Verizon on Monday said it expanded the reach of its XLTE technology to 13 new markets in the first quarter.
The carrier said the service, which it said essentially doubles network bandwidth, was launched in Alpena, Ironwood and Petoskey, Mich., Lewiston-Auburn and Waterville/Augusta, Maine, McCook, Neb., Oneonta, N.Y., Pottsville-Frackville, Pa., Roseburg, Ore., Tupelo-Corinth and Vicksburg, Miss., Victoria, Texas and Wausau/Rhinelander, Wisc. The additions bring the total number of markets with XLTE technology to 466, Verizon said.
According to Verizon, the 49 phones in its XLTE-enabled lineup have access to extra capacity on the carrier’s AWS spectrum in addition to its regular 700 MHz airwaves.
Verizon said its LTE in Rural America (LRA) partner Bluegrass Cellular has also started to roll out XLTE network coverage to its network in central Kentucky.
LRA program participants, including Bluegrass, use 700 MHz upper C Block spectrum leased from Verizon. Verizon said it is now also leasing its AWS-1 spectrum to LRA participants to enable the launch of XLTE services where needed.