Verizon LTE test speed: 50 Mbps max

Verizon Wireless said the throughput speeds it is seeing in its LTE network tests are topping out at between 40 Mbps and 50 Mbps. The figures are the latest update from the carrier as it speeds along toward commercial deployment of the next-generation network technology later this year.

The nation's largest carrier also said the tests, being conducted in Boston and Seattle, were producing peak upload speeds of between 20 Mbps and 25 Mbps.

However, Verizon's average LTE network speeds for real-world use did not change from numbers it provided late last year. The company maintains that the network will be able to produce average downlink speeds of 5-12 Mbps and average upload speeds of 2-5 Mbps. Verizon plans to launch 25-30 commercial LTE markets this year, covering around 100 million POPs. Next year the carrier plans to double that number of markets.

The company has been aggressive in promoting its first-mover advantage on LTE in the North American market. Though TeliaSonera already launched commercial LTE service in Scandinavia, Verizon is poised to be the first to launch the service in the United States. Rival AT&T Mobility plans to launch the service next year, while MetroPCS has said it will launch its own LTE service in the second half of this year.

In an interview with Network World, Verizon Wireless CTO Tony Melone said the carrier is "going to be aggressive in our plan to get to critical mass" in LTE. He also said that, as the company fills out its LTE network, it will bring the 4G service to places where it does not have 3G coverage today.

For more:
- see this release
- see this Phone Scoop article

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