Verizon is promoting its 4G/LTE mobile broadband as a home broadband alternative by launching a new HomeFusion Broadband service that lets consumers use an LTE router to connect up to four wired and 20 wireless devices to the web through Verizon's LTE network. Essentially the router works like a typical mobile hotspot that uses LTE for basic web connectivity but that uses Wi-Fi signals to push data out to home devices. Verizon began rolling out its HomeFusion LTE program in March and will make it available to the general public this month.
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Verizon will be charging $60 a month for 10GB of data, $90 a month for 20GB of data and $120 a month for 30GB of data. While many home broadband providers are now implementing data caps, most of them are far higher than what Verizon is offering for its HomeFusion services and at much lower prices. Comcast, for example, offers plans that start as low as $20 a month for new customers and doesn't impose any bandwidth caps until customers exceed 250GB per month.
Verizon's introduction of HomeFusion service along with expanded wireless mobile broadband service at locations around the country, are complemented by previous announcements regarding the expansion of several high speed FIOS connections in some test markets. In November 2010 Verizon claimed the first successful test of XG-PON2 (10 Gbps passive optical network) technology, at speeds of 10 Gigabet-per-second - upstream and downstream. This was a game changer in the Internet speed race. The cable industry claims coaxial cable connections can deliver up to 20 Gbps - if equipment was available to deliver that speed. The high speed fiber installation from Verizon was delivered to an Elks Lodge in Taunton, Massachusetts. The fiber connection supported the Elks Lodge Internet connection, and five FiOS TV Connections.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg said its new 4G wireless network might become a "modest substitute" for traditional cable and wired internet services. He also said the 4G offering would entice Apple Inc. to use Verizon's broadband service.
Verizon's 4G service, or LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the next stage of evolution for wireless broadband service. The new technology will be able to handle downloads of 100 Mbps and uploads of 50 Mbps for every 20 MHz of spectrum used.
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For the HomeFusion service Verizon is also charging a one-time equipment fee of $200 per installation, and will charge customers an additional $10 per each GB consumed above their monthly allowance.
Verizon's LTE network now covers an almost two-thirds of the U.S. population, with an overall goal is to have its entire current 3G footprint upgraded to LTE by the end of 2013. LTE, Long Term Evolution, is essentially a bridge from 3G technologies. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) says the technology will deliver consistent speeds up to the 100 Mbps range. In the U.S., AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will all be using LTE for their 4G networks. Sprint is planning to use a newer version of WiMax for its next generation network. Meanwhile, the public safety community is planning to build an interoperable broadband public safety network, based on LTE technology.
Verizon's 4G service, or LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the next stage of evolution for wireless broadband service. The new technology will be able to handle downloads of 100 Mbps and uploads of 50 Mbps for every 20 MHz of spectrum used.
With the voracious bandwidth appetites of new applications for smartphones, increased demand for video content delivered over the Internet, and the increasing use of internet TV, broadband providers are trying to keep pace.
