Derby Crowds to Benefit from Verizon Network Upgrades at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, a technology leader with the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network, has beefed up its network at Churchill Downs with new "small cell" technology and other upgrades to handle the burgeoning traffic generated by the hundreds of thousands of Derby week guests who want to share messages, photos and videos via their wireless devices. On Derby day 2014, 4G LTE traffic on the Verizon Wireless network increased 224 percent over Derby day 2013, and Verizon customers consumed 1.37 terabytes of data.

"Small cells are an integral part of Verizon's commitment to the customer experience to stay ahead of the growing demand for mobile data by boosting capacity," said Lauren Love-Wright, Verizon Wireless region president for Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. "This technology adds 4G LTE capacity in important high traffic areas so that our customers can share the fastest two minutes in racing, especially on social media."

Verizon has installed nearly a dozen small cells around Churchill Downs to expand the capacity of existing Verizon cells sites near the grounds. Verizon also will deploy mobile assets in 2015 including a COW or "cell on wheels," and a COLT or "cell on light truck." In addition, Verizon added XLTE capacity – which utilizes Verizon's AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) spectrum to deliver faster peak speeds and at least double the bandwidth to 4G LTE customers.

In 2014, Verizon collaborated with Mobilitie to deploy a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at Churchill Downs. This year the DAS will receive additional upgrades, including 21 new antennas to improve coverage and balance traffic.

"With the Derby coming up, the additional capacity we are deploying will ensure that fans can count on their Verizon mobile devices to share emails, texts, pictures and videos of this quintessential Kentucky experience," said Love-Wright.

Every year, Verizon network test drive team members drive roughly 1 million miles across the country, including in Louisville, in specially equipped vehicles to conduct more than 3 million voice call attempts and more than 12 million data tests to compare the performance of the Verizon network with competitors' networks.

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.  As the largest wireless company in the U.S., Verizon Wireless serves 106.2 million retail customers, including 100.1 million retail postpaid customers.  Verizon Wireless is wholly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.  For the latest news and updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNews.   

About Verizon Wireless in Kentucky In Kentucky, Verizon Wireless has 150 employees and more than 200 locations, including company-owned retail stores, indirect agents and national retailers. 

For Verizon Wireless Updates on Twitter  For the latest news about Verizon Wireless in Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan, follow @VZWTrevor.  For the latest on products, corporate initiatives and perspectives, follow @VZWnews on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWnews.  For more news and stories specific to the Verizon Wireless Midwest Area, visit and subscribe to our blog: http://vzwmidwestarea.com/.

CONTACT: Trevor Thomas, Verizon Wireless 248-915-3680 [email protected] or McKenzi Loid 502-625-1638 [email protected]

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SOURCE Verizon Wireless