Have you ever wondered what goes into making sure your smartphone works on the Verizon 4G LTE network? It likely made its way through our testing lab, just as every device does before becoming available to consumers, government or business customers. And it’s not just smartphones. Any device that connects to our network has to go through rigorous, extensive testing before it’s ready for customers.
The number of device types on our network is growing – from tablets, smartwatches and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for consumers, to a range of enterprise devices. By 2021, it’s estimated there will be 47 billion connected devices worldwide.
With so many new devices and network capabilities coming online, we conduct rigorous testing behind-the-scenes to make sure your new device works out of the box. This is why we’ve just finished the expansion of our device testing lab, adding 13 additional testing rooms to our existing 10,000 square foot test facility in Bedminster, New Jersey.
These rooms are packed with leading-edge testing technology that put devices, enhanced 4G LTE features, Internet of Things (IoT) applications and 5G to the test. Device manufacturers and partners have access to the facility, working alongside our engineers to collaborate on multiple devices to run on the nation’s most reliable network.
In the last five years, the device team:
- has conducted over 1 million tests
- has tested roughly 2,500 software and hardware combinations
- has taken a comprehensive approach to testing. For example, the typical device goes through 1-3 software upgrades before getting approved to be used on the Verizon wireless network
“Our Network team is constantly deploying the latest technologies to enhance the customer experience. Operating the best network for our customers and maintaining our overwhelming lead over the competition is our passion,” said Mike Haberman, VP of Network Operations. “We will continue to lead the industry in network performance, and our team of dedicated engineers in the field and in our device lab are critical to make that happen.”
Verizon has deployed carrier aggregation in almost 2,000 markets and has deployed a combination of carrier aggregation, 4×4 MIMO and 256 QAM technology in more than 560 markets nationwide. In addition to accommodating space for 5G & IoT testing in the device lab, Verizon is able to test devices with these 4G LTE Advanced features.
Investments in the latest technology and software platforms have led to a number of industry milestones and breakthroughs, helping Verizon be the first to reach 953 MBPS in a real world environment using LAA, the first to break the gigabit speed barrier, and the first to launch FDD Massive MIMO.
The 5G technology currently being developed is the foundation of a future filled with innovations like connected, autonomous cars, remote robotic applications and even developments we can’t even imagine yet. Multiple gigabit-per-second speeds and millisecond latency will deliver a major change in the way we connect to the people, businesses and things about us.
IoT
Today, there are 8.4 billion connected “things” in use. That’s up 31 percent from 2016. IoT is becoming a reality, and will soon be commonplace for consumers and enterprises, with a recent report revealing 73 percent of executives are either researching or currently deploying IoT solutions. Our new lab allows for the testing of legacy and contemporary devices on the existing 4G LTE network and new IoT networks like CATM1, which Verizon was first to bring to market in 2017. Vendors and testers can simulate specific conditions in real-time, assessing how the devices will behave in real world scenarios.
