Verizon activates 16 new 3G sites in New York Metro area
updated 03:15 pm EST, Wed January 12, 2011
Carrier sidesteps iPhone connection
Verizon has officially switched on 16 new cellular sites in the New York Metro area. Five of these are in Rockland County, namely in Monsey, Spring Valley, Suffern, Suffern Park and Palisades. Another five have been assigned to Suffolk County, within East Islip, Blue Point, Medford, Wading River and Village of the Branch.
Westchester County is represented by three new sites in Bronxville, Yonkers and Croton on Hudson. The remaining towers have no counties in common, being split between Merrick, West Paterson and New York City. All of the additions are limited to providing 3G data, despite the carrier having recently launched a 4G LTE network.
The timing of the deployment is likely calculated to prepare for the iPhone 4. Verizon is launching the iPhone on February 10th, and a sudden influx of subscribers could potentially overwhelm some towers, especially in New York City. In other circumstances the carrier may simply want wider 3G coverage to increase the usefulness (and hence appeal) of the iPhone, as well as other smartphones.
