Verizon Announces Florida’s First 4G LTE “C.O.W.”

Florida residents will start seeing a healthier 4G signal at major sporting/entertainment events or in denser LTE market areas starting now. Verizon is beefing up their network with the unveiling of the area’s first 4G LTE C.O.W. (Cell On Wheels) mobile tower. These machines pack a serious punch and weigh in at about 24,000 pounds while flaunting a telescoping antenna tower.

The newborn C.O.W. will be deployed to targeted locations across the state when demand for wireless coverage and services spikes, including championship sports events, tourist destinations or large festivals.  It also will be available to reinforce the most advanced 4G LTE wireless services for emergency responders and to the public in areas hit hard by a hurricane or other crisis.

The mobile unit is designed to handle hundreds of simultaneous voice calls and 4G LTE data transmissions such as photo and video messages, music and app downloads, internet surfing and more.

This thing looks like a ton of fun. If only I could fit one in my driveway. 

FLORIDA’S FIRST 4G LTE C.O.W. IS BORN

Delivery Boosts High-Speed Coverage, Reliability for Businesses and Residents

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — Verizon Wireless proudly announced today the delivery of the company’s first 4G LTE C.O.W. (Fourth Generation Long-term Evolution Cell On Wheels) in Florida to bring the joy of reinforced high-speed wireless capabilities to its customers.

Delivered at the Verizon Wireless “super-switch” facility in Pembroke Pines, the new 4G LTE C.O.W. weighs in at a healthy 24,000 pounds and measures 1,080 inches, including its telescoping antenna tower.

The newborn C.O.W. will be deployed to targeted locations across the state when demand for wireless coverage and services spikes, including championship sports events, tourist destinations or large festivals.  It also will be available to reinforce the most advanced 4G LTE wireless services for emergency responders and to the public in areas hit hard by a hurricane or other crisis.

The mobile unit is designed to handle hundreds of simultaneous voice calls and 4G LTE data transmissions such as photo and video messages, music and app downloads, internet surfing and more.

“With so many 4G LTE markets here in Florida, and with the frequent special events we have here, it’s natural that we deliver the first 4G LTE C.O.W.,” said Frank Wise, executive network director for Verizon Wireless.  “We’re very proud of this new baby, and glowing about our 4G LTE services around the state.”

Verizon Wireless already has launched 4G LTE high-speed services in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Sarasota-Bradenton, Daytona Beach and Lakeland.  Fort Myers will initiate the service later this month, and Verizon Wireless plans to upgrade 100 percent of its wireless network to 4G LTE by the end of 2013.

This 4G LTE network provides customers with wireless data speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network. These speeds allow for smooth mobile video-conferencing, multiple video streams, faster transfer of large files, downloading and running powerful programs, machine-to-machine communications, and other applications to improve efficiency and productivity wirelessly.

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. Already, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE has won numerous technology and consumer choice awards.

The company’s 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 and improved in-building penetration.

The new 4G LTE C.O.W., with siblings soon to come, is designed to further enhance the strength and reliability of this Verizon Wireless network.

For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE. 

(Editor’s Note: Media representatives who wish to view the new 4G LTE C.O.W., or to tour a network facility such as the Pembroke Pines super-switch, should contact Chuck Hamby at 813-615-4803 or chuck.hamby@verizonwireless.com.)

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE 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, visitwww.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.