Verizon Wireless announced that it plans to use it's block of the 700 Megahertz spectrum to build out its LTE (Long Term Evolution) network. This is their next-generation wireless broadband answer as opposed to their CDMA competition (Sprint's) banking on WiMax. AT&T said that they will use their 700MHz spectrum for LTE as well. VZW's spectrum block is nation-wide as opposed to AT&T who won several regional licenses.
While I'm excited to see what VZW and AT&T can do with LTE there is something that is a little troubling to me - LTE is a GSM technology. Verizon (and Sprint) use CDMA for their current networks. It makes me wonder what VZW's move is going to be. Will they have LTE data-only devices, like aircards, and still use CDMA/EVDO for phones? Will it be like when AT&T/Cingular transitioned? Are they going to maintain CDMA, but just until they can transition their customers to newer devices that will use the LTE network?
Verizon has marketed itself as being of the highest quality. Although they're the number 2 carrier in the country, they're generally the highest-rated when it comes to quality and reliability. I'm pretty confident that they'll figure out a way handle a transition (if it is a true transition as opposed to a dual-network scenario) with a minimal impact on service or call quality.
AT&T upset a lot of TDMA customers who they forced into GSM after their switch and Sprint still doesn't seem like they know what the heck they're doing as far as phasing out Nextel's iDEN network in favor of CDMA. I guess now it's Verizon's turn.
Details at Verizon.
Details from AT&T.
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