Network

Our networks play a central role in energizing the marketplace, stimulating innovation and improving the quality of life for our customers.

Overview

We have staked our future on the power of broadband networks, and we’re investing more than $17 billion a year to make Verizon the leader in global connectivity.

We believe these networks will be a powerful engine of growth and innovation, not just for our company, but for the whole economy as broadband becomes embedded ever more deeply in the lives of our customers and the business processes of global enterprises.

We are beginning to see how digital media can transform education and empower those with disabilities, and how the power of broadband can be tapped to save energy and the environment and how interactive technologies can revolutionize health care.

Investing in the Future

• Verizon has invested more than $50 billion in technology infrastructure over the last three years and more than any other U.S. corporation over the last five years.
• Deployment of our high-speed, FiOS fiber network continues at a pace of 3 million new premises passed per year.
• We are moving ahead on deploying our fourth-generation LTE wireless network, which could be important in providing broadband service in underserved parts of the country. Commercial launch is slated for 2010.
• Verizon Business was a charter member of the consortium building the Trans-Pacific Express optical cable network that linked the U.S. with the Chinese mainland in 2008.

The Economic Impact of Broadband

Policies to stimulate the deployment of broadband in underserved areas of the U.S. could have dramatic and far-reaching economic effect. According to a 2008 study by Connected Nation, a 7 percent increase in broadband adoption could result in:

• Creation of 2.4 million jobs;
• $662 million saved per year in reduced health care costs;
• $6.4 million in energy savings from unnecessary driving and idling;
• $134 billion per year in total direct economic impact.

Driving Innovation via Open Networks

In 2008, Verizon launched its Open Development program to invigorate and benefit from the coming explosion of smart devices and machine-to-machine communications.

The concept is straightforward: the program provides a way for device manufacturers and developers to offer their projects and services on the Verizon Wireless network.

We now have dozens of devices certified for use and lots more in the pipeline.

For LTE, which stands for Long-Term Evolution, our fourth-generation wireless technology, we are building on the Open Development program example by creating the LTE Innovation Center. The center, to be based in Waltham, Mass., will serve as the catalyst for development of devices, products or applications for LTE networks.

The idea is to help Verizon Wireless technology partners quickly develop and bring to market new and innovative LTE-based solutions within the consumer electronics, machine-to-machine, and business products segments.