Verizon Wireless has launched LTE 4G service on its AWS spectrum holdings in Louisville, Ky.
The company said it made an effort to get the additional spectrum online ahead of the Kentucky Derby, which will be run Saturday afternoon, and draws an average crowd of 155,000. In addition to launching AWS in Louisville and the surrounding areas, Verizon installed a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) in Churchill Downs, where the horse race is run, to improve coverage at the event.
Beyond Louisville, Verizon expects to light up its AWS spectrum in about 50 markets by the middle of the year. Verizon acquired the AWS spectrum from a consortium of cable companies in 2012. It is using AWS to complement its 700MHz spectrum for LTE.
Verizon has already deployed AWS in New York City and a handful of other markets.
