Telecom major Verizon Wireless has rolled out 4G / LTE in 500 markets.
Parkersburg, W.Va. has become the 500th market to receive 4G services from Verizon Wireless.
Verizon on Thursday said its 4G is available to more than 95 percent of the population.
The 500th market is also indicating the fact Verizon’s initial 4G LTE build-out is now substantially complete.
Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network covers more than 298 million people in the U.S. and more than 99 percent of the company’s 3G network footprint.
For comparison, AT&T’s 4G network covers more than 292 million people in the U.S.
According to ABI Research, in 2016 there will be 103 million 4G wholesale subscribers – subscribers managed through a MVNO that buys wholesale access from a mobile operator – for mobile operators, an increase from just 3.8 million in 2010. 4G wholesale business will help to further widen the mobile device market, encompassing new and existing mobile devices, as well as play an important role for mobile CE devices.
4G Americas reports that the U.S. and Canada added 58 million HSPA and LTE mobile broadband connections annually in the first quarter of 2013, which translates to mobile broadband now comprising 49 percent of all mobile connections in the region.
Worldwide, LTE racked up an annual growth rate higher than 400 percent at the end of March 2013, ending the quarter with more than 90 million connections, and that number grew by May to more than 100 million connections.
