Verizon Wireless, like all of the major carriers, is continuously working on the state of its 5G network, and July brought upgrades to several markets throughout the country.
The upgrades, first spotted and rounded up by Droid-Life, utilizes a mix of its millimeter wave spectrum, which is a super high frequency airwave that allows for huge data speeds but limited range, and the so-called C-band spectrum, which operates at a slower frequency but offers a nice mix of range and speed.
Verizon is in a race with rivals T-Mobile and AT&T to bulk up its 5G services. While the hype over 5G has faded, there’s an expectation from consumers that their wireless service should be faster and more comprehensive. That’s not always the case, which is why the carriers keep working on their networks.
Verizon said it now covers 75% of Washington D.C. residents, including those in parts of the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery, Old Town Alexandria, and parts of Georgetown Waterfront and Tyson’s Corner. Other big markert like Cleveland and Providence, RI, got upgrades too.
Verizon says the upgrades allows for up to 10 times the amount of data to travel through the wireless network to significantly increase the data carried to and from cell sites. The result are higher download and upload speeds for you.
The company also added more cell sites to further expand coverage to communities. While the airwaves are a critical part of delivering wireless service, just as important are physical lines that bring that data from the cell tower to the central servers. In that area, Verizon added more capacity to the fiber-optic cables to ensure that its network could handle more data.
Tests run by RootMetrics reported a 76% median increase in download speed while upload speeds increased by 18%. Not all Verizon customers will see the same increases as the speed tests were done using the newest devices.
Households and businesses using Verizon’s network will be better equipped to watch real-time video, data analysis, and Augmented Reality, all of which require massive computing capabilities. The upgrades accommodate current wireless devices but also prep Verizon’s network for upcoming tech advancements.
Here’s a breakdown of where the upgrades have been rolled out:
- Akron, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Daytona, FL
- Lansing, MI
- Port St. Lucie, FL
- Providence, RI
- Richmond, VA
- Washington DC
- Youngstown, OH
- Barbourville
- Bowling Green
- Butler
- Carrollton
- Corinth
- Dry Ridge
- Falmouth
- Fort Knox
- LaGrange
- Lexington
- Mt. Washington
- Owensboro
- Paducah
- Richmond
- Shepherdsville
- Versailles
- Warsaw
- Winchester
- Saginaw
- Bay City
- Holland
- Kalamazoo
- Jackson
- Lansing
- Battle Creek
- Wayland
- Muskegon
- Rockford
- Benton Harbor
- Midland
- Owosso
- Oscoda
- Clare
- Clio