Verizon Wireless is expanding LTE services to two new areas in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota. The operator’s LTE network is now available in 117 US cities, covering more than 160 million Americans, or half of the US population. Verizon’s LTE users can expect average downlink rates of 5-12 Mbps and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink. The operator aims to cover more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011 and provide LTE services throughout its entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.

Seamus Hyland, Verizon Wireless president of the Great Plains Region, today announced that the company is launching the world’s first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in Fargo, N.D. and Moorhead, Minn. on Sept. 15. Already, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is available in 117 cities across the United States, covering more than 160 million Americans or half the U.S. population. With the new market launch, residents in the greater Fargo/Moorhead area with 4G LTE devices will be able to take advantage of speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network. Verizon 4G LTE smartphones are twice as fast as any AT&T smartphone.

“The incredible speed of the 4G LTE network is something that the Fargo/Moorhead residents and businesses need to experience to see how the latest technology will change how we work and play,” said Seamus Hyland, president–Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless.

Residents of the Fargo/Moorhead area can choose from an array of devices on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network including:

• Smartphones: Revolution™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC
• Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 with 4G LTE
• Notebooks and Netbooks: HP® Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC and Compaq™ Mini CQ10-688nr with built-in 4G LTE
• Hotspots: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi™ 4510L and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot SCH-LC11
• Modems: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE USB Modem 551L and Pantech UML290 USB Modem

Details on all of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE devices can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE.
In real-world, fully loaded network environments, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. Verizon Wireless introduced its 4G LTE network on Dec. 5, 2010, covering more than 110 million Americans, and in just eight months expanded to cover more than half the U.S. population. The company plans to continue rapidly expanding its 4G LTE network and is on course to cover more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011 and its entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.
As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy a large-scale 4G LTE network, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G LTE network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized, and in less than eight months since launch, has won numerous technology and consumer choice awards. Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G LTE, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.
Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. Coverage maps will be available at launch Sept. 15 for the Fargo/Moorhead area.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.