Bakersfield, California, on August 18

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today that it is bringing the world's first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network to Bakersfield on August 18.  Residents in areas such as downtown Bakersfield, Delano, Shafter and Greenfield and Highway 99 from Bakersfield to Delano with 4G LTE smartphones, laptop modems, hotspots and the new 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and HP Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC will be able to take advantage of speeds up to 10 times faster than the company's 3G network.  

"We are proud to help lead Bakersfield into the 4G LTE wireless broadband world, helping residents, small businesses and local government connect faster and more fully with each other and those outside our community," said Jonathan LeCompte, acting region president for Verizon Wireless. "Our 4G LTE network is revolutionizing the way people communicate, and we know this connectivity will be a key communications and technology enabler for many years to come."

Residents of Bakersfield can choose from an array of devices on Verizon's 4G LTE network. To date, Verizon Wireless has introduced 10 devices, including the Revolution™ by LG, the DROID Charge by Samsung and the ThunderBolt™ by HTC smartphones. A complete list of 4G LTE devices can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE.

In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.  Verizon Wireless introduced the globe's first large-scale LTE network on December 5, 2010, covering more than 110 million Americans, and is quickly expanding coverage, currently offering service in 102 markets.  The company is rapidly building out its 4G LTE network, and is on course to deliver 4G LTE to its entire 3G wireless footprint by the end of 2013.  

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy game-changing 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized.  Verizon Wireless' consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year.  The company's 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.  

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

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 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