Verizon upgrades network for Columbia customers

Columbia, SC ranked in the Top 10 highest performing metro markets, according to recent testing results that show customers have the best experience on the Verizon network

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verizon has recently made major upgrades to the network serving customers in Columbia, SC. These upgrades are part of a multi-year redesign of its network architecture to stay ahead of exponential data usage increases, upgrade the technology in the network, and to pave the way for personalized customer experiences. Network upgrades in Columbia include deploying new cell sites to extend coverage and capacity in local communities. They also include adding more capacity on fiber optic cables to move more data through the network and adding bandwidth to the cellular network to accommodate new services like wireless internet service for homes and businesses. Specifics on the upgrades include:

• Engineers have deployed 5G Ultra Wideband service using Millimeter Wave (mmWave), its premium, high-band spectrum which allows for extremely fast speeds and massive capacity as well as C-band spectrum designed for fast speeds, high capacity and wide coverage. With the recent deployments and upgrades, more than 86% of people in Columbia now have access to 5G service from Verizon. Verizon Engineers have deployed 5G Ultra Wideband service using its C-band spectrum designed for high capacity and wide coverage. Most notably, Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband service has recently expanded to areas in Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, Lexington, Irmo, Chapin, Gaston, Forest Acres, Blythewood, St Andrews, Dt Columbia, Arcadia Lakes, and Ulmers Pond. Additionally, new macro cell sites are providing enhanced service to the Hardscrabble Road/Farrow Road intersection, Hammond High School and Platt Springs Road near Indian River Golf Club.
• During the upcoming football season, Gamecock fans will begin to experience even better service while attending games at Williams Brice Stadium with planned capacity additions being deployed over the next few months. And visitors and service members at Fort Jackson will begin feeling the positive impact of an additional 36 small cell sites providing service planned to be on air later in 2023.
• Columbia’s exceptional 5G coverage uses a combination of mmWave spectrum and Verizon’s recently acquired C-band spectrum.  Verizon engineers are using up to 100 MHz of C-band spectrum to deliver 5G service to customers. By the end of the year, customers in Columbia will be able to take advantage of 160 MHz of spectrum as it becomes available for 5G Ultra Wideband.  That additional bandwidth will turbo charge the service, offering significantly higher speeds, much greater capacity to accommodate more customers and more robust services
• Lastly, the addition of 5G service and the many additional wireless solutions allow far more data to travel on the wireless network in Columbia. That exponential increase in data carried into and out of the cell sites serving the community requires upgraded fiber optic cable links.  Fiber optic cables are used to move data between cell sites and connect those sites to the rest of the network.  Verizon has increased the capacity on the fiber connections in many cell sites in the Columbia area so they can carry 10 times the amount of data. 

“We know customers count on us, and we work everyday to ensure we deliver for them. Our reliable, secure network connects families, friends, homes and businesses in Columbia, SC with best-in-class 5G Ultra Wideband technology,” said Eric Lia, Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Verizon.

With these and other technology advancements on Verizon’s network, customers are able to use more data in more ways. This multi-service network powers:

• Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices that do very little networking and stay in place,
• smartphones with countless opportunities to use data in a highly mobile environment,
• home and business internet which provides connectivity via the wireless network for homes, offices and retail environments, and
• complex solutions like Augmented Reality or enterprise real-time video and data analysis that require massive computing capabilities. 

As 5G technology advances and is even more widely adopted by consumers the variety of solutions that will use Verizon’s network will continue to evolve as well.

Columbia, SC customers have the best experience on Verizon’s network

According to the nation’s most rigorous scientific testing company RootMetrics,® customers have the best experience on the Verizon network in Columbia, SC. In the most recent publicly available results of a test measuring performance of major wireless carriers throughout Columbia, Verizon came in first place for overall network.* In fact, with an overall RootMetrics Root Score of 99.87, Columbia came in 5th place on the list of top ten markets as measured in that testing period.

Services from the network customers rely on

For customers in Columbia, the additional coverage and capacity means more customers now have access not only to reliable, fast mobile service, but also Verizon Home Internet service, a different kind of home internet with no data caps. It’s ideal for anyone who wants fast connectivity to stream, game or even work remotely. Verizon Home Internet is reliable and fast enough to power home connected devices: smart TVs, tablets, phones, gaming consoles and more. Plans start at just $25 per month with Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans – all without hidden fees, annual contracts or data caps.** Go to verizon.com/home for availability. Visit verizon.com/deals For the latest 5G phones and accessories.

Additionally, through Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology developed over three decades of partnership with first responders to meet their unique and evolving needs, public safety agencies in the Columbia area will also be able to experience the benefits of these network enhancements.  To learn more about Verizon Frontline, visit verizon.com/frontline.  

Columbia area businesses have access to 5G Business Internet from Verizon. 5G Business Internet is incredibly fast wireless business internet powered by 5G Ultra Wideband. This wireless alternative to cable internet is for businesses of all sizes and includes self-setup or professional installation options, multiple pricing and service options, unlimited data, and a 10-year price guarantee (price guarantee excludes taxes and fees) for 5G Business Internet service.  To learn more about Verizon 5G Business Internet, visit verizon.com/5gbusinessinternet and plug in an address to see what service is available.

*Rankings based on the RootMetrics® Columbia RootScore® Report: 2H 2022. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Verizon.

**Verizon Home Internet includes 5G Home Internet and LTE Home Internet services, which are available in select areas. Plans start at $25/mo. when combined with a postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Auto Pay and paper-free billing req’d.Subject to credit approval.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Schulz
864.561.1527
Karen.schulz@verizonwireless.com