Recent upgrades lead to testing results that show customers have the best experience on the Verizon network
PITTSBURGH, June 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon has recently made major upgrades to the network serving customers in Pittsburgh, PA. These upgrades are part of a multi-year redesign of its network architecture to stay ahead of exponential data usage increases, upgrade the technology in the network, and to pave the way for personalized customer experiences. Network upgrades in Pittsburgh include deploying new cell sites to extend coverage and capacity in local communities. They also include adding more capacity on fiber optic cables to move more data through the network and adding bandwidth to the cellular network to accommodate new services like wireless internet service for homes and businesses. Specifics on the upgrades include:
- Engineers have deployed 5G Ultra Wideband service using Millimeter Wave (mmWave), its premium, high-band spectrum which allows for extremely fast speeds and massive capacity as well as C-band spectrum designed for fast speeds, high capacity and wide coverage. With the recent deployments and upgrades, more than 1.85 million people in Pittsburgh now have access to 5G service from Verizon. Verizon Engineers have deployed 5G Ultra Wideband service using its C-band spectrum designed for high capacity and wide coverage. Most notably, Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband service has recently expanded to areas along I-76/PA Turnpike and RT-18 north of Beaver Falls and the community of Koppel, Lincoln Way, Bowman Ave and 5th Ave, Glenshaw neighborhood and Middle Rd including the Middle Road Soccer Field Complex, the sports fields in the busy Cranberry Township Community Park, the residential communities of McMurray and Peters Township, along Saltsburg Rd, and along Brandt School and Pine Creek Rds in Wexford/McCandless suburbs.
- In addition, Verizon engineers have recently deployed 5G Ultra Wideband service in Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park for fans cheering on the Steelers and the Pirates.
- In the coming months, residents and visitors will see improved coverage and performance with the addition of service in West Mifflin and Lower Lawrenceville in Allegheny County as well as Westmoreland County in Harrison City, Rillton, Stewartsville and Unity Reservoir area.
- Pittsburgh’s exceptional 5G coverage uses a combination of mmWave spectrum and Verizon’s recently acquired C-band spectrum. Verizon engineers are using 60 MHz of C-band spectrum to deliver 5G service to customers. By the end of the year, customers in Pittsburgh will be able to take advantage of more than twice that amount of spectrum as it becomes available for 5G Ultra Wideband. That additional bandwidth will turbo charge the service, offering significantly higher speeds, much greater capacity to accommodate more customers and more robust services
- Even as engineers provide wireless service in more places, they are also enhancing the service by deploying leading edge, modernized technology in the area. Engineers have upgraded the hardware in many of the cell sites providing service throughout Pittsburgh adding capacity for more data to be used by customers, providing power efficiency, and providing virtualization. This technology milestone allows Verizon to rapidly respond to customers’ varied latency and computing needs, and provides greater flexibility and agility in the introduction of new products and services. The move to a cloud-based, virtualized architecture with standardized interfaces in every part of the network leads to greater flexibility, faster delivery of services, greater scalability, and improved cost efficiency in networks.
- Lastly, the addition of 5G service and the many additional wireless solutions allow far more data to travel on the wireless network in Pittsburgh. That exponential increase in data carried into and out of the cell sites serving the community requires upgraded fiber optic cable links. Fiber optic cables are used to move data between cell sites and connect those sites to the rest of the network. Verizon has increased the capacity on the fiber connections in many cell sites in the Pittsburgh area so they can carry 10 times the amount of data.
“We know customers count on us, and we work every day to ensure we deliver for them. Our reliable, secure network connects families, friends, homes and businesses in Pittsburgh, PA with best-in-class 5G Ultra Wideband technology,” said Dean Brauer, Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Verizon.
With these and other technology advancements on Verizon’s network, customers are able to use more data in more ways. This multi-service network powers:
- Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices that do very little networking and stay in place,
- smartphones with countless opportunities to use data in a highly mobile environment,
- home and business internet which provides connectivity via the wireless network for homes, offices and retail environments, and
- complex solutions like Augmented Reality or enterprise real-time video and data analysis that require massive computing capabilities.
As 5G technology advances and is even more widely adopted by consumers the variety of solutions that will use Verizon’s network will continue to evolve as well.
Pittsburgh, PA customers have the best experience on Verizon’s network
The recent network upgrades have led to customers having the best experience on the Verizon network in Pittsburgh, PA, according to the nation’s most rigorous scientific testing company RootMetrics®. In the most recent test measuring performance of major wireless carriers throughout Pittsburgh, Verizon came in first place for overall network performance, and in fact was unbeaten in every single category measured including reliability, speed, accessibility, and data, call and text performance. Today’s results show great speeds for Verizon customers in Pittsburgh with Verizon’s median download speed increasing 18% since last year in the market.*
Services from the network customers rely on
For customers in Pittsburgh, the additional coverage and capacity means more customers now have access not only to reliable, fast mobile service, but also Verizon Home Internet service, a different kind of home internet with no data caps. It’s ideal for anyone who wants fast connectivity to stream, game or even work remotely. Verizon Home Internet is reliable and fast enough to power home connected devices: smart TVs, tablets, phones, gaming consoles and more. Plans start at just $25 per month with Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans – all without hidden fees, annual contracts or data caps.** Go to verizon.com/home for availability. Visit verizon.com/deals For the latest 5G phones and accessories.
Additionally, through Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology developed over three decades of partnership with first responders to meet their unique and evolving needs, public safety agencies in the Pittsburgh area will also be able to experience the benefits of these network enhancements. To learn more about Verizon Frontline, visit verizon.com/frontline.
Pittsburgh area businesses have access to 5G Business Internet from Verizon. 5G Business Internet is incredibly fast wireless business internet powered by 5G Ultra Wideband. This wireless alternative to cable internet is for businesses of all sizes and includes self-setup or professional installation options, multiple pricing and service options, unlimited data, and a 10-year price guarantee (price guarantee excludes taxes and fees) for 5G Business Internet service. To learn more about Verizon 5G Business Internet, visit verizon.com/5gbusinessinternet and plug in an address to see what service is available.
*Rankings based on the RootMetrics® Pittsburgh RootScore® Report: 1H 2023. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon.
**Verizon Home Internet includes 5G Home Internet and LTE Home Internet services, which are available in select areas. Plans start at $25/mo. when combined with a postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Auto Pay and paper-free billing req’d. Subject to credit approval.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Schulz
864.561.1527
Karen.schulz@verizonwireless.com
