Verizon Wireless reinforced its position as the industry’s top dog regarding the rollout of high-speed wireless data services, announcing the recent expansion of its CDMA2000 1x EV-DO based BroadbandAccess service to 43 markets covering more than 100 million potential customers.
During the past several weeks, the carrier, which first launched commercial EV-DO capabilities in San Diego and Washington, D.C., in late 2003, has added its BroadbandAccess service in Indianapolis; St. Louis; Seattle; San Antonio; Portland, Ore.; and Richmond, Va., as well as expanded the reach of its current network in parts of Texas and Atlanta. Verizon Wireless now offers EV-DO services in 33 of the nation’s top 50 markets and is ahead of its previous schedule to cover more than 150 million pops by the end of the year.
Verizon Wireless began the year by expanding EV-DO network coverage to 32 markets and 75 million pops followed by the launch of its consumer-friendly Vcast service. Since then, the carrier has gradually been turning on additional markets and is expected to announce the next phase of deployments as early as this week.
Verizon Wireless claims its BroadbandAccess network provides average data speeds of between 400 kilobits per second and 700 kbps with peak speeds of up to 2 megabits per second. Independent testing has borne out Verizon Wireless’ claims, with average throughput measured at nearly 400 kbps in both mobile and fringe locations.
While the carrier has taken a low-key approach to its most recent network expansion, analysts note the move is important ahead of rival Sprint Corp.’s plan to launch similar EV-DO services within the next several weeks. Sprint has said it plans to cover 60 markets and 130 million pops by early next year.
“If anything, this expansion helps place attention on Verizon Wireless’ lead in 3G on the eve of Sprint’s own EV-DO launch,” said Suzanna Ellyn, senior wireless analyst at Current Analysis Inc.
Ellyn added that to combat Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO expansion, Sprint should try to match the 100 million pops covered as quickly as possible, as well as speed up its year-end coverage goals to more closely align with its larger competitor.
Verizon Wireless has also maintained pressure on rivals with devices. The carrier last week launched the Samsung Corp. SCH-i730 smart phone into select business channels to go along with its Audiovox VX6600 smart phone, a trio of PC cards and three Vcast-enabled handsets. In addition to EV-DO capabilities, the new Samsung device supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology.
Sprint recently launched its second EV-DO-compatible PC card and has said it expects to have at least four Asian-sourced EV-DO handsets available for its high-speed wireless data network.
Cingular Wireless L.L.C. currently offers UMTS-based services in six markets that it gained when it acquired AT&T Wireless Services Inc. last year. The carrier said it plans to offer UMTS/HSDPA-based high-speed wireless data service in as many as 20 markets by the end of this year and expand service across most of its network by the end of 2006.
T-Mobile USA Inc. has said it plans to deploy UMTS services within the next two years pending additional spectrum acquisitions and is expected to expand EDGE capabilities later this year.
