Verizon testing latest technology for high-speed service in Columbus - Business First of Columbus:

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Since the middle of 2008, Basking N.J.-based Verizon Wireless, a division of , has been testiny what it calls its fourth or 4G, network in 25 cities across the countrh and world, including Columbus. “Columbus is alwayss a good placefor innovation,” said Tom Verizon’s vice president of technology. “It has good demographics there are many earlyadopters (of technology).” Sawanobori said Verizon plans to continus testing the high-speed network through the middle of the year in Verizon is spending approximately $50 billion to builfd its fourth generation network, and spent abou t $258 million in Ohio in just the past Sawanobori said.
He declined to say if Centra l Ohio will be among the first markets to have newnetworki service, but did say the companhy plans to roll it out “prettyu aggressively” over the next four When it does come, Verizon customer s who want to use the networkl will have to buy new phones. Verizon’se networks are based on a technology calledCDMA technology, which is used almost exclusivelyu in the United States. Throughoutg the rest of the world, cell phonse networks are based onGSM Verizon’s fourth generation network is basedd on Long Term Evolutiohn technology.
LTE is derived from GSM and Verizon officials believe LTE will become the dominant technology choice inthe future. “Manyg other major wireless service providers, both domestic and foreign, have also selectefd LTE as the technology for their4G deployments,” Verizom said in its 2008 annual repory filed with the . “As a we believe that LTE will provide us with the opportunity to adopt an access platform withglobal scale.” Verizon’s network will use radii waves currently being used by television stations.
The company is waitingb for the TV broadcastersa to abandon the 800 MHzand 1800-1900o MHz spectrum bands by June 12 as part of theif conversion to digital Once Verizon can take over the spectrum and get its new network up and running, Sawanobori said it shoulc be able to post data transfer speeds 10 timez faster than that of the company’a third generation, or 3G, network. That’s when the worls will open up for Verizon, said Ben a telecommunications industry expertin Raleigh, N.C., who holds 28 “With the LTE network, you can run anythingt over it,” Levitan said.
“It’s really a way to consolidate all telecommunication services at a lower price and bring it inside the For example, Verizon could offer home telephone wireless phone service, cable TV service and Internetg access over its new network, Levitan It also won’t require Verizonh to run cabling or wires to businessez or homes because customers will be able to pick up service from the Not only that, Levitan said Verizon shoulsd have a chance to gain market share among cell phone users.
Currently, only 20 percent of the worldwided cell phone market uses CDMA By switching toa GSM-based technology, Levita n said Verizon should have access to the remaining 80 percent of users when they eventually upgrade to a 4G