Verizon USA roams on GSM???

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old3eyes

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Topic # 106576 26-Jul-2012 15:46

While trolling thru Telecom's roaming partners in the US website http://www.telecomroaming.co.nz/ all looked normal until I saw this one ..

Verizon 850GSM and 1900GSM.

I emailed the roaming help desk with
"Just having a look at Telecom’s roaming partners in the USA and See that Verizon is listed as a GSM roaming partner

You may want to recheck that as I understand that Verizon is a CDMA and LTE carrier only .."
They came back with

"We can confirm that Verizon is our business partner in the US. Verizon network supports GSM (850/1900 MHz) and LTE (700 MHZ) frequency. When you travel in USA with an XT mobile, it will normally connect to AT&T or T-mobile as they have the largest coverage. These networks supports 2G and 3G."

Anyone one confirm who is correct.

Regards,

Old3eyes

PenultimateHop

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Reply # 662467 26-Jul-2012 15:54

Telecom's Roaming Helpdesk is incorrect.

Verizon Wireless operates a CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO network in the 800MHz/1900MHz bands and an LTE network in the 700MHz band. As far as I know they don't support inbound roaming onto the LTE network currently.

The CDMA network does support inbound CDMA roaming; and outbound CDMA/GSM roaming with a dual-mode/world phone.

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 662473 26-Jul-2012 16:03

I'll have a chat with the Roaming team as it sounds wrong to me too.

Wikipedia seems to agree too.

andyb

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Reply # 662477 26-Jul-2012 16:06

Hi - I've let our roaming team know.
cheers for raising!

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 662482 26-Jul-2012 16:11

andyb: Hi - I've let our roaming team know.
cheers for raising!

Snap!

andyb

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Reply # 662496 26-Jul-2012 16:41

Hi - I've just head back from the roaming team - Our information is correct they (Verizon) do have a 2G GSM agreement with us. Verizon is part of Alltel (Wireless Alliance).

Background (from Wikipedia):
Network coverageThere are Alltel-owned and operated networks in parts of 6 states. Alltel uses roaming agreements with competing providers to provide coast-to-coast service. Roaming agreements in the United States are primarily with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel.

PenultimateHop

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Reply # 662501 26-Jul-2012 16:57

andyb: Hi - I've just head back from the roaming team - Our information is correct they (Verizon) do have a 2G GSM agreement with us. Verizon is part of Alltel (Wireless Alliance).

Background (from Wikipedia):
Network coverageThere are Alltel-owned and operated networks in parts of 6 states. Alltel uses roaming agreements with competing providers to provide coast-to-coast service. Roaming agreements in the United States are primarily with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel.

It is a bit more complex than that. Alltel that exists now is not VzW. Alltel was acquired by VzW some years ago, but subsequently VzW was forced to divest some markets by the FCC. That Alltel brand is now operated by another company. I believe the technology that the Alltel entity that VzW ate was also CDMA based.

Anyway, Cellco Partnership d/b/a "Verizon Wireless" does not operate a GSM network in the US.