Verizon Wireless Expands Network Coverage into Litchfield County, CT

[jones]

Monday May 17, 5:21 pm ET
13 New Cell Sites Significantly Improve Service and Coverage for Wireless Phone Users


EAST HARTFORD, Conn., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless has expanded its extensive wireless network to now serve Litchfield County. The company has built and activated 13 new cell sites, and has plans to add more before the summer is out. The network buildout follows the $750 million purchase of wireless spectrum in markets across the country last year.
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These new cell sites will provide coverage in the greater Torrington area along Route 8 from Thomaston to Torrington, along Route 44 from Collinsville to New Hartford, along Route 202 from New Hartford North to just south of Torrington and along Route 4 between Highway 72 and Route 8.

Of the 13 new sites, two are in Collinsville, four in Harwinton, four in Torrington, two in Plymouth, and one in New Hartford. Verizon Wireless is also adding new equipment to existing cell sites in Waterbury, Bristol and Canton.

"A wireless phone is only as good as the network it's on and we're pleased to provide this enhancement to our service in Litchfield County," said Bob Stott, president of Verizon Wireless' New England Region. "Our network expansion will allow us to better meet the growing needs of businesses and consumers' voice calls and data applications, like our two-way text messaging and picture messaging services, high-speed NationalAccess(SM) wireless Internet service and Get it Now® downloadable applications," added Stott.

Verizon Wireless invests more than $1 billion every 90 days in its nationwide network, to offer customers the most extensive wireless voice and data network in the United States.

In other telecommunications news, on Monday, May 24, wireless customers across the country will be able to switch wireless carriers and keep their wireless phone number as part of the second phase of local number portability. Last November, customers in the top 100 markets were able to switch carriers and hold onto their existing wireless phone numbers. On May 24, customers in the remaining markets will have that option.

[rich6880]

Litchfield County is in Northwest CT. It is not very densly populated, but it gets many visitors, each year. It is the location of a very beautiful and large garden center and flower nursery. The expansion of service into this area will be welcomed by many residents and visitors.

[agentHibby]

looks like they took care the highway for travelers

[Jerseyphoneguy]

Do other carriers have service in Litchfield county?

[bobolito]

Yes, AT&T and Cingular have service there. Verizon used to roam on AT&T, I believe. Now, with Verizon's 13 new 1900Mhz towers they won't need to roam anymore (hehe)

Sprint and T-Mobile have very limited coverage there. I wonder what streets they cover.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by bobolito

Sprint and T-Mobile have very limited coverage there. I wonder what streets they cover.

lol!

[GJMOO7]

Since when does verizon wireless have 1900mhz towers? I thought they only
had 800mhz and roamed off sprint pcs 1900mhz towers. Is this something new
or did i miss something?

[jones]

When they merge w/ GTE and when they bought the Northcoast PCS License.

[bobolito]

Verizon has many 1900Mhz licenses across the country, especially in Florida.

[agentHibby]

Originally Posted by jones

When they merge w/ GTE and when they bought the Northcoast PCS License.

GTE was April 3rd 2000
Northcoast deal was completed one year ago.
ALL of Texas (expect Huston metro Cellular/PCS) and Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida native coverage is all PCS 1900 MHZ.

[momcat1]

Originally Posted by jones

Monday May 17, 5:21 pm ET
13 New Cell Sites Significantly Improve Service and Coverage for Wireless Phone Users ....

Yeah, but it seems like they borrowed off existing connections. Danbury isn't so bullet proof any more (actual get occasional 'no service' where it used to be 4 bars 24/7.

[iGlenn]

Originally Posted by momcat1

Yeah, but it seems like they borrowed off existing connections. Danbury isn't so bullet proof any more (actual get occasional 'no service' where it used to be 4 bars 24/7.

You getting no service in Danbury would have nothing to do with VZW turning on Litchfield County. It's either your phone or a network/capacity issue in Danbury.

[NYCDru]

This begs the question...Did VZW get another 10Mhz in NYC?

