Verizon 4G Network to Expand to New Markets

Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network is about to get bigger on Thursday.

The company announced Wednesday that it was expanding its 4G network to 14 new markets on top of the 165 markets already covered.

The service will be activated in Little Rock, Ark.; Savannah, Ga.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Lexington, Ky.; Starkville, Miss.; Kansas City, Mo.; Springfield/Branson, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Orange County, N.Y.; Greater Providence, R.I.; Rapid City, S.D.; Roanoke, Va.; and Appleton/Oshkosh, Wis.

In less than a year we have introduced our 4G LTE network to 179 markets across the country, covering more than 186 million Americans, David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless, said in a statement.

Furthermore, the New York-based company announced it was making major 4G expansions in Louisville, Ky.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minn.; and Pittsburgh, Pa.

Customers with 4G service should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second on the downlink and 2 to 5 megabits per second the uplink, the company noted. Once a customer travels outside of a 4G coverage area, the phone will be activated to 3G services.

Verizon has the largest wireless network in the United States, with 107.7 million subscribers.

Shares of Verizon are down 1.1 percent to $36.83 in late afternoon trading.