User:VZBob/Verizon Wireless Network

Network
Verizon Wireless operates a 4G LTE network, which, as of January 2016, covers about 97 percent of the U.S. Verizon began its initial tests for the 4G LTE network in 2008 in order to move from older-generation mobile communications technologies to the emerging global standard. In December 2010, Verizon Wireless launched a fledgling 4G LTE network in 38 markets. The service provider bought spectrum from the country's biggest cable companies, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks in 2012 to improve its data network across the U.S. The new capacity allowed Verizon to launch what it calls XLTE, providing more capacity in congested areas such as Los Angeles and New York City. By 2014, Verizon Wireless' LTE network covered more than 300 million potential customers.

Because 4G LTE is a data-transmitting network, Verizon customers' voice calls were still carried over the company's CDMA network, which was developed for 2G and 3G cellphones. In September 2014, Verizon launched voice over LTE (VoLTE), commonly referred to as VoLTE; this allowed voice calls to transmit via the data-only LTE network. As of August 2015, nearly 4 million of Verizon's 103.7 million subscribers used VoLTE.

By fall 2015, all 21 partners in Verizon's LTE in Rural America program had launched the high-speed data network. Under this program, partners lease spectrum from Verizon Wireless and connect to the company's network. The Rural America program covers 2.7 million potential users over 225,000 miles in 169 rural counties.

A report by RootMetrics on carrier performance in the first half of 2015 ranked Verizon's network as the best in overall national performance, network reliability, network speed, data performance and call performance. For the second half of 2015, RootMetrics's RootScore Report ranked Verizon Wireless No. 1 in overall performance, network speed, network reliability, call performance and data performance. Verizon Wireless and AT&T tied for first in text performance.

Verizon Wireless announced in September 2015 that it was developing its 5G, or fifth generation, network. In the prior month, Verizon created small areas to test the 5G technology in Massachusetts and California. As of 2016, Verizon is one of two major nationwide cellphone companies supporting CDMA (code division multiple access) technology, which served as the basis for Verizon Wireless' network prior to 4G LTE.