And if so...Very coool.

If not...they REALY need it.

[agentHibby]

That would be nice NYCDru,
As you know they just have the 10 MHZ from the Northcoast deal. The only way they can get more PCS air space is getting some from Nextwave they have 30 MHz in New York and they are keeping 100% right now. I don't think Verizon and Nextwave get along that well so I don't know if it will happen.

[SQFreak]

NextWave is keeping all 30MHz of the NYC license, so don't expect it to be going anywhere any time soon. They'll keep it and maybe do stuff with it.

VZW has 10MHz PCS in NYC under the name Cellco Partnership, FCC Callsign KNLH264. Expect PCS coverage in NYC soon, higher in priority than the cellside licenses but at the same priority level. That should help with capacity.

They seemed to be doing OK at Newark Liberty when I was there on Monday.

[agentHibby]

Most know this:
Cellco Partnership is Verizon Wireless real name
Actually there is no company in the US named Verizon Wireless. Cellco just does business as Verizon Wireless

Their is no company named Sprint PCS. Sprint Spectrum {formerly wirelessco} does business as Sprint PCS.

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

Most know this:
Cellco Partnership is Verizon Wireless real name
Actually there is no company in the US named Verizon Wireless. Cellco just does business as Verizon Wireless

Their is no company named Sprint PCS. Sprint Spectrum {formerly wirelessco} does business as Sprint PCS.

In business terms, they are considered affiliates.

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by SQFreak

NextWave is keeping all 30MHz of the NYC license, so don't expect it to be going anywhere any time soon. They'll keep it and maybe do stuff with it.

...and that's very unfortunate. With so many companies needing the spectrum, Nextwave just keeps on squatting 30Mhz of very valuable spectrum and basically refusing to pay for it, keeping extra competition from entering the market and not providing their own service. I am glad the FCC pulled the plug on them.

[NYCDru]

1.) VZW NEEDS to use that 10Mhz cause this is NY and the "Everyone knows Verizon is #1 in NYC, all other cariers are garbage" mindahre marketing plan has worked FAR too well in such a small location.

2.) If VZW needs it don't be suyprised if they either Buy it from or Hostile takeover Nextave....wait...they will need it for EV-DO, yeah, watch for VZW to get the spectrum by hook or crook from Nextwave.

[cryogenic]

I find this rather amusing.... The whole Nextwave fiasco has tied up so much spectrum for so long, it's not even funny.... I found an article on computerworld.com here
that was written just after Nextwave was awarded the licenses BACK after the FCC had taken them away. Two quotes in the article amused me, to say the least...

"This valuable spectrum, tied up in the courts and thus left fallow for far too long, can now be put to use delivering wireless service to America's consumers."
from Tom Wheeler, president and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association. Also, CEO of Nextwave had the following to say:
All sides will benefit from "getting the licenses into use as quickly as possible to provide service to the public and help fuel economic recovery".

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but the spectrum was first won by Nextwave in 1996. It's 2004. Nobody seems to have built much of anything (if anything at all) in any of the spectrum that was originally auctioned off..... Forgive me if I'm behind, but did Nextwave sell off SOME of the licenses at all? Or are they still squatting on all that spectrum?

Edit: Looks like Cingular has tried to get 34 markets off Nextwave's hands, but as of yet, the licenses haven't officially changed hands?

[rich6880]

A little off topic, but to give a few facts about this part of CT. Litchfield County is in the Nortwestern portion of CT. It has beautiful rolling hills and landscape. Its most well known inhabitatnt if White Flower Farms. Acres of flowers and landscaping plants. Winter comes very eary in this part of the State. Large snowfalls late October to early May is not unheard of.

Sp****ly populated, but many visitors to the Flower Farm, beginning in Spring Until late Fall.

I do not know what these new cell towers look like, and they are sorely needed, but I hope that they do not destroy the pristine beauty of this area.

[Rasputin]

Glad to hear about the expansion I remember roaming on Analog there a while back.