Verizon Wireless appears to be moving forward on its previously stated plans to begin refarming 1.9 GHz spectrum to support its LTE service. According to GigaOm, a network spotter sporting a spectrum analyzer in New York City recently found a portion of Verizon Wireless 1.9 GHz spectrum supporting LTE services. The carrier has to this point used all of its 1.9 GHz spectrum to support legacy 3G data services using CDMA2000 1x EV-DO technology.
A Verizon Wireless spokeswoman told GigaOm’s Kevin Fitchard that the carrier was indeed beginning to test LTE services using the 1.9 GHz band, though it did not have any additional details to provide. Verizon Communications CEO Lowell McAdam earlier this year told an investor conference that Verizon Wireless would begin looking at refarming spectrum in the 850 MHz and 1.9 GHz bands that currently support legacy CDMA services “into 2015 and beyond.” Verizon Wireless currently supports its LTE service with spectrum in the 700 MHz and 1.7/2.1 GHz bands, which in most markets totals around 40 megahertz.
However, with a majority of its data traffic now running over its LTE network, the carrier is looking to continue bolstering LTE capacity. One sticking point for Verizon Wireless’ refarming efforts remains the tens-of-millions of customers that still do not have LTE-enabled handsets and thus rely on the legacy CDMA network for all services. The carrier has aggressively moved to migrate customers to devices that at least support LTE-based data services, with only a token number of new devices offered that are CDMA-only. The carrier earlier this year opened up its LTE network to prepaid services in a move to foster greater migration from its CDMA network.
Furthering its CDMA-migration plans, Verizon Wireless recently launched voice-over-LTE services that allow the carrier to move voice traffic over its LTE network. Currently, VoLTE device support is very limited, but the move paves the way for Verizon Wireless to begin transferring voice traffic that is limited to its 850 MHz-based CDMA network to LTE and allow the eventual refarming of the cellular band to support LTE. Verizon Wireless is also participating in the ongoing Federal Communications Commission Auction 97 proceedings, where companies have so far bid a record amount for spectrum licenses in the 1.7/2.1 GHz band.
Bored? Why not follow me on Twitter
