LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless,
a technology leader with the nation's largest and most reliable 4G
LTE network, has beefed up its network at Churchill Downs with new
"small cell" technology and other upgrades to handle the burgeoning
traffic generated by the hundreds of thousands of Derby week guests
who want to share messages, photos and videos via their wireless
devices. On Derby day 2014, 4G LTE traffic on the Verizon Wireless
network increased 224 percent over Derby day 2013, and Verizon
customers consumed 1.37 terabytes of data.
"Small cells are an integral part of Verizon's commitment to the
customer experience to stay ahead of the growing demand for mobile
data by boosting capacity," said Lauren
Love-Wright, Verizon Wireless region president for
Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. "This technology adds 4G LTE
capacity in important high traffic areas so that our customers can
share the fastest two minutes in racing, especially on social
media."
Verizon has installed nearly a dozen small cells around
Churchill Downs to expand the capacity of existing Verizon cells
sites near the grounds. Verizon also will deploy mobile assets in
2015 including a COW or "cell on wheels," and a COLT or "cell on
light truck." In addition, Verizon added XLTE capacity – which
utilizes Verizon's AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) spectrum to
deliver faster peak speeds and at least double the bandwidth to 4G
LTE customers.
In 2014, Verizon collaborated with Mobilitie to deploy a
Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at Churchill Downs. This year the
DAS will receive additional upgrades, including 21 new antennas to
improve coverage and balance traffic.
"With the Derby coming up, the additional capacity we are
deploying will ensure that fans can count on their Verizon mobile
devices to share emails, texts, pictures and videos of this
quintessential Kentucky
experience," said Love-Wright.
Every year, Verizon network test drive team members drive
roughly 1 million miles across the country, including in
Louisville, in specially equipped
vehicles to conduct more than 3 million voice call attempts and
more than 12 million data tests to compare the performance of the
Verizon network with competitors' networks.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the
nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network. As the
largest wireless company in the U.S., Verizon Wireless serves 106.2
million retail customers, including 100.1 million retail postpaid
customers. Verizon Wireless is wholly owned by Verizon
Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ). For more information,
visit www.verizonwireless.com. For the latest news and
updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at
http://www.verizonwireless.com/news or follow us on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/VZWNews.
About Verizon Wireless in Kentucky
In Kentucky, Verizon Wireless has 150 employees
and more than 200 locations, including company-owned retail stores,
indirect agents and national retailers.
For Verizon Wireless Updates on Twitter
For the
latest news about Verizon Wireless in Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan, follow @VZWTrevor. For the
latest on products, corporate initiatives and perspectives, follow
@VZWnews on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWnews. For more
news and stories specific to the Verizon Wireless Midwest Area,
visit and subscribe to our blog: http://vzwmidwestarea.com/.
CONTACT:
Trevor
Thomas, Verizon Wireless
248-915-3680
Trevor.Thomas@VerizonWireless.com
or
McKenzi Loid
502-625-1638
mckenzi@GuthrieMayes.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/derby-crowds-to-benefit-from-verizon-network-upgrades-at-churchill-downs-300068614.html
SOURCE Verizon Wireless