Staff Report
Published Jan. 7, 2011

Verizon said Thursday it is bringing its 4G LTE network to the Greenville-Spartanburg market, one of 140 markets where the wireless provider plans to launch the service this year.

Verizon launched its LTE network last year in 38 metropolitan areas and more than 60 commercial airports across the country.

In the Upstate, Verizon’s 4G LTE will cover the surrounding areas of Clemson, Simpsonville, Fountain Inn, Greer, Taylors, Inman, Central, Liberty, Mauldin, Wellford, Inman, Berea, Lyman, Startex, Roebuck and White Stone.

“This network revolution marks a new era in wireless communications with faster connections and endless possibilities for both consumers and businesses,” said Jerry Fountain, president of Verizon Wireless Carolinas Region. “The launch of our lightning fast 4G LTE network in the Upstate is further evidence of our commitment to and investment in the residents of this area.”

Verizon said the service will mean faster speeds, and increased productivity for enterprise, business and individual users.

Average data rates on the 4G LTE service are five to 12 megabits per second, Mbps, on the downlink and two to five Mbps on the uplink in real-world, loaded network environments.

The company is currently installing LTE equipment at existing cell sites and switching centers around the United States as part of its investment in its voice and data network infrastructure.