Verizon Wireless Fosters Global LTE Ecosystem as Verizon CTO Dick Lynch Announces
Deployment Plans
BARCELONA and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
New LTE Innovation Center Will Foster Wireless Growth
In a move that will jump-start deployment of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE)
networks globally, Dick Lynch, Verizon executive vice president and chief
technology officer, detailed plans to build America's first next-generation Long
Term Evolution (LTE) network during his keynote remarks at Mobile World Congress
in Barcelona today.
Lynch announced that Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon
Communications and Vodafone, has selected Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent as primary
network vendors for its initial LTE network deployments in the United States.
Verizon's announcement comes on the heels of industry-leading LTE network trials
in the United States and Europe, carried out in conjunction with Vodafone. These
two vendors are expected to build the underlying infrastructure that will enable
Verizon Wireless to become the first wireless company to offer commercial LTE-
based service in the United States, starting in 2010.
Lynch said, "Verizon Wireless' LTE network deployment will be driven by our
vision of providing ubiquitous global wireless broadband connectivity and
mobility. LTE enables us to continue to meet business customer demands for a
higher bandwidth, low latency service that works broadly in the United States and
globally, while helping us to meet consumer demand for mobilizing the many
applications they frequently use when tethered to high bandwidth wired networks."
"Verizon Wireless' deployment of LTE sets a unified direction in enabling
true, global wireless broadband and Ericsson is proud to be a part of this
historic occasion," said Carl-Henric Svanberg, president and chief executive
officer, Ericsson. "We are not only providing Verizon Wireless with a complete
LTE solution, we are also committing our global leadership in technology and
standardization to help Verizon realize the promise of LTE during 2010. We look
forward to a continued co-operation in the successful commercialization of LTE,
which will enable a new, enhanced mobile broadband experience for consumers and
enterprises throughout the United States."
"Verizon Wireless' ground-breaking move toward LTE underscores its commitment
to accelerating and stimulating an environment that will offer its customers
greater capacity and new services in more areas than ever before," said Ben
Verwaayen, chief executive officer of Alcatel-Lucent. "With LTE's bandwidth and
its ability to co-exist with the current 3G platform, we look forward to
partnering with Verizon Wireless to build the next-generation foundation that
will economically enable new forms of communications using both fixed and
wireless, as well as mobile broadband."
Verizon Wireless also announced that in addition to Ericsson and Alcatel-
Lucent, Starent Networks has been selected as a packet core vendor.
In addition, Verizon announced that Nokia Siemens Networks and Alcatel-Lucent
have been selected as key suppliers for the IP Multi-Media Subsystem (IMS)
network, which will enable rich multimedia applications regardless of access
technology. IMS will be a cornerstone technology in the evolution of Verizon's
services infrastructure. Verizon plans to offer IMS-based IP converged
applications and services on its wireless and landline broadband networks. LTE
will be one of the key wireless access networks linked to the IMS technology.
Lynch said building and offering commercial services over Verizon Wireless'
LTE network, while also expanding its FiOS fiber network, is a consistent and
complimentary strategy focused on a committed future in broadband. As has been
previously reported, Verizon's total capital expenditures totaled roughly $17
billion USD in 2008. Lynch noted that LTE network costs would be within the
company's overall program as spending shifts from older technologies to new
strategic initiatives, such as LTE. The company expects to maintain commercial
service on its 3G service well into the next decade.
"Vodafone is pleased to endorse Verizon Wireless' decision to select these
vendors as part of their LTE deployment plans in the United States," said Steve
Pusey, global chief technology officer for Vodafone. "As well as supporting
these plans for the United States market, Vodafone continues to work in close
cooperation with Verizon Wireless on a range of initiatives designed to drive the
commercial development of LTE, including an extensive program of trials."
4G/LTE Innovation Center
Lynch also announced that Verizon Wireless expects to foster creative
solutions connecting people, places and things wirelessly on its LTE network by
creating the Verizon LTE Innovation Center, which will be based in the suburban
Boston community of Waltham, Mass. With support from founding partners Ericsson
and Alcatel-Lucent, Lynch said the mission of the Innovation Center is to be the
catalyst for early development of non-traditional products for use on LTE
networks. A number of companies have already expressed interest in the Center,
which will be solely focused on helping Verizon Wireless technology partners
quickly develop and bring to market new and innovative LTE-based solutions within
the consumer electronics, machine-to-machine, and business products segments.
Trials and Deployment
Utilizing their existing spectrum, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone have been
field testing 4G LTE networks in Minneapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and Northern New
Jersey in the United States, as well as in Budapest, Düsseldorf, and Madrid in
Europe, with a variety of network infrastructure providers. These field trials
have demonstrated download rates of 50 to 60 Mbps peak speeds, though actual
average download results will not be determined until the commercial launch of
the new Verizon Wireless LTE network. Utilizing its recently acquired 700 MHz
spectrum, Verizon Wireless will expand trials this summer, and Lynch said the
company will commercially launch its LTE network in 2010. Once the initial
rollout is complete, plans are in place for aggressive deployment throughout
Verizon Wireless' entire network, including areas not currently covered by the
existing Verizon Wireless footprint.
By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment, Verizon Wireless is
capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with
excellent coverage and in-building penetration, all at a cost structure
significantly below current levels. Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, together with
a broad group of LTE ecosystem suppliers -- infrastructure, device and technology
companies -- have advanced the technology that will deliver unprecedented
wireless broadband service for high performance mobile computing, multimedia, and
consumer electronic devices and applications.
LTE's Promise
Advanced LTE-based wireless networks will support incredible new applications
that businesses and consumers can only access today through high-speed wireline
networks. In addition to simply faster e-mail and Internet access and better
quality video services, wireless users will be able to take applications they are
accustomed to using at home or in the office into the mobile world; roaming on
other global LTE networks will provide portability to take those applications
virtually anywhere on the planet. LTE also offers the possibility of providing
coverage in some rural areas not currently served by wireless broadband. Most
importantly, a wide-area wireless LTE network will be able to connect a full
range of consumer electronics devices and machines to each other -- the holy
grail of true wireless interconnectivity.
Lynch noted, "The appetite for new and innovative broadband services is
insatiable: People want new and customized content, relevant information and
services, and increased opportunities to communicate with each other and the
world around them. With the promise of more advanced devices and applications,
Verizon is ready to lead the way in harnessing the power of LTE, at the onset of
the LTE revolution."
Today's LTE announcement builds on Verizon Wireless' technology leadership.
Verizon Wireless was the first company to broadly commercially deploy high-speed
wireless broadband service in the United States -- a wireless broadband network
based on CDMA Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) technology that covers
approximately 274 million people from coast to coast. The company's drive and
dedication to innovation and leadership are demonstrated by its introduction of
new multimedia devices and services, its pro-customer position on industry issues
such as wireless spam and privacy, and its industry-leading open development
program.
For more information on products and services from Verizon Wireless, visit a
Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless
voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in
Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless
is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and
request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon
Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
SOURCE: Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Jeffrey Nelson of Verizon Wireless
+1-917-968-9175
Jeffrey.Nelson@verizonwireless.com
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