Verizon Wireless will light up its high-speed fourth-generation cellular network Sunday, when the first wave of 4G modems hits stores, the company said Wednesday.
The network will initially cover 38 major metro areas, including Denver.
A 4G modem, which plugs into a computer’s USB port and connects the device to the Internet, will cost $100 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a two-year service agreement. Plans start at $50 a month for 5 gigabytes of data. Verizon will have two 4G modems available at launch.
Verizon said its 4G network will offer download speeds of 5 megabits per second to 12 Mbps, up to 10 times faster than 3G speeds, which generally top off at 1.4 Mbps for downloads.
A test of the 4G network Wednesday at The Denver Post building in downtown Denver yielded download speeds of 9.4 Mbps and upload speeds of 3.6 Mbps. That’s comparable with home broadband service offered by Comcast, which tops off at 12 Mbps.
In metro Denver, Verizon 4G service will initially extend from Commerce City to C-470. The coverage area will include Boulder and Denver International Airport. The 4G modems are backward-compatible, meaning that if the 4G network isn’t available, they’ll latch on to 3G service.
Verizon spokesman Bob Kelley said 4G-capable cellphones will be available by mid-2011.
Sprint was the first national wireless carrier to launch 4G service in the U.S., though the company has yet to officially light up the network in the Denver area. That launch is expected by year-end.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209, avuong@denverpost.com or
