In its quest to boost LTE capacity, Verizon will reportedly on May 19 launch its AWS LTE network, branded XLTE.
Droid Life cited unnamed sources confirming the reveal date and that the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8 would be able to grab hold of the network straight away.
Verizon customers in AWS markets should see up to twice the LTE capacity and faster peak speeds, according to the report.
After being the first to substantially complete its nationwide LTE rollout, Verizon has experienced some capacity shortages in major markets. At an investor conference last year, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said part of the carrier’s plan to address the issue was deploying more LTE on AWS spectrum.
Last year, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said the carrier hopes to deploy on AWS in 50 markets by the middle of 2014. In March, CTO Nicola Palmer told Re/Code that the number of AWS-equipped Verizon cell sites will triple this year.
To that end, Verizon has been busy acquiring AWS licenses. In January, Verizon agreed to sell 39 lower 700 MHz B Block licenses to AT&T in exchange for $1.9 billion and some 10 MHz AWS licenses covering markets like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Portland, Oregon.