Verizon Communications has recently improved its network in and around Kissimmee to improve service.
The New York-based wireless and 5G provider (NYSE: VZ) made the changes as part of a multi-year redesign of its network architecture to stay ahead of exponential data usage increases in the area and upgrade the technology in the network.
“Verizon is committed to delivering the most reliable network experience and meeting our customer’s connectivity needs, no matter where they are. Our reliable, secure network connects families, friends, homes and businesses in Kissimmee with our secure, reliable, best-in-class 5G Ultra Wideband technology,” said Eric Lia, vice president of engineering and operations for Verizon, in a prepared statement.
Why this matters: Wireless companies have worked to increase 5G service locally as businesses and residents have pushed to have faster connections.
Verizon did not immediately have a count of how many users would benefit from the increased service or a local cost for the increase.
The company during 2022 said it would spend an additional $149 million to its local capital spending for Florida to meet the demands of population growth. That included meeting demand due to increases in busy-time traffic in Florida from January 2020 to May 2022, including a growth of 408% over that time in Orlando.
Among the changes:
- Roughly 51% of cell sites in the Kissimmee are serving customers in the community with 5G Ultra Wideband service, and to extend that, the company added a macro cell site which is adding network capacity near the St. Cloud area south of East Lake Tohopekaliga.
- Along with adding more 5G service using C-band spectrum, Verizon also is deploying 5G service using Millimeter Wave (mmWave), which is its premium high-band service. It recently added new small cells which use mmWave in Lake Nona, around the Loop Kissimmee shopping area and at Fun Spot America's Kissimmee location.
- Verizon by the end of the year expect more Kissimmee customers to be able to use additional bandwidth from its 5G Ultra Wideband.
- The company also upgraded its fiber optic cable links to meet the demands of increased data traffic.
Verizon has already made a number of investments tied to 5G in the Orlando region including its 5G Innovation Lab in Lake Nona, which opened in November 2021.
Meanwhile, other companies also have made investments into 5G to explore its capabilities for business. Lockheed Martin Corp.'s (NYSE: LMT) 5G.MIL initiative is an internally funded, company-wide effort to bring 5G network capabilities to air, ground and sea vehicles.
"One of the biggest opportunities Lockheed Martin has today is ensuring our customers stay ahead of adversaries who are highly adaptive and confronting us from every domain across air, sea, space, land and cyber," Lockheed Missiles & Fire Control Executive Vice President Tim Cahill previously told sister publication Orlando Business Journal. "Our 21st century security vision is designed to help the U.S. and its allies leverage emerging technologies — artificial intelligence, edge computing and 5G.MIL connectivity — to meet the evolving challenges of a more complex battle space and emerging threats. We are combining digital engineering, agile practices and open architectures to power an ecosystem that integrates platforms and capabilities."
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