Alltel Wireless has announced that it will continue expanding its wireless broadband network in 2008 with the launch of EV-DO Rev A technology. Alltel plans an initial rollout of Rev. A to 18 market areas and dozens of cities, including Charlotte, New Orleans, Phoenix and Tampa. Customers using Rev. A will experience average upload speeds of 500-800 Kbps with bursts up to 1.8 Mbps. Upload speeds on the company’s existing broadband network average 50-70 Kbps, with bursts up to 144 Kbps, so the enhanced network will be five to 10 times faster.

 “Rev. A is the next step in Alltel’s commitment to provide our customers with the fast wireless broadband service they have come to expect in their business and personal lives,” said Jeff Fox, chief operating officer of Alltel Wireless. “As our customers’ needs continue to grow, Alltel’s network is well-positioned to deliver higher speeds and greater capacity for years to come.”

Download speeds also will increase. Rev. A download speeds average 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps, with bursts up to 3.1 Mbps. By comparison, downloads on the existing broadband network average 400-700 Kbps with bursts up to 2.4 Mbps.

In addition to rolling out Rev. A in select markets, Alltel Wireless says that it will continue to expand its existing EV-DO network, which now covers 76 percent of its potential customers. By the end of 2008, Alltel expects to cover about 82 percent of its potential customers with EV-DO.

Source:cellular-news