Verizon bumps up 19 more cities to 4G LTE network

Verizon Wireless on Tuesday announced it would be adding 19 more U.S. cities to its list of locations with faster 4G LTE data service, bumping the total number of supported metropolitan areas up to 74. The new cities will be turned on Thursday.

The development will help No. 1 U.S. carrier Verizon keep technologically ahead of No. 2 provider AT&T, which intends to launch 4G LTE in 5 markets this summer.

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“On Thursday when we light up 19 additional 4G LTE markets, we will offer consumers and businesses in 74 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless, in a statement. “We are aggressively expanding our 4G LTE network: by the end of 2013 we plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area.”

New Verizon 4G cities include Fresno and Sacramento, Calif.; Hartford, Conn.; Boise, Idaho; Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Ind.; Flint, Grand Rapids and Lansing, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Erie, Harrisburg and State College, Pa.; Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah; Spokane, Wash.; and Madison and Milwaukee. The company will also be expanding its 4G coverage in San Francisco and Detroit on the same date.

Verizon’s 4G roll-out speed has been impressive, as it only started covering cities in December 2010. Comparably, Sprint offers 4G WiMAX service in 77 U.S. cities, but started its initial roll out in late 2008.

Have you used Verizon 4G service yet? Has it improved your Verizon experience?