Verizon adds cell sites along I-75

[Andy]

Verizon Wireless has built five new cell phone sites along Interstate 75 in North Florida between the Georgia state line and I-10.

Verizon officials said the new sites will provide improved service for residents and travelers along I-75.

"In addition, they will help improve public safety in many situations, such as evacuations during hurricanes or other emergencies," said Pam Tope, Florida region president of Verizon Wireless.

Customers using BroadbandAccess, Verizon's business data service, will have average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second to 1.4 megabits per second.

Verizon has now invested more than $1.6 billion to improve its Florida network over the past seven years.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonvi...4/daily31.html

[RJB]

This will be great with my future travel plans.

[Quint101]

Sweet!!! Nice to know that Verizon decided to actually put its 1900 licenses to use. Folks won't have to have a data plan to use VZNavigator or other GIN services... maybe an expansion into Valdosta and other Alltel areas is imminent.

[Andy]

So I assume Verizon relied on ALLTEL to fill in their interstate coverage gaps in those areas?
I figured this would interest you, Quint, lol.

[RJB]

Originally Posted by Andy So I assume Verizon relied on ALLTEL to fill in their interstate coverage gaps in those areas? I figured this would interest you, Quint, lol.

Yeah in fact when you posted this we talk ed about how much Quint would like this lol.

[Quint101]

If only they'd push beyond the state line... i guess with time, they will. And yes, Alltel is the primary roamer in our region along with Sprint.

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by Quint101 If only they'd push beyond the state line... i guess with time, they will. And yes, Alltel is the primary roamer in our region along with Sprint.

Well, according to their maps, they finally pushed across the state line on I-75! Verizon has Valdosta as native service and EVDO high speed. From what I can tell from the maps, they also connected Thomasville and Valdosta via PCS sites as well.

I havent seen any press releases as of yet, but it should come out any day now I entered a 31601 to see whether they offer service... no dice yet. I dont think they would launch a new network with EVDO without selling the service.

Perhaps Alltel was making a killing off of Verizon in Valdosta since all other companies have their own sites... building sites was worth it to Verizon. I am just glad that they are not sitting idle anymore

Nice job Verizon... where will they go to next?

[bambam]

They also added some sites in the FL panhandle along US 98 between Tallahassee and St. George Island ( Eastpont ) .

[Quint101]

Originally Posted by bambam They also added some sites in the FL panhandle along US 98 between Tallahassee and St. George Island ( Eastpont ) .

I saw that... I wanted to go camping there to test out the service... but my church decided to go to Madison instead

At least Verizon is expanding in Florida, slowly but surely I remeember when only Tallahassee proper had EVDO... Evdo died at the county line going south.