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Verizon (VZ) Launches Nationwide LTE-Advanced Networks

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The U.S. telecom behemoth Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) has recently completed a major upgrade of its 4G LTE networks to LTE-Advanced technology covering 461 cities in the U.S. The LTE-Advanced network will raise the data packet transmission speed by more than 50%. Verizon claimed its two-channel carrier aggregation generates peak download speeds of up to 225 Mbps while three-channel carrier aggregation has clocked speeds of more than 300 Mbps.

Wireless network standards are continuously evolving globally to offer faster speed. After significant growth of the next-generation 4G LTE network, LTE-A (Long-Term Evolution Advanced) wireless network standard is gradually finding solid foothold worldwide. According to an estimate by the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, 28% of LTE network operators worldwide have launched LTE Advanced networks.

LTE-A is the more powerful version of the legacy LTE network offering increased speed and network capacity. Carrier aggregation is the most important part of LTE-A technology as it allows wireless operators to create large spectrum assets by combining different frequency bands.

Notably, LTE-A also incorporates several technological advancements like Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP), Self-Optimizing Networks (SON), small cell enhancements, Enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) and advanced Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) antenna. Verizon has used MIMO technology and is looking deploy its advanced version in future.

In Jun 2013, SK Telecom Co. Ltd. (SKM - Free Report) of South Korea became the first wireless operator in the world to commercially launch LTE-A network using carrier aggregation. In Mar 2014, AT&T Inc. (T - Free Report) became the first wireless operator in the U.S. to launch LTE-A services in Chicago. Earlier this year, Sprint Corp. (S - Free Report) claimed that it achieved speeds of over 300 Mbps using three-channel carrier aggregation using a Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone.

Earlier research on 4G in the Americas had stated that the latest version of LTE-A network, which is popularly known as LTE-Advanced Pro (3GPP Release 13) will be a major step toward the smooth transition from 4G to the upcoming fifth-generation (5G) network standard.

Notably, Verizon is looking at mobile hotspot and fixed wireless for initial deployment of the next-generation 5G wireless networks in the U.S. by late 2017. Importantly, the industry-wide standardization specification by the 3GPP is likely to be ready in Jun 2018. Thus, Verizon seems to be way ahead of its peers in its plans to deploy next-generation 5G wireless network. 

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