Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/9250-verizon-wireless-selects-anritsu-s-bts-master-for-lte-network-testing

Verizon Wireless Selects Anritsu's BTS Master for LTE Network Testing

March 26, 2010

From CTIA WIRELESS 2010®, Anritsu Co. and Verizon Wireless announced that Verizon Wireless has selected Anritsu’s BTS Master™ handheld base station analyzer to test the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network being deployed by Verizon Wireless throughout the United States.

Verizon Wireless field engineers and technicians are using the BTS Master configured with its LTE test option to conduct RF and modulation quality measurements on LTE signals to help ensure successful installation of base stations in Boston, Seattle and other cities.

“Anritsu was the first test company to offer field test instruments for the deployment, installation and overall operation of LTE networks. The BTS Master being used by Verizon Wireless is part of a broad portfolio of LTE test solutions offered by Anritsu,” said Frank Tiernan, President, Anritsu Co.

Nicola Palmer, Verizon Wireless Network Vice President, said, “Americans know that to get the most reliable wireless service today, you select Verizon Wireless. We’re backing that same commitment to reliability, which includes world-class testing, into our 4G LTE network, right from the start. By focusing on every element of our 4G network today, we’ll ensure the best wireless experience tomorrow. Anritsu’s base station analyzer helps us stay ahead of the curve – and ahead of the competition.”

Verizon Wireless’ LTE rollout plan positions the company as a global leader in 4G LTE deployment, and it is on track to deliver the nation’s first 4G LTE network to customers in 25 to 30 markets, covering roughly 100 million people by year’s end. Verizon Wireless has been conducting trials in Boston and Seattle since August 2009 that have indicated that the network is capable of peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps), peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps, and average data rates of 5 to 12 Mbps on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world environments. The speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers’ current or promised 3G network speeds.

By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage and in-building penetration. Verizon Wireless is currently installing LTE equipment at existing cell sites and switching centers around the United States as part of its extensive, ongoing investment in its voice and data network infrastructure.