dslreports logo
 story category
Verizon Beefs Up LTE Network With 4x4 MIMO, Carrier Aggregation

Verizon's engaged in a few new wireless upgrades that could improve the coverage, speed and performance of their 4G LTE Network. Speaking at the Wells Fargo Telecom Symposium, Verizon VP of Network Support Mike Haberman said the telco is deploying 4x4 MIMO (multiple ­input and multiple output) technology, which uses 4 transmitters and 4 receivers to boost signal performance.

Click for full size
According to Haberman, Verizon's also utilizing carrier aggregation technology in its 20x20 MHz spectrum channels to help boost overall network speeds:
quote:
Verizon is working to improve its LTE network with a variety of technologies and strategies, from deploying MIMO and carrier aggregation to building out new small cells, Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and macro cell sites. By deploying 4x4 MIMO, Verizon can create a diversity gain that could lead to higher uplink performance. Via carrier aggregation, Verizon can tie together disparate spectrum bands to create wider spectrum channels, thereby quickening download speeds for users.
The telco's also busy re-farming its 3G 1900 PCS spectrum for use on 4G LTE. Verizon already leads most network performance tests, though AT&T and T-Mobile have increasingly been nipping at the company's 4G LTE wireless speed performance heels.
view:
topics flat nest 
mist668
join:2011-02-15
Middleburg, PA

1 recommendation

mist668

Member

Thats cool

Left them due to price and the lte was slowing down big time. 17870 zip

I'd rather have all around slower internet that I can afford (Cricket) then a potential of faster and higher price.

why60loss
Premium Member
join:2012-09-20

why60loss

Premium Member

Re: Thats cool

said by mist668:

Left them due to price and the lte was slowing down big time. 17870 zip

I'd rather have all around slower internet that I can afford (Cricket) then a potential of faster and higher price.

I agree, I waited for years for Verizon to fix it's network and even thought they were throttling me. (Can't say at the start in 2011 they weren't. It was most likely a hardware issue on my phone but they refused to replace it calling it "fine".)

Moved to cricket and saved so much even as a unlimited data customer at Verizon.

I was getting sick of the sub 1mbs spots with data that didn't work like sprint. AT&T built there network much better for solid speeds. Sure on one tower in the right place at the right time I could pull 60/20 on Verizon but that was not the rule but the extreme outcast compared to what I normally saw around my home market.

Verizon likely only wins speed test because of all the 10x10 towers out in the sticks it has, take those away and it becomes quickly clear they just don't care with no micro cells and far spacing of there towers that have LTE.

karpodiem
Hail to The Victors
Premium Member
join:2008-05-20
Troy, MI

1 recommendation

karpodiem

Premium Member

where is wifi calling?

In Fall 2014, they said it would be available in Mid-2015. Where is it? This is a feature that people are really starting to look at (with T-Mobile and Sprint offering it, because their networks need it) that Verizon is lacking.

aaronwt
Premium Member
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
Asus RT-AX89

aaronwt

Premium Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

said by karpodiem:

In Fall 2014, they said it would be available in Mid-2015. Where is it? This is a feature that people are really starting to look at (with T-Mobile and Sprint offering it, because their networks need it) that Verizon is lacking.

Since Verizon typically has better coverage for calling it isn't needed as much as with a carrier like Sprint or T-Mobile that has much less coverage.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

If its coverage is so great that it doesn't need Wi-Fi Calling then why does it offer a Network Extender? (CDMA/3G)

»www.verizonwireless.com/ ··· cs-2u01/

DrDeke
join:2004-05-18
Ypsilanti, MI

DrDeke

Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

Probably for the same reason that AT&T offers the MicroCell: »www.att.com/att/microcell/

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

Exactly. And AT&T makes the same excuse: our network is so good you don't need it.....
nobleracer
join:2005-06-15
united state

nobleracer

Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

It is truly dependent on where you live and use your phone. I am currently trying Cricket Wireless and I have to say it has one of the worst services where we are. I can only verily use it at home. I'm lucky if I get 3G speeds at all. Most speed test fail. Yes, Verizon is more expensive but it always works where we live and work. But I'm sure they are the worst in other areas. I was really hoping that Cricket was better so I could save money, but that is not going to happen. T-mobile has terrible coverage and so does Sprint. Obviously AT&T is not even and option since Cricket uses there towers.

batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ

batterup

Premium Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

said by nobleracer:

. Obviously AT&T is not even and option since Cricket uses there towers.

