United States

Verizon plans 1 Gb/s fixed wireless using millimeter wave in urban areas

The carrier aims to add 10 million to 15 million premises where it could offer that speed over the medium term. Deployment starts this quarter and continues in 2027.

Verizon outlined on October 26 a 1 Gb/s fixed wireless access plan using millimeter wave spectrum in US metropolitan areas. During its earnings call, CEO Dan Schulman said the company aims to add 10 million to 15 million premises where that speed could be offered over the medium term. This is a coverage target, not a count of connected customers or a service already available to all those homes. [2][3]

The company plans to begin scaling the service this quarter and continue through 2027. Millimeter wave would complement its fiber network and could free C-band capacity for mobile use, Schulman said. Light Reading covered the presentation and noted that this target is additional to Verizon's separate goal of passing 40 million to 50 million premises with fiber. Neither figure establishes guaranteed current coverage. [2][3]

Verizon reported 314,000 broadband net additions in the third quarter: 159,000 fixed wireless and 155,000 fiber. These observed additions must be distinguished from the new gigabit plan. The archive photo shows a Verizon cellular tower in Michigan in 2014; it does not identify the millimeter wave equipment announced this week. [1][3]

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