Level 3 Communications announced it is providing Verizon Wireless with backbone infrastructure and cell-site backhaul solutions to support its ongoing rollout of its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.
Driven by the proliferation of rich applications and video on smartphones, tablets, laptops and e-readers, Verizon Wireless will rely on Level 3’s nationwide fiber-optic network and responsive team to meet the growing demand for mobile data. Level 3 helps Wireless build the network headroom and redundancy needed to accommodate the projected network growth tied to its 4G LTE network rollout.
“Customers demand for mobile data is growing exponentially, and we are expanding the reach of our 4G LTE network to ensure we meet that need,” said Nicki Palmer, VP, Verizon Wireless Network. Level 3’s technology will help us provide our 4G LTE customers with a mobile experience that is fast, reliable and rich with content is also supporting cell-site backhaul requirements in a number of rural markets in New England and the Western United States for Verizon Wireless by leveraging its recently launched Tower Access solution that combines connectivity to existing cell towers with a mix of new on-site tower construction and colocation at Level 3 sites.
“Wireless consumers and enterprise users demand the ability to be connected to everything, everywhere, all the time – something we’ve been ready to handle for years,” said Andrew Crouch, president of Sales for Level 3. Starting over a decade ago, we designed a network from the ground up to handle evolving and growing data needs. Verizon Wireless is leveraging our technologies to build one of the world’s most advanced wireless networks.”
Verizon Wireless expects 4G LTE average data rates to be 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world, loaded network environments. These speeds are significantly faster than current or promised 3G network speeds. To date, Verizon Wireless has announced that consumer and business customers in at least 147 U.S. cities will have access to the fastest, most advanced 4G mobile network in America by the end of 2011.
Level 3’s scalable, continuously upgradable network supports today’s applications and lays the foundation for tomorrow’s IP-centric wireless infrastructures.
