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Verizon Wireless Expands 3G Network in Wisconsin
[January 22, 2007]

Verizon Wireless Expands 3G Network in Wisconsin


TMCnet Contributing Editor
 
Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless announced Monday the expansion of its wireless network, dubbed the Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network, to the Green Bay and Fox Cities area in Wisconsin (specifically in Oshkosh, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac). The mobile operator is also offering coverage in the greater Milwaukee and Madison areas.


 
This latest network expansion will allow Verizon Wireless subscribers to access the following two services: BroadbandAccess, the company's high-speed wireless service, with reported average user speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second; and V CAST, a multimedia service that offers music and short content on demand, including 3D games, music videos, news, weather and sports.
 
With the EV-DO expansion, Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess and V CAST service coverage now spans approximately 7,500 square miles around Wisconsin. Coverage covers the following communities and major highways:  
  • The cities of Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac and the surrounding communities along U.S. Highways 41 and 45.

  • From Fond du Lac, coverage extends to the communities surrounding U.S. Highway 151 southwest into Madison.
  • Along Interstate 43 south from Green Bay to Milwaukee, comprising the cities of Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Port Washington and communities surrounding those areas.

  • The mobile operator expanded the EV-DO coverage to span within the Madison area north along Interstate 90/94 northwest to the Wisconsin Dells, as well as along Interstate 39 north to Portage and south through the cities of Janesville and Beloit.

  • From Beloit, coverage has been expanded along I-43 northeast to U.S. Highway 12, and comprises the cities of Delavan, Elkhorn and Lake Geneva.

  • In southeastern Wisconsin, EV-DO coverage now comprises all of Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.
"Our BroadbandAccess service gives our business customers three key advantages in wireless communication, speed, mobility and security," said T.J. Fox, president–Wisconsin/Illinois region for Verizon Wireless, in a statement.
 
Fox continued: "With these advantages comes an increase in productivity and bottom-line business benefits. Wisconsin is a vital market with dynamic, tech-savvy businesses and consumers. The launch of our broadband network here provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology."
 
Today's news follows Verizon Wireless' recent announcement about investing nearly $195 million across the pond to enhance its operations in the state of Michigan during 2006. The mobile operator reportedly used this amount to fund the development of 175 new cell sites, equipment upgrades, the expansion of its high-speed wireless network, and the improvement of its new network facility system.
 
The mobile operator upgraded the equipment on all of its existing cell sites and installed backup generators for emergencies and service outages.
 
Verizon Wireless has reportedly invested $923 million over the past seven years on improvements to its network in Michigan, including upgrades made last year.
 
Want to learn more about wireless communications? Then, be sure to check out TMCnet’s Whitepaper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.
 
Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page.
 
 


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