Cricket is just a reseller, they have nothing to do with the network.
nobleracer
join:2005-06-15
united state

nobleracer

Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

Yeah, I know. For me it just shows that AT&Ts network for where I work and live is just not as robust as Verizons. But that would not necessarily be true everywhere.

Chance
@myvzw.com

1 recommendation

Chance

Anon

Re: where is wifi calling?

Even att has wifi calling on iOS 9 up and running... I love Verizon but with my house being in an area where I can't make or receive calls a 250 or even 99.00 device isn't really an option I don't think I should pay to be able to use the service I pay for at home.. Verizon has great customer service and great service most places but what if I get shot? Or my home broken into? I have wifi..wifi calling isn't exactly rocket science... If fucking sprint can do it Verizon sure as fuck can.. This makes me and many other customers in this area feel way under valued

aaronwt
Premium Member
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
Asus RT-AX89

1 recommendation

aaronwt to IPPlanMan

Premium Member

to IPPlanMan
said by IPPlanMan:

If its coverage is so great that it doesn't need Wi-Fi Calling then why does it offer a Network Extender? (CDMA/3G)

»www.verizonwireless.com/ ··· cs-2u01/

I use a Verizon Extender at home because no one has good coverage at my location with the higher frequencies. I can get 700Mhz LTE data but not much of a signal for the CDMA voice. Since those signals are blocked. Hopefully once they implement VOLTE I won't need the extender any more.

amarryat
Verizon FiOS
join:2005-05-02
Marshfield, MA

amarryat

Member

Re: where is wifi calling?

said by aaronwt:

Hopefully once they implement VOLTE I won't need the extender any more.

Haven't they already implemented it nationwide? You just need a phone that can do it. Such as the iPhone 6. There may be others, but I think the iPhone was the first to support it. And it doesn't just work - you have to turn it on because the default is off.
mikeluscher159
join:2011-09-04

mikeluscher159 to aaronwt

Member

to aaronwt
You would have VoLTE, if you had a VoLTE device

Time to upgrade, looking for (Advanced Calling 1.0) devices

DaveDude
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey

1 recommendation

DaveDude to aaronwt

Member

to aaronwt
said by aaronwt:

said by karpodiem:

In Fall 2014, they said it would be available in Mid-2015. Where is it? This is a feature that people are really starting to look at (with T-Mobile and Sprint offering it, because their networks need it) that Verizon is lacking.

Since Verizon typically has better coverage for calling it isn't needed as much as with a carrier like Sprint or T-Mobile that has much less coverage.

Well when Verizon or ATT pays to put towers in basements of buildings so i have converage, then i will accept that excuse. More reason to leave ATT / Verizon
tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL

tkdslr

Member

Incorrect definition of MIMO

MIMO is all about the number antennas...

4x4 would be (4) base station antennas, and (4) antennas in cell phone, each antenna is of which is paired with a xmit and receiver.

Very few high end cell phones have 4 antennas for each major frequency. (Galaxy S5 LTE-A version, that I know of).

»en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIMO

At best they can talk about deploying 4x2 MIMO.. like T-mobile uses, except Verizon is WAYYY behind.
And Vz is stuck with a large subscriber based of older smart phones, which don't support more than 2x2 MIMO.

Until their customers stop using those older LTE phones,
Vz won't get any benefit from a newer 4x2 infrastructure, and even rarer 4x4.
mikeluscher159
join:2011-09-04

mikeluscher159

Member

Re: Incorrect definition of MIMO

4x2 or 4x4 MIMO still benefits phones that don't support it

Mike Wolf
join:2009-05-24
Tuckerton, NJ

Mike Wolf

Member

Re: Incorrect definition of MIMO

How do they benefit?
mikeluscher159
join:2011-09-04

mikeluscher159

Member

Re: Incorrect definition of MIMO

Mainly diversity signal improvements

There's evidence to support 4x2 MIMO towers improve speeds, fringe coverage, and battery life even on phones that don't necessarily have more then 2 antennas, or CA.

»www.fiercewireless.com/t ··· 14-07-16

Mike Wolf
join:2009-05-24
Tuckerton, NJ

Mike Wolf

Member

Re: Incorrect definition of MIMO

I came across this PCMag article about the XLTE service and their MIMO service being 2x20? »www.pcmag.com/article2/0 ··· 1,00.asp
Mike Wolf

Mike Wolf to tkdslr

Member

to tkdslr
What other phones support 4x4 MIMO?