TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC) soon to begin in Tampa Bay, Verizon Wireless is finalizing extensive network preparations to ensure strong, reliable wireless coverage and services for tens of thousands of visiting political newsmakers as well as for local residents and businesses.
Verizon officials expect record-setting reliance on its 4G LTE and 3G networks as political representatives, journalists, bloggers and thousands more “wireless power users” upload and download a non-stop torrent of videos, photos, posts, Tweets, texts, even live broadcasts and more.
“While we’re old pros at this in Florida with so many big global events coming our way from super bowls to speed weeks, the nature of the RNC will likely light up the airwaves more than any event we’ve seen,” said Frank Wise, network executive director for the Verizon Wireless Florida region. “We’ve made a massive investment and effort to make sure our local customers and RNC visitors experience the best possible wireless coverage and services.”
Preparations include:
- New cell sites and the rapid expansion of the company’s permanent and most advanced 4G LTE network throughout Tampa Bay. The 4G LTE technology is up to 10 times faster than the company’s industry-leading 3G network, with data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
- The installation of cellular base stations and/or in-building distributed antenna systems (DAS) at key RNC venues such as Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay Convention Center and more. For example, at The Forum, numerous 1,200-pound wireless radio cabinets were carried by hand up to the facility’s catwalk, to reinforce wireless coverage on the event floor hundreds of feet below.
- Network engineers have been repositioning antennas, increasing permanent capacity and ensuring all permanent Tampa Bay towers are running at optimum levels. Teams of technicians in special vehicles and on foot have been traveling the region to thoroughly test the network and ensure coverage is solid throughout.
- During the RNC, Verizon also will deploy Cells on Wheels (COWS), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS), and generators on trailers (GOaTS) to highly-targeted areas that need extra 4G LTE and 3G network capacity.
- Verizon has fine-tuned its “super-switch” processing center in Tampa Bay, which works as the hub of all wireless traffic in the region. One of five Verizon super-switches in Florida (also including Jacksonville, Orlando, Jupiter and Pembroke Pines), the facility is Verizon’s largest in the nation, in terms of the number of connected cell sites/towers. Tens of millions of wireless calls and data connections run through it every day, with dramatic spikes expected during the RNC.
Preparation for the RNC is part of Verizon’s overall commitment to network reliability in Florida. In the first six months of 2012, the company invested $138 million in the state to enhance its network for customers.
For more information on the Verizon Wireless network and services, visit www.verizonwireless.com
(Editor’s Note: To view special RNC network preparation, such as touring the Tampa Bay super-switch, accompanying a Verizon Wireless test man, or visiting another facility, contact Chuck Hamby at 813-615-4803).
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.