Having just been declared the nation’s fastest overall wireless network last week by independent testing firm RootMetrics, Verizon on Monday formally announced the nationwide rollout of faster technology.

Verizon is promising a doubling in download speeds as it brings online a network upgrade technology called LTE Advanced. The technology includes software that combines multiple wireless channels to move data over networks faster than previously possible.

The Triangle, Fayetteville and North Carolina’s major metro areas are among the 461 markets where the upgrade officially took effect on Monday.

While other carriers such as AT&T and Sprint are also embracing LTE Advanced, Verizon is the first to declare nationwide coverage. LTE stands for long-term evolution and has been the most widely accepted technology for current 4G wireless networks.

Carriers and partners are also exploring 5G technology that would offer gigabit speeds, but standard setting and technology development means 5G is several years away from widespread adoption.

For the interim, LTE Advanced means download speeds of mover 20 megabits per second compared to the current range of some 5 to 12 mbps per second.  But much faster speeds have been demonstrated. LTE Advance “has shown peak download speeds of up to 225 Mbps,” Verizon notes.

“While the speeds of two channel carrier aggregation provide a leap forward, three-channel carrier aggregation provides even greater efficiency,” the company adds. “Verizon engineers deploying three-channel carrier aggregation have experienced speeds greater than 300 Mbps.”

“Our customers just received a major network enhancement for no additional cost,” said Tami Erwin, head of operations for Verizon’s wireless unit, in the announcement. “Verizon LTE Advanced works like a turbocharger on an engine. Speed boosts kick in when you need it most, with big data use. That’s when you get the big peak boost of Verizon LTE Advanced.”

However, faster access is not automatic. Verizon says only some 39 devices are currently capable of supporting LTE advanced.

Learn more about Verizon’s offering and what devices support it at:

http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7814954-verizon-lte-advanced-network/