PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — A major announcement in Parkersburg Thursday by Verizon Wireless. That city become the network’s 500th market to provide 4G LTE service.
Verizon made it official at a news conference at 10 a.m. at the Blennerhassett Hotel.
Verizon first rolled out it’s 4G LTE network in 2010 in major cities across the country. It provides faster high-speed data. The company’s Chief Network Officer Nicki Palmer said the addition of Parkersburg to the network is a major milestone.
“We’ve aggressively rolled out our 4G LTE network, completing our initial build out in about half the time it took to build our 3G network,” according to Palmer.
It was just last October that Verizon hit the 400 market milestone.
“In eight months time, we have added another 100 new markets to our nationwide 4G LTE footprint. That brings us to a total of 500 markets.”
Mark Frazier, the president of Verizon’s West Virginia region, said the company is already offering 4G technology in many cities across the state including Charleston, where emergency responders are tapping into the technology to save lives.
“We’re using this technology in the field, transmitting crucial patient data from the Kanawha County Ambulance Authority to the hospital personnel, in real time,” according to Frazier.
He said the network is also using the 4G capability when it comes to long distance learning and expanding coverage to places like Alaska where 3G service was never even available.